Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-18
DEMAND FOR ASBESTOS.
Production In 1913 shows Increase Ovcr
Preceding Ycar.


The United States marketed in 1915
l,731 short tons of asbestos of domestic
production, valued at $685.. Com
pared with the production OF 1914 this
represents a gain of Asa tons, or 80 per
cent. in quantity and SOC per cent in
value
The abestcs of the world is supplied
chiefly by Canada. Most Of it is export
ed free of duty to the United States,
the greatest manufacturer and user of
asbestos products.
An order in council by the government
at ottawa, Canada, March %. 1916.
placed an embargo on the shipment of
asbestos from Canada to other than
British ports but permitted shipments
to the allied countries. France, Russia,
italy. Japan. and Portugal. on special
licenses granted by the British consul.
As this order absolutely shut out the
United States consumers OF asbestos and
asbestos products IT was demonstrated
to the government at ottawa that a
great hardship on American manu-
facturers and consumers would he en-
tailed. and the embargo has been modi-
fled to the extent of permitting ship
United States IL guarantees are given by
the manufacturers and their consumers
that none Of the crude or manufactured
material will be re-exported from the
United states. except as provided for
in the original order
The requirement that the exporter give
a guaranty as to the ultimate destina-
ton of the asbestos exported has
caused asbestos users in the United
States to ask whether a supply is avail
able In asbestos deposits of this country
This inquiry is answered by the United
States geological survey as follows:
In 1915 there was great increase in
the production OF high-grade asbestos
in Arizona. the occurrence of which has
been described In the geological survey
reports on asbestos for 1919 1914 and 1915.
The lower-grade asbestos produced in
this country comes mainly from Geor-
gia. Both Arizona and Georgia are
capable Of increasing their output.
Some years ago G9lD Vermont had n
productive mine, largely in the chryso-
tile variety of asbestos. in the same belt
of rocks that contain the rich deposits
of asbestos in Canada. For the last few
years the mine has not been in opera
ton. but as result of the Canadian
embargo it may again become valuable
source of supply.
Virginia in 1905 and 1906 produced a
small quantity of low-Eradc asbestos
that is still used in the manufacture of "A
local asbestos product The fiber is of
the Amplitude variety and slip-fber
type. II was Guarried near Body Camp
and hauled IL miles TO n mill at Bed
ford City.
There has been much interest in the
asbestos reported from the Casper
Mountain and other regions in Wyom-
ing. Some mills have been erected, but
although there has been as yet no com
mcrcial production the quality Of the
fiber. in part chrysotile. is locally on
couraginE.
Idaho has in the kamiah region large
deposits of material like that of Geor-
ga. California has produced asbestos
generally of low grade, at "a number of
points.
on the whole the encouraging outlook
in Arizona, which includes also the
Grand Canyon region. with the possible
resumption of production in Vermont
and an increased production in Georgia,
may he expected to make up at least
part Of the loss by embargo in Canada