The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-11-08
ZINC SITUATION Is WITHOUT
PARALLEL FOR 70 YEARS

The zine industry has worked itsel
into a situation that IS unparallele'
i'm the memory of twenty years ant
is likely 10 be of important cnec
upon the market for the metal, say
w. Il. ingalls, I'm Engineering and Min
ing Journal. Briefly stated. there Il
already shortage of the metal II
Europe and there is prospect tha'
there may be also a shortage I'M Amer
lea. The causes leading To these con-
ditions are different IL Is useful %
summarize their nature and devote
some consideration to the probable
results.
In the United states a chronic con-
dition during the last twenty years
has been surplus Of smelling cap
acity. condition that is almost IN
berent 10 all branches of metallurgl-
cal industry. We have witnessed one
radical change in zinc smelling viz
the virtual abandonment of the old
Belgian system in Kansas and Miss
ouri, about 1900-l901, when the ma
tural gas of lola and other places be-
gan To be extensively used as fuel but
this change created no disturbance IN
general commercial conditions. In fact
il was contributory To the enlarge
ment of smelling capacity, the natural
gas smelteries being built with much
larger furnace units and larger assic-
gate capacity than formerly, WINE
those Of the old coal smclters were
put into temporary operation when
market conditions rendered them
profitable.
The eventual failure of the supply OF
natural gas in Kansas and the prob
able transfer Of the zinc smelling IN
tiustry To Illinois were early pointed
out and these prospects were recoS-
nizcd by many engaged in zinc smelt-
ing. There has been a noteworthy con-
struction Of new works in Illinais, but
by no means enough. and as often the
case in such matters, the impending
situation comes as more or less of a |
surprise.
The total production of virgin spell
ter i'm the United States in 1903 was
2Ge. 462 tons. OF this. 1898 tons were
produced by smelters using natural
gas as fuel, and los. 464 tons by smell
ters using coal. Shelters making sui
phuric acid as a byproduct produc-
ed 1O30S7 tons Of spelter. Some Of
these used natural gas as fuel and
some coal the latter greatly FREEDOM
mating.
We should foresee a total production
of about 100000 tons The consump-
ton of spelter in the United States
in 1909 was about $4,000 tons. Thus
there is indicated an actual short
age If consumption should rise to the
former rate.
Shortage in producing capacity al
ways brings out something previously
dead. There are several old
coal smeltcrs that might be put in
operation again. Some Of the natural
gas smeltcrs will change their furnaces
10 oil burners. even if oil costs the
equivalent OF and &c per 1000 cubic
feet of gas. The Bartlesville smell
ters can add quickly 10 their capacity
The proportionate use Of high grade
ore would be increased so as to make
the most out of available capacity. All
of these things, and others, would hap
pen if the margin between spelter and
ore should become large enough.
But. anyway the spelter market is
in an unusually secure position. While
Il may go up materially on the other
land it can hardly go down, except {
perhaps. for some trning and temper
lry setback, even If consumption
should continue slow. This is because
II the substratum Of strength that we
1ave I'm the European situation.
ON the other side there is now an [
,ctual shortage Of spelter, resulting {
rom the great consumptive demand
md the restriction of production un- {
Ter the terms of the convention. There
s. some fear that the market may pass q
,evond the control of the convention !
before the end Of the year. The London !
price has already risen to the neigh
Dorhood of 5.2Oc. IT consumptive con-
iitions should become uufavorahle In
his country. we might easily meet the q
,hanccs TO export smelter. Such an |
went Is not likely 10 transpire. but II I
S something worth bearing in mind.
The European convention viii prob 3
IDLY be renewed upon terms providing
or unlimited production until condi- !
Ions lead 10 an accumulation of stock q
beyond "A certain figure after which an
,greed restriction will como into cf- q
ect. The present convention has been q
as successful as its promoters ever I
and it is, we believe, the
lrst European spcltcr convention that I
las not ended in disscnsion and dis !
-uption.
UTAH COALITION.