Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-15
How the War Affects Us.
xxlI.-Metal 0pportuni-
ties.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.-

From the midst of the worlds con-
fusion, war-shattered industry, the
United States should emerge the indis-
putable leader in the working and manu-
facture of metals Our two greatest COM
petitors, England and Germany, are de-
voting their energies to war The ex-
port of at least one of these countries is
completely smashed. while the export pro-
duction of the other will undoubtedly be
largely curtailed Then, too. the lesser
competitions of Belgium, Austro-Hungary
and France are either eliminted or dimin-
ished to insignifcance.
There are many rich and rapidly
STRENGTHENING markets for metals and
metal products TO be served over the
world outside of Europe. and the United
states is the only country at peace Win
The capacity for serving them With the
exception of tin, il has mineral resources
within its boundaries sufficient to every
demand Moreover. its metal working
technique is of equal development with
thai of Germany and England, and Its
metal working and machinery industries
have the benefit of highly efficient or
ganizatien with which to undertake in
creased business.
England, Germany and America have
Practically QlVlQeQ the iron, SLtei dilu
machinery mar
World Metal Market kets of the world.
Divided by Three. had S such large
market for these products within itself
that it has failed to obtain its full share
of foreign business. The Germans. with
poor ores, but with interchangeable inuus-
try. have been formidable statesmen in
NAIL a a.
IN order to promote tneir Chinese trade IN
machinery the Germans Iounueu s,,en-
tine ana technical schools IN emma, that
increasing numbers ceiesliais might pe
tralneu To German meInous ana learn to
depend upon German mecnanlsns ana
suppnes.
here Germany was forced to over
come opstacIes o. poor ores and indIftel-
ent coais, England las rlcn SUPPLIES OF
both cta.s ana ores IN soou cranes. she.
too, hau iIrmIy Settied INDUSTRY, with
the advantages mat come OF long estab-
ilSnILient. Iiie resources, howeysE. of
the United States IN Goa, iron ore and
otner minerals are vastly greater than
those OIL ether OF her principal rivals.
With the inclusion of Alaska, there are
PROBABLY few countries in the world with
superior resources IN the minerals OF
greatest commercial Value. 1t is not
unukeIy that Russia alone of ali ma
tons excels US in this form of wealth.
The development of our mineral re-
sources has been very rapid In the
last quar-
Mineral Resources ter of
Show big Development. puring
this period, according to statistics COM
piled by the United States geological sur
vey. the total mineral production of the
country has increased from s5M1.a1,,,0oh
to 5000, o>1W'o. Chief among these min
erals are clay. coal and iron ore, all or
which are present in this country in al
most inexhaustinle supply.
The total reserve OF easily accessible
and now available coal within the United
States has oeen estimated at 1.3a3 Ieo,-
UD,U0 tons, or enough 10 allow each In
uividual of our estimated 1W,DhJ,tt0 OF
reputation ten tons of this precious sub
stance each year for more than Loo
years. The total quantity of coal con-
tanned within the known area of the United
States has ueen esuima Ien at 3,uso,2t4,-
stDVOo tons. 1t is estimated that this
country's petroleum resources are be-
tween 24.JGl,Ouo.dW and 10.o00,oD1. coo
barrels.
Our iron ores in the earth are esti-
vast supplies lie just across the border IN
Canada. The United States produces
roughly Ss0,aO0,O00 of gold annually,
about 5o,000,oJO fine ounces of silver.
nearly 1.Oo0.0Oo.Ooo pounds of copper,
some 100000 tons of lead. near.y $4,000
tons of zinc, and there is no indication.
that the supplies on hand are being In
any way exhausted There are, further,
eNhaustless supplies of china, porcelain
and fire clays. of marbles. natural ce--
nent compounds and all other minerals
used in the arts and idustries, with the
exception of tin. So much for the raw
materials.
In the manufacture of iron and steel
the United States has long taken a posi-
ton with
o. S. Among Leaders the leaders
in Metal Manufactures. lean am, ma.
chinery is second to that of no other ma
ton. This country is fitted to take up
the business of. supplying iron and steal
products and machinery to the world
Just where Europe left off, and is abb to
do so without undue struggle or study.
The railway equipment, the electrical m