New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30
German Monopoly
Of Saltpetre Is
Called Impossible
Chilean Interests Declare
They Still Control
the Market

Assurances have been received by
The Tribune from Valparaiso, Chile,
that there is no danger of monopoly
by German interests of the output OF
saltpetre, used extensively in making
munitions. Figures for the last four
years show that the German production
has ranged from about : to 10 per cent
Of the entire output. while the British
production has been more than double
that figure. The Chilean interests con
troll more than half of the total supply.
Referring TO the existing condition
of the industry, "El Mercurio," pub
lished at Valparaiso, says;
"Thc production of saltpetre and its
market have become the objects OF
special attention BY all nations that
have mutual interests IN this industry.
And this is not at all surprising, as
saltpetre day by day is becoming the
object Of dispute by the belligerent
countries and is Of transcendent impor-
lance. In the United States especially
at this time all eyes are on our salt
petre output.
"ln this respect we received from The
New York Tribune a caDlegram which
read as follows: What is the state of
/ the saltpetre market? is it true that
certain German spectators have mo-
nopolized it and will sell 10 Americans
only for purposes Of agriculture"
There is no doubt that an alarm
! has spread, and the question deserves
consideration. It is natural that bel
/ ligerent country should want 20 foresce
( the difficulties that NAV be presented
/ by an enemy country. Fortunately, we
are sufficiently assured to be able 20
= allay the industrial anxiety of that
I country.
This is our answer: The German
/ cannot monopolize the saltpetre. be-
cause the other products are not being
BLACK List."' Consequently, we carry
on our own production, and it is certain
! that lately we have sold various hun
I dreds Of thousands of quintales (hun-
/ dredweights) of saltpetre. IL is known
/ that the Messrs. Gildemeister have
/ shipped at Iquique some 10000 quin-
\ tdleS, ana tHdL lnSTe Is az lHlb Nllnt q
North American transport taking on q
cargo at Taltal."
According to figures compiled by the
| Association Salitrera dc Propaganda, a.
Valparaiso, and submitted by the editor
of "El Mercurio," the production Of
/ saltpetre last year totalled 63,3l3,77(
hundredweight, as against 3S,l6s .503 II
! 1915, 53,551 POI in 1914 and 60,26e, 39i
/ in 1913. Il will be seen that last year!
production was the greatest OF an!
since the war started. and of this the
Germans produced only 7,S05,l40 hun
dredweight, or 1888 per cent, of thu
total output, while the Chilean and ma
tionalized interests produced 9S,l77,08.
hundredweight, or 52.4 per cent OF thu
total, and the English 1881 ,54S, Of
1921 per cent.
The relative production for the three
preceding years was:
I913-Chilean and nationalized. 0.494.5o'
hundredweight. or sos ccr cent: English
20.7l9.150. or 34.3S per cent: German
9,o52.740. OF 1902 per cent.
l9l4-Chilean or natioralizcd- s,o0l
hundredweight. or 5000 per cent; English
l6.3l012l, or 30.45 per cent; German
1863. 100. or 1880 per cent
1915 Chilean and nationalized. 23,370.0s'
hundredweight, or 6l.23 per cent: English
l2I36.s40, or SIS per cent; German
2,6Gi $50, or 697 per cent