Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-16


production figures significantly in g,
years results, and as the war goes on
this country's hold upon the foreign
zinc markets should be secured beyond
danger of assault.
Germany has been large producer
of zinc. In 1913 her furnaces turned
out 1882 short
U. 5. Now Only tons. The German
zinc smelters are
Aihc 1fooucer. in Upper Silesia,
and in Rhemish Prussia and West
phalia. In Upper Silesia the smelt-
srs are mostly in the kattowitz,
Beuthen and Tarnoquitz district,
which. as their names forcefully sug-
sest, are just across the Polish-Rus-
sian border. These places are within
the theater of Russian-German-Aus
TRAN operations and cannot have done
else than completely suspend.
The same is the case with the two
Smelters over the border in Russian
roland. In any event, the output OF
these plants cannot reach the outside
world. While the smelters in Rhenlsh
Prussia and WeStpha1ia are, as vet,
without the actual pattie. zone, some of
them are very near and most of them
are within 100 miles of Liege. However,
plants are being worked. and they, too
cannot get their product to the outside
world.
Belgium was another great producer
81 zinc: In fact. the output of the Bel
GUM furnaces ranks just below that
of the United States, which is the
largest zinc-producing nation in the
world. The case with the Belgian in
dustry is even more dreary than that
of Germany. The zinc-smelting Pants
of that country lie between yeryier and
Itege and are strung along the valley
of the Mouse between Liege and Ma
muir. All this country now is wa. :
blanketed and hostile to the Belgians
The Belgian furnaces produced 217,-
92S short tons of ENC in 1913. Liege
vas the cradle Of Eufope's zinc refin-
ing industry, the first continental zinc
works being erected there in 1907. 1t
IS reported that some of the zinc ore
worked in Belgium is finding its way
into Antwerp. The output of that little
nation at present, however, must be
) negligible.
:. =
Zinc smelling was mentioned in Eng
land as early as 1880. Great Britain's
production of the
Allies Sme.ters metal In 1913
Closed by War. short tons 70 0' ~
likely be greatly cuitailed by a lack
OF labor With every able-bodied man
ordered to the colors, the French
slnei'ers will be forced to shut down
Ihese works, which lie outside of the
territory of probable German invasion.
turned out about $4,000 short tons in
l3lS. Other small ENC smelters in Eu-
rope, Australia and Japan Will likely
t oIis ieel the effects of an Interrupted
transportation.
Germany. Belgium, Great Britain.
france, Spain. Holland, Australia an
S2fS, Norway and RUSSIAN Poland pro-
uuced total of 720.so1 short tons Of
zinc IN 1873. During the same year
the smelters of the United States pro-
duced s46.676 short tons. Among our
competitors. the production OF Ger
many, Austria II dllgary, Belgium and
RUSSIAN Poland has been coE.p!etely
,iaited. While the outputs o, English,
french, Dutch and Norwegian sneIt-
ers Will be seriously Handicapped by
lack OF labor and OF Transportation
Facilities. The output of sma tiers in
australia and Japan IN 1913 was only
1905 short tons.
This leaves the United States the
zinc center of the world. Zinc pro-
duction in this country, with the m tai
at and cents a pound, has been
growing rapidly of late. with a rapid
jty seemingly outstripping the de-
found in the Joplin district OF Mis-
souri,. in New Jersey, Colorado, Mon
lana and in other states. There is
apparently no danger of the ore re-
cnt increasing demand for many gen
crations. The ore is also imported
from Mexico and Canada
The zinc smelling capacity of this
country has Increased out of all pro-
Zinc Smelling home CON
Capacity Increased. c sap,.on - &c
Inmates prepared by the United states
geological survey, which places the
p estimated annual maximum capacity
: OF our smelters at 561,I65 short tons
and our apparent consumption at 14q.
Jog short tons In other words, here
IS another industry in which we are
prepared to take up all the trade
which Europe has dropped at just i;
moments notice, and with little or ne
dimculty We are ready to supply the
world with all the zinc it needs
Moreover, there has been a large in.
crease in the amount of zinc ore mined
in the United States. Both the amour,
of ore mined and the amount prepared
win undoubtedly he greatly stimu.
lated if the price of zinc is raised or
account of it's more limited produc
ton. There also might be an incr, a@e
in our imports of this ore from Mex
leo. Canada and Australia, the orc:
from the last mentioned to be woi he(
IN the United states under bond. flow
ever. this work could be done only u
the expense of home production, ant
is therefore not especially desifa BILE
Americas constrained oppo tunits
.fnds a wide-awake and well prepared
people. and it is to be taken adyan
tage Of in the best way possible ant
TO the limit.
South America, Canada, China ant
, other lands in the far east will be i'm.
4lediate lucrative markets for thi.
product and the other products into
whose composition ziBc largely enters
: CanAda's imports of zinc slabs ans
sheets in 1912 amounted to 500 shor
tons. while her imports of galvanized
wire and sheets amounted to 1919.
short TONS ImportS of zinc slabs an,