The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-04-16
LOUISIANA SHIPS
RAW SULPHUR
Begins Trade Fight Against
Anglo Sieilian Company,
Which Held the Monopoly
First Cargo of the Product
Was Sent Out in October,
Consisting Of 5000 Tons

In his report TO the State Depart
ment. Consul General Skinner. at Mar
settles, France. says:
The first cargo of American raw sui
phur. consisting. of 5000 tons. was ship
ped from Louisiana TO Marseilles in
October, and there seems to be a fair
prospect that American shippers VIII
share permanently in the important
French trade in this article. The re-
quirements Of this country are 10000
tons year, nearly all Of which Is used
to prevent the spread OF cryptogamic
diseases of the vines. Approximately
one-third of this total is ground and
sold in its natural form, while the re-
mainder is superheated and preciDi-
tated in the form of flakes OF pure sui
phur, known on the market as SQUIRE
neige. More than one-half of all the
sulphur imported into France is re-
ceived at the ports Of Marseilles and
Cette. Heretofore the Anglo Sicilian
Sulphur Company (Limited) has had
virtual monopoly OF the market, their
prices per 100 kilos (220.46 pounds. cost
and freight, Marseilles, being as fol-
lows on October %: Third current o.
Gillian, 81 So; third good Sicilian, 81 80;
third fine Sicilian, 81 So; second fine ST.
Gillian, 81 08.
AMERICAN PRODUCT PUREST.
The last-named grade is the one for
which the important demand exists,
and against this inferior quality the
American producers offer sulphur 1913
pure. The lowest prices OF which 81
Gillian sulphur has been sold in Mar
settles. Of which find any record, were
80 cents less than the abOve-quOted
prices in 1897, and were offered under
the stress of exceptional conditions In
Sicily. at the general meeting OF the
Anglo-Sicilian Company on October IA,
in London, the chairman reported gross
profits amounting to $914,430, against
$751;, $50 in the previous year. Exports
had Increased 10000 tons.
The chairman warned the sharehold-
ers that the company was trading
concern and liable to the vicissitudes
OF trade. Sicily, he said. had been
virtually the sulphur producer or the
world, and there had been practically
no serious competition from other
sources; but it was this year threat
ened with competition by certain mines
in Louisiana, where It was claimed
that a considerable quantity or sui
phur could be produced
METHOD OF EXTRACTION.
Our American sulphur deposits were
discovered in Calcasieu parish. La.
thirty-five years ago. while petroleum
found was practically useless. however.
being buried under 400 feet Of quick
sand. The rock being porous and filled
with water containing sulphureted hy-
drogen, the sinking OF shafts was inn
possible by old methods. After millions
Of dollars had been spent in attempts
to reach the sulphur, it was decided by
Herman Frasch to extract it by the ap-
plication Of water, superheated under
pressure to many degrees above boiling
point. 1t is then forced by means Of
iron pipes into the sulphur rock. The
sulphur. being insoluble IN water and
of greater specific gravity. falls TO the
bottom of the we'll or deposit. from
which point il is raised to the surface
by means Of an air pump. On the sur
face it is allowed TO CONCEAL, and Is
then ready for shipment.
The entry Of louisiana sulphur into
the worlds market is an unmistakable
triumph for American ingenuity and
commercial courage. which has brought
it's own prompt reward-New York
Advertiser.