The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-02-17
At Opening of HostiIities Industry
Used Nine Tenths of That
Produced.
1916 YIELDS $4,000 TONS
United States Now Able to Mine
2,4oo, 100000 Pounds a Year
curtailment Feared After
the War Ends.

New York-Authorities on the cop
per trade estimate that approximately
Is per cent of the worlds present pro-
duction is being used for war purposes,
the remaining % per cent going into
commercial consumptive channels as
before the war began. At the outbreak
of hostilities, it is estimated no more
than 10 per cent Of the copper pro-
duced by all the countries with depos-
it's of the metal went into the manu-
facture of war material. The peace
full trades used UP 80 per cent, and
this proportion existed for several
years before the upheaval in Europe.
These are significant figures, particu-
larly as regards the market for copper
after the war ends. The United States
produced copper in the autumn
months at the annual rate of
2,4OOOOO,OO0 pounds, compared with
about 1,9OO,OO0,OO0 turned out in all
Of 1916. In July, 1914, the mines and
refineries of the country were turning
out the metal at the rate Of 100000
600 pounds yearly. From the begin.
ming of the war to the present time,
then, production has, been increased
7OOOOO,OO0 pounds. This increase
alone is greater than the entire pro-
duction of the rest Of the world at
the present rate of output.
With talk Of peace in the air, it is
natural that copper producers and con-
sumers alike should devote O great
deal Of thought to what may come
when the treaty Of peace is signed.
With three-quarters Of all the metal
of the world going into munitions, 1t
is plain enough that tremendous al
iteration Of market and consumption
plans will come with peace. 1t is only
natural to assume that prices will re-
fleet substantially the change of con-
ditions, but copper men are not per-
suaded that there will be anything like
a slump. There will also be need for
a drastic curtailment of production I'M
less peace demands should suddenly
expand to a level Offsetting the war
! demand, which experts in the trade
hardly expect.
Next Six Months Output Sold.
The sellers of copper say they are
| quite comfortable about conditions for
| the first half Of this year. They have
| reason to be so, for practically all the
expected output has been sold, and
sold on ''firm" contracts-that is, con-
tracts which call for delivery and pay
ment whatever may be the conditions
Inarketwise. II the war lasts beyond
July 1, the copper companies main
tain, business must continue good for
the allied governments have to come
to the United States for their supplies
| If they are to be adequate to the de-
mands of the armies. 1t Is clear, there
| fore. that the duration Of the conflict
| is the vital factor in the copper trade,
| not only as regards consumption this
| year, but a part of next year as well.
Copper prices after the war, in the
opinion of leading seller. will not
be governed solely by the law Of sup
ply and demand as hinged on war op-
erations. They will be affected sub
stantially by the attitude of the Amer
lean producer toward foreign buyers
who come seeking the metal for COM
mercial uses. 1t Is estimated that Ger
many, Austria, Turkey and Serbia are
producing copper at the rate Of 1OO,-
100000 pounds year, all of which, and
more, is going into the war machine
Such reports on conditions in the cen
trail powers as are available show that
these nations have raked and scrapeo
the countries over for all copper i'm
PIGMENTS, which means that in the enc
vast requirements will need to Dc
made of these supplies. The cop
per cooking utensils for 100 years OF
more; roofs of churches and dwelling
houses; electrical implements and rail
road and telegraph supplies have beer
thrown into the melting pot. In 191s
Germany and Austria imported from
this country 5OOOO0,000 pounds of cop
per, and while a part of this proDaDl!
went into war reserves, much of TIT
metal was bought for manufacturing
purposes.
curtaiIment of Buying Expected.
These factors of reduced supplies
and the known movement OF cope
into the central powers in times o
peace lead up to the part which Amer
lean producers will need to play. !
great deal of the requirements, douD'
less, will have to be made in thes
and other European countries, what
ever may be the cost. But it stand
to reason, as copper men see 1t. tina
: high prices and dif1ident selling meth
DDS will tend to curtail buying, espe
1 cially IL the nations Of Europe hav
financial difficulties to solve. Amer
can copper interests are aware tina
e committees have been organized in se'
. erai countries of Europe to devise way
and means of caring for their need
on an economical basis after tn
war. These organizations, with go
eminent cooperation, obviously al
> laying plans to buy their metal
e ices favorable to themselves or
8 estrain buying If prices are not sui
r BILE.
a with the thought In mind that 60
| arnr,ouf control Is likely to be e.