The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-01
WAR cURTAILs MANGANESE.
Supplies From Several Countries Have
been Cut OFF.

been Cut of.
Among the important industries tina
have been affected by the war in Eu
rope is the production OF manganese or
and alloys. The ores are used in tn,
manufacture Of glass and dry batteries
and the alloys are essential in the man
ufacture of steel. In 1913 the United
States received from Russia and lndii
about three-fourths of the Manganese,
ore required for domestic use and i'm
ported from England and Germany about
half the amount of ferromanganese need
ed by the steel industry. d. +. Hewett
of the United States Geological Survey
who has examined the figures showing
the imports OF these materials for the
first nine months OF 1914, states that
the receipts of manganese ore have been
$1,000 tons, or 10 per cent less and those
of ferromanganese 37420 tons, or 81 per
cent less than for the corresponding pc
Rod in 1913. As the Russian ore IS
shipped from the ports OF Poti and Ba-
tum on the Black sea, through the Bos-
porus, the entrance of Turkey into the
war in October and the consequent clos
ing of the straits to English ships will
greatly curtail if not completely stop the
export of all Russian ore. 1t seems prob
able, therefore, that the receipts of ore
during the last three months of 1914
were much less than for the correspond
ing period in 1913 The imports Of ore
for the entire year of 1914 were probably
at least % per cent and of ierroman-
ganese 40 per cent less than for the pre-
ceding year.
The rise in prices Of ore and ferroman-
ganese reflects the decline in imports.
According to the schedule published by
the Carnegie Steel Co., this rise ranges
from so cents to 81 ton, according to
the grade. The price for standard 50
per cent ferromanganese was almost con-
slant at $40 ton until August. During
the few weeks of confusion following the
outbreak of the war extraordinary prices
reaching as high as $40 a ton were
quoted. though it is probable that little
was sold at prices above 500 ton.
From August there was a steady decline
TO S62 a ton until November, and re-
Gently the price has risen TO $50 a ton
The price of spiegeleisen has shown sim
liar variations but to a less degree, rang
ing from minimum of S22 in May to
S26 a ton at present.
The effect of this shortage of ore in
the United States and the consequent
rise in prices has been to stimulate in
terest in domestic manganese deposits
and TO cause vigorous development OF
producing mines. Although several
mines previously idle have been re-
opened, no important new sources appear
to have been found. Estimates OF pro
duction from few mines only are avail
able, but it is doubtful if the total pro-
duction OF ores for 1914 greatly exceeded
If it even equalled that for 1918, which
was 404S tons. An interesting conse-
quence of the shortage of ferromanganese
has been the attempt to establish new
reduction plants TO use sources of ore
hitherto not available. The Noble Flee
trio Steel Co., having access to cheap
electric power at Heroult. Cal, is ar
tempting to establish the industry, using
ores from Mendocino county. In the
East the success OF the attempt TO make
a low grade ferromanganese from MAR
ganiferous iron ores from the Cuyuna
range, Minnesota, by the American Man
ganese Co. at Dunbar Pa, remains 20 t.
esta blished
The disturbances Of the war will make
number of adjustments in
the foreign industries using manganese.
The English steel industry depends
largely on ferromanganese made from
Indian and Russian ores, and the supply
from India viii probably be assured even
II the Suez canal were to fall into the
hands OF Turkey Germany, however,
with only scanty domestic ore resources, !
has been importing increasing amounts |
81 ore from the Caucasus in Russia. and 1
large investments OF German capital /
have recently been made in this district |
Unless there has been extraordinary |
foresight in assuring a supply, the con-
Linuance Of the war for a year or more /
will make the shortage Of manganese ore
<eenly felt in the German steel indus
.ries.