The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-30
SEIZURE THREATENS
DISASTER TO COPPER
Big Companies Unite in Appeal
for Action by Secretary
Bryan.

Disastrous effects upor the copper in
dustry OF the country are threatened by
the acts OF seizure OF the British navy,
according 20 a letter Of protest sent by
four Of the greatest companies of the
country Yesterday 10 Secretary OF State
Bryan Because Of the fear that ships
cn~ryirs copper to other European ports
than those Of the allies may he seized,
steamship companies practically -"fused
yesterday to accept copper for shipment
to these ports under any acceptable con-
dltions
Ns a result II relief Is not obtained
through the state Department The foreign
trade ~ this country viii be seriously
crippled. II IS said that $4,000, 900
pounds Of copper must be shipped in tho
are to equal those Of last year and that
II shipments continue to he intcrfered with
mucn OF this $4,000. 900 Of business Is
likely to bo lost ~ the country.
Tho American Smelling and Rofnlug
Company, the American Metal Company
Ltd, the United Metals Selln- Company.
which represents Amalgamated Copper,
and the Consolidated Metals Company
signed tho protest sent to the State l'c-
partment. They represent 90 per cent -
the exports OF copper of this country.
They say that In the Pei1ure Of the
Italian steamers San Giovanni and Regina
d Italia at Gibraltar the Ame-'can Smelt-
ur and REFINING Company has GOC tors
Of copper held up the American Metal
Company 200 tons, the Consolidated 40
tons and the United 400 tons, all cou-
signed to Italian ports in the usual course.
Tho kroonland, also held IN by the Brit
4 fAh IL Gta t.I hs.g A..t.
the American Smelling, and 500 tons 10
the United The serious outlook TO-. the
copper companies !s stated as follows:
These measures of Interference with
! our commerce threaten 10 stop altogether
/ the expectation of copper from the United
States to Europe. aud this means prac
/ tically the stopping Of the entire export
| business In that metal. except to England
and France since there is no demand fol
| the American product outside OF Europe
The stopping of the export trade woulC
I affect disastrously the copper mining in
dustry throughout the West"
Tho copper companies have suffered
| heavy losses through the British seizures
/ II was learned yesterday that the 4,40(
| tons of American copper recently taker
! from four Dutch steamers were bought by
/ the British Government and paid for a
| the rate of L. cents pound. The Ameri
/ can companies suffered loss OF abou
| $4,000 in this transaction, because a
! Rotterdam the price would have been /!
cents and even 1874 cents pound. Thu
/ IL cent price paid by the British wa
about the New York market price, plu
| the freight and insurance charges. since
! then not pound OF copper has been sen
| from this country to the Netherlands.
Yesterday not only tho Sclllan Ameri
| can and Lloyd Sabaudo lines, but tn,
| Nclncc and Lloyd Italiano lines refused
! to take cArgoes of copper for Italian ports
| They also refused cargoes of leather
| shoes, rubber, Eutta percha and hematlte
| Agents of the copper companies wer,
securing the shipping fields to get ships Il
| carry orders from abroad but withou
success. Insurance rates on copper wer,
! advanced sharply.