The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
CANADA WANTS THE Ell TRADE.
Expectation That an Export Duty will Ne
Imposed on Nickel Ores.

Expectation That an Export Duty will ne
Imposed on Nickel Ores.
OTTAWA, Feb. Spy an act passed at the last
session the Dominion Government took power
to impose, by Order in Council. export duties on
silver. nickel. and other ores. Tho greatest
nickel deposit in the world is in the Sudbury
district. in the province of Ontario. In fact.
there is but one other place where nickel 10
found In paying quantity. namely, In the French
colony OF New Caledonia. The ore taken out at
Sudbury is only partially treated at tho mine;
II is simply roasted there and smelted into
what Is known as copper matte. This
matte averages In copper 26.91 parts. nickel
14.14. iron 1873. sulphur SO. cobalt 1885.
with an ounce or two of platinum to
the ton. The most important as we'll as re-
munerative process connected with the nickel
Industry Is the refining Of the matte. whereby
the valuable constituents are obtained In sep
arate form. This work 10 done in the United
States. Last year the American refinery at OK.
ford took more than $780, 900 pounds Of this
matte. which is admitted free, into the United
States, Refined nickel Is dutiable. Thus. It is
claimed tLoID ID: t the American eric 1n,rs refinery ap x. PRACTICALLY con.
ling extensive nickel degosits in the Sudbury
Of the Cabinet recently and urged the IMPOSE
tion of an export duty. which, would cause the
United States. With tho refinery at Sudbury,
II was asserted. the cost Of nickel would
DO reduced, tho output increased, valuable
mines would be opened up. and employ.
ment given TO thousands OF Canadians.
Canada has vast Quantities OF iron. but under
present conditions there is not an iron mine
IN Canada that is worth much. There are
also. vast quantities Of nickel and copper.
ent they are OF very little use to Canada. The
only way. the deputation held. in which benefit
could be conferred upon Canada was by Joining
the nickel and iron interests. which could be
done by placing an export duty on nickel and
copper in their crude forms. 1t was pointed out
that the Dlngley bill might prove q blessing in
disguise II this export duty were imposed on
nickel. as II would tend to build up the iron in
dustry In Canada. Should the Dominion Gov
ernment impose an, export duty OF 10 cents q
pound upon nickel In any form. except tho fully
refined product, the American consumer would
have TO pay so much more for his nickel. II the
American manufacturer added only 8 per cent.
OF nickel to his steel, or 100 pounds TO
the ton. this 100 pounds. under the Dingley
duty upon refined nickel. would cost the Amer
lean steel manufacturer $8 more than IL now
does. Canada being the only country in the
world which has both iron and nickel. IL was
argued that, with this export duty, the manu-
tacture of nickel-steel would be q speciality In
which Canada would BIO practically without
competition.
The Ministers closely questioned the deputA-
tiOn upon the subject, and afterward the oDin-
Ion WAS expressed that the Government had re-
ceived the representations fAvorably. To I'm
pose export duties would be GLOWING out the
the DinEiey bill. that an export duty on nickel
and other ores VIII shortly DO imposed IL conh.
denty expected By those mont interested.