El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-22
Causes Zinc Ore to Be Ship
ped to Germany, Where
the Rate Is Less Than to
the United, States, Duty
Here Considered.

That the Mexican government
miffed because the United States in
creased the duty on zinc ore when I'M
ported into this country from MEXICO
is manipulating it's railway tariffs in
an attempt to throttle the smeiters
of the southwest, is the belief of min
ing men.
In the old tariff the duty on zinc
ore was 90 percent of its value. In
the new tariff the duty is graduated,
being proportional according to the
value of the ore. Ore containing from
10 to 30 percent is IA cent per
pound; between 20 and % percent, IL
cent per pound. and % percent or over,
l cent per pound, the last being the
average value.
Almost coincident with the increase
in duty on zinc, the National Railways
of Mexico issued a tariff from Chihua-
hua to Ell Paso, increasing the freight
rate on zinc, and lowering the rate
from Chihuahua to Tampico, the result
being that it is now possible TO ship
zinc ore from Chihuahua to England
and Germany at a cost of approx
mately $3.50 per ton. gold, as against
$500 per ton and 1 cent per pound
duty to the Kansas and Missouri
sme1ters in the United States.
Zinc Alone Affected
the only ore affected by the new
freight tariff, lead bearing ore being
accepted at the same rate as formerly
Incidentally, the increase in duty on
zinc ore in our tariff is said to have
been a sop to mining interests in
southwest Missouri, said mining inter
ests being of Republican persuasion
That Mexico is attempting TO ALLEVIATE
its smelling business from smelters OF
the United States will be successful, is
not wholly apparent from the customs
house records. The new tariff, increas-
ing duty on zinc, went into effect on
August 5, 1909. The Importation of
zinc into the United States from Mex
leo through this port for the first six
months of the year 1909 (under the old
tariff was 19,07S tons. valued at
s2O6. 967. For the first six months Of
the year 1910, during which the new
tariff was operative, the importations
amounted to 1880 tons, valued at
s19S,4S7, the difference in favor of the
1909 period old tariff, being 1893 tons
Following the increase in duty, there
was little or no zinc imported, due to
off season and the duty increase itself,
so comparison of the six months or
any period preceding the inauguration
of the new tariff to an equal period
of time Immediately thereafter would
not be a fair one. Zinc Importation
is at present on the increase, say
brokers.
The Discriminating Rates.
The present rate on zinc from Chi
huahua TO Ell Paso by the way of the
Mexican National railways * s@S4
per ton, Mexican money (s2.97 gold).
an advance from s3.7S per ton, Mexi-
can money (s1-S9 gold). At the same
time it is said the rate per ton from
to Tampico. on the east
coast, was reduced from 1914 to 1920,
Mexican money CAST to $3.50 gold),
making the total cost per ton to Eng
land in Germany approximately $3.50
Mexican money, or $3.50 gold. duty
free The cost Of shipping a ton Of %
percent zinc from Chihuahua to the
smelters is 1920, plus the
duty.
result Of the increased duty on
zinc and increased freight rates will
probably be the establishment of
smelters in the mining districts Of
Mexico. 4 concession is said TO have
been already secured to build zinc
smelter at Torreon. The time consumed !
in shipment and other unfavorable
factors are apparently operating
its smelling business from the United
States, as no great decrease in the
amount Of zinc importations has taken
place at this, the principal port Of en-
try