The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-21
Dyestuffs and Magnesite
Two Striking Examples
of Wars Effect
NO LONGER NEED FOR
SPECIAL AGREEMENT
Financial Relations Between London
and New York Have Adjusted
Themselves Naturally-To
Establish Credits
BY OLIAND

New York. December 21.-lSpecjal)
Among the other benefits or opportunities
which the European war has created for
the United States is that which is now
opening for the development of certain
natural resources which have hitherto
been neglected. In industrial circles the
presumption is strong that science will
show how to manufacture dyestuffs which
hitherto have been imported from Ger
many. We possess all the raw material
necessary for this product, and it is spok-
en- of as a fine object lesson which Edison
taught when recently, having been de-
prived by the war of an ingredient of
which he made large use in his manu-
featuring plant, he worked out a formula
which now enables him to produce in his
own plant, or did before it was burned
an ample supply of this material.
Until the war in Europe began, the
United States was in great measure de-
pendent upon Germany for magnesite, a
mineral which is used in many industries.
1t cost the United States about $50 ton
before war made imports of it impossible.
The price ran UP to $105 a ton and very
little of it could be produced even at that
prohibitive figure. 1t was known, how
ever, that in California, there were prac-
tcelly inexhaustible deposits of this min
eral. and the fortunate opening of the
Panama canal to navigation shortly before
the European war began made 1t possible
to transport this mineral from California
to the eastern coast of the United States
at small cost. The result is that within
a few days capital has undertaken to
develop these California mines, and upon
such large lines that hereafter we shall
be spared the necessity of importing this
mineral.
Curiously enough, just as this capital
was perfecting the plans information came
from England that it is the purpose to
forbid the export of magnesite from Great
Britain. An embargo will probably be put
upon the export of the article. The chief
reason for this disposition OF Great Brit
ain to prevent the export of magnesite is
undoubtedly the fact that science has
shown the way to utilize the mineral in
the manufacture of a commodity which
Tor some purposes will take the place
of aluminium. Science declares that the
product win have tensile strength three
times that of aluminium, while 1t will be
considerably lighter. 1t will, therefore,
be especially available for arships of all
kinds and apparently in the construction
OF airships of the biplane or monoplane
type England expects to be diligently oc-
eupiedl for some years.
Half Billion in Value
There is connection or relation which
10 not remote between two announce
ments which were made on the same day
the latter part of last week. One is the
semi-authoritative report from London
that it is now realized by the bankers of
that city that the need of any artificial
arrangements between the United States
and Great Britain of financial charac-
ter is ended. This proposed agreement
was the special and official mission which
was intrusted to Sir George Paish early
In October which had for its purpose con-
terences with the administration at Wash
lpgton and with American bankers to the
end that some highly artificial interna-
uonal financing be arranged so that the