The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-05-18
Graphite A War
Time NeCeSsit

ture of crucibles for melting metals
and for foundry facings, graphite is
a mineral resource of vital import
ance and in great demand in time
OF war. The extraordinary activity
both in this country and abroad in
the manufacture OF munitions has
greatly stimulated the graphite in
dustry. Most of the established
graphite mines in the Eastern states
notably increased their output in
1915, and in the Ashland district, Al
ALBANIA. number of new mines have
recently been opened, most Of which
have not yet reached the producing
stage. Early in 1916 active develop
ment work was also begun on a
graphite deposit OF much promise In
the Llano region in Texas.
The full effect OF the increased de-
nlands will not be shown until these
new concerns begin to market their
product, but even in 1915 the outpat
Of natural crystalline graphite sh0s.
ed an increase of about 1,S5O,00o
pounds over that for 1914.
Among the manufacturers OF graph
tie products the crucibe makers In
particular have greatly increased the
output, and many of them have been
! unable to meet the Increased demands
because of the difficulty OF procuring
suitable raw materials, crystalline
graphite and refractory clay, in large
enough quantities.
In spite of the activity among Am
erican graphite miners the output o
American mines has been wholly In
adequate to meet the domestic dc
mands, and in 1915, as in previou
Years, the greater part of the era
phite used in this country came iron
foreign deposits. In 1915 the graph
tie imported had value about fou
times that OF the domestic output o
natural graphite. Most of the in
ports. came from Ceylon. but som
came from Chosen Korea, Madagas
car. Mexico. and Canada. The In
ports in 1915 exceeded in value, tn
, not in quantity, those for any prev
OILS year and amounted to 23,O7
short tons valued at s2,241,163.
=. The prices for the better grades
;, Ceylon graphite increased steadil
, during 1915 and at the end of tn
year were nearly twice as much Q
n Mt the beginning. The high price
!. are the result of the increased d
q mands. increased freight rates, We
surcharges, and higher rates OF Il
q surance. At the end of 1915 ii
n freight rates from Ceylon to Ne
|. York we're approximately three time
Z as much as before the outbreak
o the war. and early in March lsl
o they had increased to about fiye an
one half times as much. The low
}. grades OF Ceylon graphite were pra
@ tically excluded from this market I
the demand for the higher grade
d and the high freiGhts.
II Madagascar graphite increased
II nrice from about 6 cents pound
o the beginning OF the year to IL al
20 70 cents at the end. Korean crap
h tie increased from $25 to $40 a sho
!. ton. and in March, 1916, its price hi
70 reached $50 a ton.
1t The troublous conditions in Mel
y co reduced the imports OF graph
n from that country in 1915 to lie
10 than half the amount In 1914. II
small Canadian production of crap
m tie was almost entirely absorbed
: the United States.
In addition to natural graphite q
q United States produces large amour
OF manufactured graphite In electr
10 furnaces at Niagara Falls. VIII
this material Is not suited for q
manufacture Of crucibles, it's man
facture was also stimulated by q
y European war, because much Of
4, IA placed In the market in the for
to of graphite electrodes used in els
1T trio steel furnaces in the Unit
!, States Is reported to have increas
Ii ~ per cent in 1915, and there we
Is also great increases abroad; the
ie sulting increase in the demand
ie graphite electrodes nay readily
inferred. The graphite electrod
Is made at Niagara Falls range In 81
~ from the diameter of y pencil lei
20 to ~ inches in diameter and II I'M