Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-06
ZINC INDUSTRY EVIDENCES
GROWTH BEYOND THE SUPPLY

A statement just issued by the Unit
ed States geological survey shows that
the zinc industry in 1909 had a year
of unexampled expansion. Not only
was the largest output of spelter ever
made in the United States almost COM
pletely absorbed by the market, but
the imports of spelter were much
larger than ever before. Local ac-
counts Indicate a record breaking pro-
duction of zinc ores in the Joplin ana
upper Mississippi valley regions and
from the Franklin furnace mines OF
New Jersey.
The following figures have been COM
piled without change by c. E. Sieben-
thai of the geological survey from re-
ports furnished by all operating zinc
smelters, showing their output for
the first eleven months of the year and
their estimated production in Decem-
ber, and are confidently believed to be
within l per cent of the actual output
Figures showing the imports and eX-
ports were obtained from the RECORDS
of the bureau of statistics, likewise
with estimates for December.
The production of primary spelter
from domestic ore in 1909 is estimated
at 241,S short tons, and from foreign
ore at 16,373 tons, a total OF zoo. 10
tons, worth at the average price Szo,-
967, ,220, as compared to 210,424 tons IN
1908 and 249,S60 tons in 1907. The pro
duction Of spelter from both domestic
and foreign ores, apportioned accord
ing to the states in which smelted'
was approximately as follows: IN
nois, 76,4S6 tons in 1909, as compared
to 5O,244 tons in 1908; Kansas, lu4,oo'
tons in 1909 and 99,298 in l90S; MIS-
souri,. 8,479 tons in 1909 and l0,2Ol IN
IA S64 tons in 1908; eastern, western
and southern states, 50,422 tons in 1909
and 35,S17 tons in 1908. The total pro
duction of spelter is equivalent TO the
output of Sc, 112 retorts operating con-
tinuously through the year, or o0 per
cent of the total smelling capacity
Mexico Sends Zinc
The imports of zinc ore exceeded s. 40 40
records, being approximately lio,I .
short tons. valued at $1,3S1,S36. or tnls
anoo1lnt al ner cent, or 105,600 tons, was
from Mexico. more than double the
quantity imported in 1908, which was
53757 tons. and even more than the
nuantity imported in 1907, which was
1o3 III tons. The exports of zinc ore
show a decrease, being 12456 snodo =
TONS. worth S412, 300, compared to 70, loo
tons in 1908. The imports OF spelteF
show a remarkable increase, pelhs aR-
proximately 10,961 short tons, WorIn
S947. 1876. compared to SS1 tons in l9Vo'
The exports of spelter fell off signify
being 24S7 tons, as against 264S tons III
1908. The exports of zinc dross were
730e tons, valued at $494,15S, compared
to S405 tons in 1908.
The apparent consumption or spellel
in 1909 may be calculated as folloWs'
The sum of the stock on hand at lhe
snelters at the beginning or the year,
10 900 tons, plus the imports, l0'96l
tons. and the production, 26S,2l5 tons,
gives the total available supply. 2SS't9o
tons, From this there is to pe sup
tracted the exports, 2487 tons, and tne
stock on hand at the smelters at the
close Of the year-to be exact, on hand
december 15-10,546 tons, total @ Oh
1908 tons, leaving balance or zSo, 900
tons as the apparent consumption. Inls
calculation takes no account OF the
stocks of spelter held by dealers fot
speculative purposes. On comparing
the consumption in 1909 with the 30
401 tons in 1908, the 22S,524 tons in 1917
and the 220,781 tons In 1906, 1t seems
probable that considerable stocks are
held by dealers.
Spelter opened at st. Louis in Janu-
arv at cents a pound, but dropped
to 452 cents a pound late in Fepruary'
A gradual rise carried prices up to
6.27 cents near the close of the year
The average st. Louis price of prime
western spelter for the year was 0'4
cents pound.