The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01
SEA SEIZURES MAY
CUT COPPER OUTPUT
Trade Out OFF by England Need
ed to Avoid Further Re-
ductiOn at Mines.
TRADE PROTESTS ACTION

for neutral ports brought from four of
tho leading exporters of the metal pro-
test which they signed and teleEraphed
TO the State Department nj Washington.
Activities OF the British navy from the
! English Channel TO the Mediterranean,
where several boats bound for Italy were
held. were the cause OF the protest.
Over 10000. 600 pounds OF copper have
been taken from vessels bound for neutral
ports and landed in England, which coun-
try has paid American producers, although
not always prices that were regarded as
satisfactory England's contention has
been that the copper was ultimately duo
for Germany and to prevent It's getting
into that country the British orders have
been 10 apprehend neutral vessels.
Copper producers have become much
perturbed over tho situation, and one OF
them yesterday pointed out to THE Sun
that should all foreign outlets for our
copper be cut Off except into England and
France II would he necessary in the near
future TO curtail production to n greater
extent, possibly to the extent of clos
ing down some OF the larger mines.
Another factor that brought disturb
/ ance into the copper camp was tho d,c!-
sion OF the Treasury Department at
Washington to withhold export statistics
until thirty days after the clearance OF
vessels. This was done In order to mini!
] fnlze the publicity attendant upon inc
| shipment OF munitions OF war TO various
| foreign countries. This step was taken
az the instance OF the Merchants Associa-
, ton Of New York. Producers believed
! that the absence OF figures on copper cN-
ports from day to day which had been
available for vars might tend greatly
! to restrict even the small demand now
/ coming from domestic sources.
Wireless dispatches from Berlin yea
terday stated that Germany had al the
/ copper II need d for war purposes an
association Of metal concerns having been
/ formed 10 corral rs much as possible.
I The competition for business among the
wire manufacturers has been most we're.
/ az Indicated by offers Of copper wire on
/ basis OF IL cents n pound. This means
/ that copper must be obtained for II csnts
20 show n profit, II further indicates
that manufacturers in their efforts TO
book new orders have Indirectly been
selling copper metal short
Sheet copper prices have again been
! lowered y cent n pound 20 l6iec. for
! sheets and l4iac. for rolls
| Italy has forbidden the expectation OF
! copper. Similar steps were taken n an
earlier date by Holland. Norway. Swe-
den and Denmark
These European neutral countries took
this step to proven, tho shipment from
/ within their individual boundaries Of
copper which had been consigned 20 them
! from the United States large tonnage
OF which was actually intended for Ger
man consumption.
| Finding Il Impossible to import copper
and other contreLband OF wer direct, Ger
many and Austria sought 20 secure sup
plies from this country Indirectly. but
the strict watch kept by tho British
navy on Atlantic commerce has made
these attempts more or less futile.
A rerpendicular drop OF 90 per cent.
| marked tho fall in copper imported into
| the United States during the month
OF September. as compared with the pre-
cedinr month. the totals FOR tho two
periods being 500 tons and 1850 tons
! respectively Up To october ! there had
been brought into this country from for
eign mines l0s.7Oo tons, against l3e,5oO
tons IN the first nine months OF 1913.
In but one month this year wae there
more copper brought here than IN tho
same month OF a year ago, tho exception
| being June, during which period thers
arrived here 14,500 tons, against 1880
tons IN 1919
A worlds curteiinent OF the metal
was the primary factor In reducing an
ports ofo copper Rio Tlnto, which hal
been shipping pyrrtcs from Spain 20
srnelters and reAneries in this country
| for treatment, has ceased those shipments.
The companys operations have got down
| to a three day week basis Australian
matte has practically stopped coming
here, while Japanese mines have greatly
curtailed their exports 10 the United
| States
The American Smelling and Refining
Company has fixed 1909 cents pound
as tho settling price for copper bought ut
its smelters during the month OF Septem-
her. Final settlement OF 1894 cents
pound was effected by this company for
copper received In August upon which
It had previously advanced 10 cents
pound.
The Engineering and Mining Journal
has not yet resumed the publication OF
average prices, which were dropped early
in August. upon which n large tonnage
OF copper between mining companies and
selling agencies changed hands
The sales agency OF l.. Vorelstein
Co. will account for all material received
at actual price realized when the tonnages
become marketable ms refined copper or.
| II preferred. the copper will be sold on
order OF the conslgnor for per cent.
commission
Italy took the lead from England last
week In the amount OF copper cleared
from New York. there having been con
signed 10 Genoa G.e46,2ss pounds and to
| Naples, 3,s33.s0 pounds, total FOR tho
| two italian ports OF lO.7s0.093 pounds
The weeks shipments were 2O,436,57l
pounds. the heaviest since the war started
In fact not since the week ended March
pounds.
! The individual conHgnments made dur
Ing the past week were as follows
Cpounds) Bergen. Norway. 447,oa5
. Christiania Sweden, s6.20' Genoa,
Italy, G,94G2ss; Glasgow, 1899; Goth
enherg. Sweden, 925,563 Hnvre, 1913
1872; Liverpool. 2.9l3,7l7; London, 1,12O,-
O9s: Manchester, l,27s,o9G; Marseilles,
1896 Naples SsS3,s05; total, 2o,4S6,-
sci.
Ever since the war broke out England
has assumed the leading position in re-
spcct 20 taking American copper, this he
Ing possible through the elimination OF
both Holland and Germany as countries
TO which the metal could be shipped with
out fear OF interrogation. Last weeks ship
mcnts 10 English ports. however, totalled
but 53li,9ll pounds. against 1o,7S0,0 93
pounds for two italian ports,
Prices softencd some. but toward the
close with metal being obtninable again
at TX cents.