The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-09-26
The Cyanide Situation

The war in Europe has had the effect of paralyzing industry
throughout the world. Even in the United States the only great nation
that occupies a neutral position, the effects on various lines of industry
have been very great. The confhgration in Europe, says the Engineer
ing and Mining Journal. has brought the American people face to face
with the fact that we do not produce many of the substances necessary
tor our commercial comfort and further, that some of them are pro-
duced only in Germany. Finding the latter nation efectua1y out of
communication with us, and likely to continue St for some time, a mild
panic has been caused, due to the apparent necessity for the abrupt cs-
saton of some of our industries, with the consequent loss of occupation
by a large number of workmen. In general industry the most promi-
nent item in the class under consideration is dyestufs; in the mining
field it is cyanide.
There seems to be a good deal of uncertainty about the mamfac.
tre of cyanide, but there is no uncertainty about the proposition that
if we do not get it, a large number of men will be thrown out of en-
ployment and the supply of precious metals will be materially reduced.
AS to why it is nc: more largely manufactured in the United States,
there is a difference of opinion. Independent chemists maintain that it
can be manufactured cheaply almost anywhere, but that the present out
put is in the hands of a German monopoly, which has efectuany throt-
tied all attempted competition. The producers deny this, and state that
petition is purely through economic reasons. Be that as it may, the fact
remains that the most of the cyanide used in precious metal, COW :.
made in Germany, and the supply in this country is decidedly short.
One factory only is in operation here. Its owners say that they
are prepared to supply all contract holders with their necessities; also
that regular customers will probably be taken care of up to their normal
requirements, but that no increase of consumption can be provided for
have made efforts to secure advance supplies sufficient to secure them
from ideness. The producers have refused 70 connlv with tbess 70
quests, and this fact has done moret than any one thing to give a greater
impression of stringency than that which really exists. Aside from the
German cyanide factories, there is a good production in England, but
that will be of little Use in America, since it is likely to be claimed for
South African use. The Rand properties ar of great value to Great
Britain in the present circumstances, and it is likely that every effort
will be made to keep them at work.
That cyanide is not made more largely in the United States is not
through lack of knowledge or material, but O account of either or
both of the conditions already mentioned. Now that the necessity is so
great, several movements ar o n foot to institute its manufacture n a
commercial scale. One such movement was instituted four or FIVE years
ago in Mexico, where a French syndicate had perfected plans to mann
facture sodium cyanide in Mexico City. Civil war in that country pre-
vented the naturalization of the project at that time, and it is not
known whether it has been since considered. The American Cyanide
company has been considering cyanide production for some time. and
has, in fact, ordered the necessary machinery to make it, with the idea
of marketing cyanide not later than January, 1915. Since the ma
chinery was ordered in Germany, there is a strong factor of doubt about
the time manufacturing means will be completed, unless the machinery
had left Europe previous to the outbreak of war. In any event. new
American cyanide seems a practical certainty some day. In addition to
those mentioned, there ar two other movements to produce cyanide
here for the mining industry. Neither of these, however. has PROGRESS
ed to the point of giving definite information a to when production
will be started or how much will be offered. Late aduces point 0 a
notable increase on the part of the English factories, so that those who
contemplate production here are hesiating, keeping a careful " On
those movements.