New-York tribune., 1900-04-21
THE PROTECTION OF COPPER.
GREAT INCREASE OF THE AMOUNT FUR
NIsHED BY THE UNITED STATES

Washington. April 90 (SpeciaD-The rapid growth
OF the copper industry in the United States and the
large proportion which this country supplies of the
worlds copper consumption is Illustrated by some
figures presented by German publication entitled
"A Csntury of Copper" a translation from which
has just reached the Treasury Bureau of Statis-
tics. 1t shows that the United States has during
the decade 1S91-1900 produced more than half of
the copper of the world while in the preceding
decade it supplied but about one-third of the
worlds production, and in the decade 1S71-'S0 the
proportion supplied by the United States was only
about one-sixth of the total.
The growth of copper production in the century
has according to this statement, been rapid, being
in the first decade 81 600 tons in the fifth decade
291 900 tons and IN the tenth decade, which ends
with 1900 3,643 600 tons of which 100000 tons is
supplied by North America. the large proportion of
this being from the United States.
The greatly increased demand for this material
is further illustrated by the fact that although
the production has increased from 50J903 tons in
the decade 1s5160 to 3643,o00 In the decade 1891
1900 the price according to the publication
in question: has only fallen from ELL
e52 ton, production having during that time in
creased than sIXfod, while the price fell but
about one-half.
While the worlds production has increased, with
startling rapidity during the century that of North
America has by far eutgrown all other parts of the
world and it is apparently through the enormous
supplies OF North America-chiefy the United
States-that the worlds production has greatly
which gives the production of each decade by prin-
cipal countries, shows record of production in
North America earlier than the decade 1S41-'j0 in
which period the total production is given at "a
tons while in 1SJ1-'G0 il 81, 900 tons in 1861
20. $1,000 tons in 1S1'S0 1856 900 tons 80
10000 tons, and in 1S91-19o0 1963,o00 tons: the
copper production of North America in the decade
1871 1900 being thus and half times as great
as In the preceding decade. and ten times $ great
in the decade 1SI1-'SO.
In the matter of consumption the figures
equally interesting. A table showirs the consump-
ton of England. France. Germany and North
America gives the total CONSUMPTION in those four
countries at 4U91S3 tons in 1899. against 1854
tons in 1888 being an increase of about 30 per
during the period under consideration while in
North America alone the production is given H.
433 tons in 1893 and 10000 tons in fS!H the growth
being over 100 per cent during the period.
The rapid increase in the share of the worlds
copper consumption supplied by the United States
is illustrated by the export figures the decade
just ended, which show that the expectation of
copper in ingots. bars and plates. which in 1890
amounted to 20 400 pounds in 1899 254 9SI,-
164 pounds, while the total value of copper ex-
ported exclusive of ore, increased from 81 :349 392
in 1890 to So 9S,,529 in 1899.
The following table shows the value of copper
manufactures of all kinds, including copper bars
plates and 1ngots exported in each year from 1890
to 1899