New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-10
TIN OFFERS U. s.
BIG OPPORTUNITY
Erection of SHELTERS
Would Stimulate New
Industry.

If American tin manufacturers Will
erect their own smelters in this coun-
try they not only will open up new
industry but will heip american manu-
facturars to extend their trade in Bo'
livia and other tin ore producing
countries.
This statement was made yesterday
by a tin importer, who pointed out that
Bolivian tin ore is shipped to England
to be smelted and sent back because
there isn't single tin smelter in the
United States. The imports Of tin into
this country have increased from 49,
600 tons in 1890 TO 10000 tons in
1912, and the price has jumped from
20 cents pound in 1890 to 1874 cents
pound in 1914.
"The tin mines Of Bolivia" said the
importer. "aTe in the mountains, near
Lake Titicaca, about $4,000 feet above
sea level. 0ruro is considered the
centre Of the tin mining industry. The
mines are owned in part by English
and Germans, but the largest single
owner is Senior DorsimOn Ratino, whose
mines turned out $4,000 tons Of ore in
1912, valued at SS.S00,00U, and forming
about, SO per cent Of the total product
Of Bolivia. The mines are worked by
native labor. The cost of producing
the concentrate at the mines, includ-
ing milling and concentration, rs about
81 ton; freight TO, port of exporta-
ton, about SAC ton; export tax, Sl5 90
a ton. The ore is shipped in the form
of concentrates because of the high
cost OF coal, though small quantities
are smelted before expectation.
IAN attempt was made in the United
States a few years ago TO import the
tin in the form of ore and smelt it
here, and works were established in
New Jersey for this purpose, but GER
tain of the countries relied upon for
the tin ore placed a high export duty
on the ore, and thus rendered the 2x-
pertinent unsuccessful from the finan-
cial standpoint. This, however, would
not apply in the case of Bolivia, Siace
the tin produced there is rot smelta!
before expectation. The Bolivian rod
uct would probably supply about half
our requirements, as the Geolo, ;ical
Survey puts the Bolivian OUTPUT in 1911
at $4,000 tons and our imports for that
year at 81, 527 tons. The consumption
increasing, the imports of pig tin hav-
ing been in 1860 100000 pounds, and
in 1913 100000.
"The Bolivian tin seems TO be con-
centIated' at the mines, so that the
material shipped contains about so per
cent Of pure tin. Concentration is sim
pie because Of the very great weight
of the tin making it easy TO concen-
trate by crushing the ore and treating
it with water. Smelling is in most
countries performed by mixing the tin
ore with coal and small quantities Of
limestone, this mixture being placed
in furnaces for about eight hours, the
melted tin flowing from the bottom of
the mass. the limestone forming a Stag
which retains the rock and other i'm
purities. The tin obtained by this
smelling is subjected to the further
process Of refining by remelting and
stirring TO permit the escape of gases
and the deposit at the bottom of the
mass of impurities"
Bolivian tin ore shipped direct 70
this country could be paid for through
a system of exchange with the prod
ucts of American manufacturers, the
benefit to this country thus being two
fold. In addition the freight rates to
England and return would be saved.