The Washington herald., 1914-06-11
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How Baltimore Gained and Lost Her
Copper Prestige.
Written Expressly for The Herald.) :
ny DIR. e. =. EDWARDS.

written Expressly for The Herald.) :
ny DIR. e. J. EDWARDS.
The late John Stanton. during very
! active career, gained the reputation OF
being the most hly-qualified expert
authority upon the copper industry of tho
United States. He was also esteemed a
very great authority upon American min
ing resources. So great was his reputa-
tion as an authority upon copper mining.
manufacture, and sale, that In the latter
years of his life II was customary to
speak Of him as the Nestor of the cop
per business in the United States.
Perhaps the most intimate of the busi-
ness and personal friends Of John STAN
ton was Joseph z. Gay, who is still liv-
ing. although advanced in years. Be-
fore III health came to Mr.. Gay. it was
his pleasure to narrate highly interest
ing anecdotes associated with the early
development OF the copper industry in
the United States, long before It was
thought possible that this country would
become the greatest producer and mar
keter OF copper Of any nation in the
world.
Some time ago the statement was made
that for many years the copper smelling
industry in the United States was CEN
tered at Baltimore. In fact. copper
smelling in this country originated in
Baltimore. That statement was made to
me by one who is in high authority and
who. in fact, forty years ago, was accus-
toned to go to Baltimore two or three
times a year to buy the copper which he
needed in his manufacturing business.
was curious to know how Baltimore
became the first great copper market in
the United States, and how IL happened
that In Baltimore the first important
smelling of copper took place. Further
more. I was curious to know why Balti-
more lost this highly important and very
prosperous business.
Mr.. Cav explained as follows the man.
ner in which Baltimore gained and after
ward lost prestige as a copper market:
"a good many years ago there lived in
Baltimore a highly accomplished man of
science who was especially interested in
the treatment OF minerals. He was as
sociated with Peter Cooper when Mr..
Cooper established the great iron fur
naces identified by his name at Balti-
more. II was in that way that Peter
Cooper got into the iron business.
This scientist was DIR. Kensr. and II
was in Baltimore that he perfected a
process hy which II was possible to treat
copper ore successfully and very eco
nomicslly. There had been considerable
vi FOVpeF D0fn from
Chile and from Cuba to Baltimore. That
was at a time wnen Baitimore's COM
merce with South America and with the
West Indies was greater than that pos
sessed by any other American city.
Therefore. in view of the fact that
copper ores in large amounts were
brought to Baltimore from Cuba and
from Chile. which countries were Mt that
time the main source Of supply. and in
view Of the further fact that DIR. Kener
perfected process by which copper ores
could be treated successfully. 1t was in
evitahle that Baltimore should become
the great copper market OF the United
States. Afterward the copper deposits
Of the Lake Superior rezion-with which
John Stanton became very familiar and
with the production of -I!ch he was as
sociated-inevitahly led to the establish
ment of a new copper market and as
Boston capital was chiefly interested in
these Lake Superior properties. II was
natural that tho copper market should I've
shifted from Baltimore TO Boston"
Copyright. 1884, by p ]. EdWardS AL rishts
resrred.
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell why
He Remembers a Great Civil War Finan-
cier"