The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-07-29
SPELTER IN ENGLAND
THE SUPPLY IS SHORT
SITUATION MEANS CONTINUED
HIGH PRICE FOR AMERICAN
ZINC MINERS.

That there will be no weakening of
the spelter market for long time to
come is clearly indicated by a London
dispatch which shows the desperate
straits confronting the British govern
ment in its efforts to secure a suti-
Client supply of the metal. This is
further emphasized by the great ac-
tivity in this country in the way of
increasing the zinc smelling capacity
to take care of the ever increasing
output of the mines. Evidently the
smelter people confidently look for
ward to a long period of high priced
spelter The gravity of the situation
in England is outlined as follows by
a London correspondent:
Government Takes Action.
"The whole problem of increasing
the manufacture of spelter in the Unit
ed Kingdom is engaging the immedi-
ate attention of his maiesty's govern
ment," declared Mr. Bonar Law, in
behalf of the government in parlia-
ment recently. More than a score of
questions had been put to him urging
the necessity of preventing any fur
Their shortage or rise in price of zinc,
which has advanced to nearly five
times it's value before the war.
Strange as it may seem in the face
of the urgent demand for zinc in
making cartridge cases and other mu-
nition the output of the British works
since the beginning of the war has ac-
tually been smaller than normal. Sew
eral plants have had number of fur
naces idle and the productive capacity
of the others has been only about half
what it was before the war The main
reason, it is said, is the withdrawal of
skilled labor by enlistment. At the
same time 1t Is admitted that the
British plants are old fashioned lack
ing the numerous labor saving devices
which have been adopted in Germany
and the United States during the past
seven or eight years.
New Smelling Works.
Estimates have now been prepared
for the government for the erection of
new smelling works of the latest Tyre
in this country, capable of dealing
with 200 million pounds of concen-
trates a year and producing about 49,
600 tons of zinc The plant could be-
gin to make deliveries within nine
months. The cost of erection would be
about $4,000, 900.
A knotty question in connection
with the spelter situation is provided
by the outstanding contracts entered
into by the Australian mines with
German houses. AS explained by Mr.
Bonar Law:
'T am not aware that there is any
German owned spelter in Australia
Australia, however, produces large
quantities of zinc ores and concen-
trates. These were not manufactured
into spelter in Australia, but before
the war they were principally export
ed to Germany for that purpose. on
December II the Australian govern
ment drew the attention of his ma
iestys government to the contracts
with German firms by which they
were controlled. The question of these
contracts is now being considered"
Faces Big Problem.
Before the war Great Britain was
content to procure most of her zinc
from smelling companies in Germany
Belgium and France, which extracted
the metal from the Australian ores,
bill is being put through the Austral-
ian parliament dealing with the ore
supply and releasing the mines from
their German agreements, but some OF
the mines are owned by companies In
England and legislation by the Eng
fish government will probably be also
necessary. The main problem, how
ever is that of obtaining adequate
smelling capacity. Large increases IN
the available smelling resources or the
United States are expected to relieve
the situation partially within short
time. 1t is aid that any new smelling
works which may be built in England
will be constructed in conjunction
with Belgian and French interests