The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-08-25

industries safe from the Interruptions
of war we are now experiencing
What other industries are there
now dependent upon the products OF
other countries. which a be made
independent? Mr.. Lane was asked.
THE steel industry, for one he
replied. manganese is of large inn
portance to this industry, and
largest supply Of ore comes from
Russia and other countries with which
commerce is now p~aralyzed. There
are large deposits in South America
which have not been developed, but
it is not necessary even to go so far
away as that. We have great stores
Of manganese in this country which
has been largely untouched because
it is somewhat inferior in quality. To
bring this home supply into use means
merely adoption Of methods for its
publication, which are known and
can be successfully used, and then
we can continue making manganese
steel without regard TO foreign wars
or sources Of material. There are
other international contributions,
though, in the steel industry. We
have depended largely upon the island
of Ceylon for the graphite used in
the manufacture of the crucibles in
which crucible steel for edge tools
n small firearms is made. Or to
take another metal, European smelt-'
erS, using in part Chinese and Mexi-
can ores, have in late years furnished
much of the worlds supply of anti
mony, which is used in the manufac-
ture OF type metal, and also medici-
nally. War has paralyzed the pro-
duction of antimony in England Cat
Newcastle), and prices have gone up.
AntlmOny, however, is easily extract
ed from many low grade ores which
we have in great quantities in at least
seven States. and there is no reason
why we should not make his extrac-
countries, both as to supply INC price.
Similar conditions hold in the case
Of arsenic.
"A large tonnage Of ferromanga-
nese alloys comes from Germany and
England. 1t is only in the last ten
years that we have freed ourselves
from Sicily's monopolistic control of
the sulphur supply. Flint pebbles are
common and the supply large enough
IN n United States. but for such an
apparently unimportant product as
these, used in the fine grinding oil
cement and ores. we have been de.
pending upon the chalk cliffs Of Eng.
land, Denmark and France. Ores anG
mineral freight depend almost Who'll.
ly upon the tramp steamer, a car.
l r1er OF foreign p%arentage. Now the
tramp steamer has taken to cover
: and all kinds Of ocean freight, eSpe
5 cialiy low grade freight. will be helt
up and its carriage almost ~entirel,
: suspended during the war"
"Wil1 this suspension mean dis
aster to our industries
MOT disaster, but inevitable inter
S ruptiOn to some extent replied MI
e Lane. at means that suddenly ma
s terials upon which great industrie
e depend, NUT be obtained from othe
eel SOJlrcQS 1n0 YOrtorc -.
manufacturers are making anNiou
n inquiries as to where they may fin,
in the United States supplies Of crud
" materials to replace the foreign sup
plies now shut off. This is the or
d portunity of the United States to fire
Y itself from dependence Of its indus
N tries upon other countries, and bus
Y ness men are awakening to this fac
Al They look to the Government for al
a in finding new sources Of materis
is with which to keep the factorie
open and in operation. When the
re have found the domestic supply an
begin its use, they will not retur
le to dependence upon the foreign SUI
a ply, AMI thereafter good OF bad time
s in the United States. so far as tn
,r maintenance Of industries is concer
h ed. will be more independent Of fol
i eign complications"
;s What is the Government doing
~ aid industry in these matters?
- "All it can do under present laws
replied the Secretary. THE nation
N greatest. natural are a pa
81 of the public domain. and under tt
N charge of the Interior Department
The annual reports on the miner
resources of the United States pul
lished by the United States Geologic
Survey for the last thirty years, CO..
~ tain not only statistics of yearly pr
-, ductiOn of all commercial mineral
but also useful facts regarding Il
e occurrence, exploitation and apple
ny ton in the arts and sciences Of Il
II mineral wealth of the country. T
Geological Survey has been instruc
ai ed to furnish upon request the a
dresses of producers from whom bu
ers can supply their wants if t
eu minera is produced at all in tt
e. country or information regarding t
localities where reported deposits a
20. undevelOped. In some instances lar
n deposits remain undeveloped SimI
Cd because of the fact tina diStan