The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-08-05
BREAKS THE RECORD
Production of Bauxite and AIu-
minum Greatly Increased.
Growth of Aluminium Industry Shown
by Fact That Production in 1884
Was $50 Pounds. and in 1904
100000 Pounds.

Washington.-Th production OF
bauxite and the consumption of alu.
minum in the United States in 1914
were the largest ever recorded The
report prepared by w. G.. Phalen of
the United States geological survey
shows an output of 219,31S long tons
Of bauxite, valued at $1,069, 1874, in
1914, against 210,241 long tons, valued
at 1897 sos, in 1913. The states which
produced bauXite in 1914 were Ala
bama, Arkansas, Georgia and Tennes-
see. Arkansas produced more than 80
per cent of the output and the output
was larger in 1914 than in 1913. The
production of Georgia, which held Sec
ond place in both, years, and Of Ala
bama and Tennessee was considerably
less in 1914 than it was in 1913. The
imports of bauxite amounted to "a
S44 long tons, valued at $96,500, or
1888 tons more than In 1913.
Bauxite is used in the production
of metallic aluminium and in the manu-
facture of aluminium salts, of bauX1te
bricks. and of alundum. The use OF
bauxite in the production of the metal
aluminium is by far the most i'm
portant one. and the largest part OF
the bauxite produced in Arkansas, as
well as most of that imported, is used
in the aluminium industry.
Alundum, which is used extensively
as an abrasive, is made at Niagara
Falls, N Y, by fusing calcined bauxite
in an electric furnace. Alundum is
especially efficient for the grinding OF
steel forgings and castings. Only the
best grades Of bauxite are used In the
manufacture of such chemicals rs
alum, aluminium sulphate and alumni.
mum salts, as freedom from oxide OF
iron is desirable for such purposes.
Another use to which bauxite 1s
adapted is in the manufacture OF cal
cium illuminate, which gives quick
set to plaster compositions.
The quantity of aluminium consumed
In the United States in 1914 was
70, $4,000 pounds, against 72,379,OOO
pounds in 1918 and 65,607,000 pounds
in 1912. The growth Of the industry
is shown by the fact that the produc'
ton was $50 pounds in 1884, $4,000
pounds in 1894, and 100000 pounds
in 1904.
The value of the exports of alumni
mum and of manufactures of alumni
mum amounted to $1,546,510 in 1914,
as compared with $966,094 in 1913.
Aluminium is the most abundant OF
metals and ranks third among the
elements which compose the crust OF
the earth, being exceeded only by
oxygen and silicon. 1t is an important
constituent of all common rocks ex.
cept certain sedimentary rocks, as
sandstone and limestone. 1t is never
found native, or in elementary form,
but occurs as an oxide, hydrous oxide
fiuorfde, phosphate, sulphate silicate.
or other compound. The only source
of the metal so far commercially util
lied is bauxite, an ore that contains
80 to 60 per cent of alumina (the
common oxide), which corresponds to
a metallic content of 26.5 to 31.S pei
cent of aluminium.
The consumption OF aluminium is
constantly expanding, and aside from
its use in the manufacture of cooking
utensils, it is being employed in the
construction of automobile castings
and Of welded tanks used by brewers,
preserve manufacturers, and fat rem.
derers and for wire for power-trans'
mission lines Other uses which are
important in their adaptability and
efficiency but which absorb only a
small portion Of the domestic product
are the manufacture of powdered
metal used as paint pigment and in
making aluminium foil. Aluminium foil
is gradually displacing tin foil, which
heretofore has been used for wrapping
cheese, candies, tobacco, tea and 9th
er products.