The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-04-08
High Authority on Zinc Discusses the
Present Situation and Also the
Probable Future Prices.

. entirely from France, England and
, Russia Therefore. these countries
must depend upon the small amounts
| which they can produce for them
selves and what they can get from the
United States.
For the last four months In 1914.
according to government statistics,
spelter exports amounted to about
81, 900 tons. Up to that time exports
from the United States have been ex-
tremely small This indicates an APP
parent European consumption OF AM
erican spoilers at the moment Of APP
Iproximatey $4,000 tons per month. ]
estimate that while the war lasts
Europe will require from 10000 to
$4,000 tons monthly from the United
Estates.
Our smeIter Output.
"a recent survey of all of the smet-
ling plants in the United States which
can be expected to operate at all In
dicates q minimum annual output of
between 100000 and 100000 tons of
spelter 1t will be more nearly the
smaller figure. due to the forced treat
ment of lower grade ores as the de-
mand for ore increases to meet this
/ increased spelter output over normal
conditions,
Assuming a figure of 100000 tons
which, In my opinion, Is the maximum
that can be reasonably expected from
Ian available American smeters, and,
also assuming that the European re
Iquirements win continue at the pres
lent rate of from 10000 to $4,000 tons
per month, 1t will be seen that there
would be left available for domestic
consumption between 10000 and $40,
900 short tons Of spelter to satisfy
he demands of the United States.
1.-The apparent consumption of spell
ter In 1912, which you will appreciate
was decidedly off year in the zinc
Industry, was $4,000 tons, arrived al
rs follows:
Tons
stock on hand Jan ! 1914 80. 1900
Production in 1914 ..........,.36O,0O (
-
Exports ..,. ...... ,....,... 6S,OOi
Net available ,.............5. 1913 ,0Ol
Stock on hand Jan. /, 1915 80. $4,000
Apparent consumption ...,3l4,0Ot
1.-THE foregoing table shows the con.
. ditions for the year in round figures
"The situation becomes more inter
esting when the conditions existing II
| the last six months of 1914 are consid
! cred.
Tons
, Stocks on hand July 1, 1914, ...., SIS 90,
Stocks on hand Jan. /, 1915. 24,0O
: Exports, nearly equal to stocks
July NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 800
Apparent accumulation of spelter il
: the United States in a decidedly of
F period. $4,000 tons for six months.
I "Since the beginning of the year, no
! only has the entire consumption o
, spelter which has been produced sine
! January been absorbed. in spite o
the marked increase In spelter outpu
due to present conditions, but Their
are absolutely no stocks of spelter il
! a OF
The Tariff and Zinc.
"These various figures have direc
bearing on the tariff situation anC
we're inserted here for that purpose.
I'm abnormal times the present tar
! in OF Is per cent ad valorem Is no
sufficient to maintain the averag
price of spelter In the United States
for the last 10 years, namely CSC pc
pound. This is assuming that there il
: abnormally low consumption. In nor
nal times. however, when speller il
consumed In sufficient quantities 4
/ prevent accumulation both here an,
i0DfOHu, III Is SdIe 10 assume lndl Inc
leverage price for the last 10 years car
he easily maintained in the United
States, and also in Europe, as the ma.
tural growth in consumption wOulC
barely be met by the increase in ore
supplies available and in prospect
which prevents any possibility of seri.
Gus surplus production of spelter il
the world. Therefore, think II is safe
| to assume that at least the average
price for spelter for the last 10 year,
can be. and viii be, maintained under
ordinary business conditions both here
land abroad. and there is bound to be
an abnormally high consumption OF
: spelter for some years during the re-
construction period after the war Is
lover Galvanized metal buildings are
decidedly on the increase in the Unit
led States. due To the advance In lum-
Der prices, which, understand, in
normal times have nearly doubled in
10 years, and doubtless many of the
buildings which have been destroyed
land will be destroyed In European
countries suffering from the war win
be replaced win galvanized buildings,
This reference Is made merely to show