Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
Entire supply Come1 from
Deposits in Louisiana and Texas.

Entire supply Gomez from
Deposits in Louisiana and Texas.
To the average man on the streets.
sulphur may suggest the springtime days
OF his childhood when he was fed copious
spoonfuls Of an evil-smelling connection
Of this substance and molass.
es but he scarcely realizes the extent
to which this yellow mineral product, to
be seen In any drugstore in bottle label
led flowers Of sulphur" enters into the
manufacture Of the materials q every
day life that surround him. Yet 1t Is not
primarily because sulphur Is necessary
to convert the sap Of a tropical plant
into resilient and versatile rubber or
wood pulp into miles Of news-print paper
that this substance claims our attention
at this time, rather because 1t is numbered
among those substances of prime impor-
lance. absolutely essential to the carry
ing on OF war. as entering INTO the very
fabrication of explosives themselves.
Hence 1t is not only a matter Of curiosity.
but one of urgent interest t, inquire in
to the sources of this war-minerai in the
United States.
In this connection the appearance 10
timely of a publication Of the u. S. Nn-
tonal Museum under the title Sulphur:
An example of industrial independence"
This is by Joseph l.. Pogue Of the Divi-
sion 1T Mineral Technology. and presents
IN a few pages, in a siriple and nom
technical manner, the striking aspects Of
one OF the most interesting mineral in
dustres in our country to-day. A feature
OF particular value is n series of half
tone plates. made not only from actual
photographs Of mining operations, but
also from several views Of miniature
MISREPRESENTATION of typical sulphur
mine, with the underground disposition
Of the sulphur exposed to sight, so re-
produced as to give the appearance OF
brd's-eye or aeropane view Of both &C.
currence and mining. This latter type Of
Illustration is something entirely new in
publications of this kind, and it's educa-
tional value should appeal to all teachers
DESTROYS of obtaining graphic picture
Of an Industrial activity and the means
for passing on this naturalization to
others. as we'll as to all persons in any
way identified with the numerous in
dustries in which sulphur finds applica-
ton.
At the outbreak of the war in 1914 the
United States was producing each year
about $500 tons Of sulphur, valued at
a little over $6,OO0O0O. This quantity was
sufficient to supply not only the needs
of this country but contributed about
development of war activities however,
the production has increased to meet the
growing needs of muniton makers, while
the exports have decreased as result
of disturbed trade conditions and the
need for building up reserves Of this es-
sential material at home.
1t is singular fact that the chief raw
materials of explosive manufacture are
localized in remarkable manner. and
sulphur is no exception to this rule. In
the United States practically the entire
supply comes from number Of deposits
in Louisiana and Texas near the Gulf
Coast. These deposits are similar in
nature and consist of series of beds and
lenses of pure sulphur at a depth Of
several hundred feet from the surface.
The discovery of the occurance of sui.
phur of this type was made as far back
rs 1865, in connection with vel drilled
fer oil. All attempts at mining the sui
phur failed, however, until some Is years
ago, when a highly ingenious method
was devised for winning this substance
without recourse to the ordinary costly
underground operations usually prose-
cuted in mining. This process makes use
Of the fact that sulphur melts at re-
! latively low temperature. BY drilling a
we'll through the everything rock until
the sulphur bed is tapped and then sink
| ing series of interpenetrating pipes
through which superheated steam 10
forced. the sulphur is melted and forced
| to the surface as hot liquid. where IL
| is piped to large bins. into which 1t pours
and cools. This process which is known
as the Frasch process after its inventor,
has been described as one of the triumphs
| application to the Gulf Coast deposits
has in the past Is years transferred the
1 of ~
! from the island of Sicily to the United
States, making our nation absolutely in
dependent of the rest of the world in
this important particular
| With the development of the world war,
the sulphur deposits of the Gulf Regions
have, of course. assumed special impor-
lance as supplying the sulphur needed
| in the manufacture of gunpowder and
other explosives. But in addition to this,
these deposits have quite Unexpectedly
during the past few months been able to
meet and solve critical resourse prob
lem arising out Of the submarine cam
paign. This problem concerned the raw
materials of the large and very vital sui
phuric-acid industry land arose from the
fact that most of the several million tons
of sulphurc acid used IN this country
was made from sulphur-bearing min
eral called pyrite. brought as ballast in
quantity from large deposits In Spain.
The restricted shipping conditions result
ing form recent events as a matter Of
course seriously affected this source Of
supply, and since sulphuric acid is a pro-
duct nearly as fundamental to industry
as iron or coal, the situation babe fair
to assume critical proportions. But it so
happens that crude sulphur under emer-
gency can also be used in making sui
phuric acid and accordingly the Gulf sui
phur deposits have come forward to tide
over the dearth Of Spanish pyrite until
the domestic supplies Of pyrite. which are
adequate but as yet only in part devel-
oped, can be brought up to an suitable
measure Of productiveness.
| There are numerous lean deposits Of
sulphur In many Of the western states,
but these as yet have practically no effect
upon the output Of the country. 1t Is
therefore certain that without the Gulf
deposits and the ingenious method of maxi
, ing them available. this country would
have scarcely been able to meet success
fully the war needs Of sulphur and sui
phuric acid: which goes to show, OF
course, the pressing necessity for wide
spread appreciation and understanding
of the importance OF proper development
Of the mineral industries of our Nation.
ONLY VOLUNTEER.
| The following verses are being re-
peated by request A volunteer from