The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-09
THE DECLINE IN COPPER.
Redistricted Activity in Certain
Branches of Manufactures

Redistrfcted Activity in Certain
Branches of Manufacture.
Frank H Mason, the United States Con
sui General at Berlin. sends a communi-
cation TO the State Department concern
ing the production and consumption of
copper in Germany. He says the recent
decline in the price of copper to S335-7S per
ton in the controlling market Of England.
coupled with the fact that the total Eu-
ropean imports Of that metal avera ged
only S,09i tons per month during January,
February, and March Of this year, against
1900 tons per month from April 1 to De-
cember q, 1900. is considered an indica-
ton Of the redistrictcd activity which
now prevails in electrical and certain 9th
Ct branches OF manufacture throughout
Great Britain, France, and Germany. Re
ferrins TO the situation. the Consul Cen
eral says:
That this Iun is but temporary and due
largely TO the paralysis of export trade
incident to the wars il South Africa and
Asia, IS generally believed Meanwhile,
the slight decline in the price Of copper
brings that metal into closer harmony
With the current values OF steel and iron
and has already acted as a stirnuIant to
consumers, who are counting on the
steadily Increasing production Of North
America TO maintain the future price Of
copper at or even below its present value
However this may turn out, the present
situa ton is one Of unusual interest From
the German standpoint. the outlook ap-
pears to be substantially as follows
Although complete statistics for the
year 1870 are not yet at hand It is closely
estimated that out of worlds product
Of about 40, s66 tons, North America Yield
ed Z6S.IST tons: England. 80 tons: Austria
Hungary, L13J tons; Russia, 5000 tons;
Chile 500 tons; Germany, 81 $50 tons
and Japan 1850 tOns-the remainder com
ing mainly from Australia, Tasmania. and
Spain According to these figures. which
are expert estimates by high commercial
authorities, the production Of Russia de-
clined so tons and that Of Germany 5.72G
tons as compared with those of the last
preceding year.
In estimating the probable demand for
copper in Germany, it VIII be interesting
to consider the various uses to which that
metal IS principally applied and the pres
ent condition and outlook Of the industries
in which it serves as a leading material
Besides the native supply, Germany
imported last year S35g2-G metric tons of
raw copper, against 70.0914 tons in 1893
OF this import in 1850 G6. ga tons came
from the United States. DeduCtiug from
the sum Of native and imported copper
the sos tons exported from Germany to
neishboring countries, II is found that the
actual German consumption Of last year
was about 10f,G96 tons, as compared with
1862 tons IN 1880 and about 5000 tons in
1880 Of the whole amount consumed in
this country last year. It is estimated that
1000 tons were used in making electrical
conductors and machinery. 2lgg1 tons were
rolled into sheets and rods, 5000 tons were
made into brass and bronze, 1000 tons were
used n chemical manufacture. including
VltrlOl. ZpHg5 tons for ship construction
boiler tubes. fire boxes, etc. and the re-
nainder was made into coins castings
bronze powder. buffers hardware. gas
and electric lighting fixtures, and into va
TiOUs alloys with other metals
For all these purposes except eIectri-
cal manufacture II IS thought probable
that the consumption Of copper in Ger
many VIII not seriously decrease dur
ing the present year How much viii be
used for electrical purposes is q point
upon which opinions differ. Although Ger
tain branches Of the industry-f0r in
stance the construction Of lighting plants
are less active than a year ago all the
great makers Of generators, motors, ca
D!es, and wire are working at fun time
and the extension Of eleCtriC-traTnWaE
Inns IS active and general in England
and most continental countries trade
circular issued BY MesSTs. Aron IIirsch
& Son. q leading copper firm at HaIber-
stddt shows that during the SIX years
?
the increased consumption Of copper in
Germany, Great Britain. France. and
North America averaged - per cent,
while the increased worlds production
during the same period was only % per
cent and il IS stated by the same author
ity that the total reserve stock of raw
copper, instead Of increasing. has dimiu-
ished by 63,02I tons during the past six
years.
"ShipbuildinE, locomotive. and railway
car manufacture, telephone and electric
railway COuStruCtiOn-all, in fact that
concerns transportation and communica-
con-are still in general activity through
cut Europe. and from all these circuTTl-
stances interested experts deduce the be
lief that whatever may be the fate Of iron
and steel under the NJ conditions Of de
mand and organized production, the cop
per market IS not threatened with any
immediate or serious collapse. That this
certain quarters IS but natural Most
consumers Of copper insist that the pres
eEt price Of that metal is artifiCiaIlv
maintained, that it is still out Of due pro
portion TO the market values Of other
meals. and claim that reduction Of II
cents per pound would not only be a saw
ing boon 10 electrical manufacturing in
dustTies. but would increase by a large
percentage the employment of copper for
many purposes from which it is now ex-
Guided.
The Missionary Cheek.