The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-12-27
THE SEARCH FOR METALS.
UNDER STRESS OF WAR.
DISCOVERY OF NEW RESOURCES
MAKES UNCLE SAM INDIE
PENDENT.

The United States, under the dire
stress of world war, is awakening to
new commercial possibilities in the
way of new industries that will buy
their raw materials in this country in
stead of importing them as in the past,
adding thousands of men to the pay
rolls and keeping millions of dollars
here, according to the annual report OF
Van H. Manning, director of the bu-
reau of mines, department of the in
terror just issued. The report dis
closes the extent the military author
tiles have to depend in modern war
fare upon the mineral industry and
indicates in a cautious way the part
being taken by the bureau of mines in
obtaining sufficient supply of min
eral essentials from American mines
and American metallurgical plants.
Experts from the bureau have
searched the country far and wide for
the metals that would add strength to
the military arm of Uncle Sam and
have reported that in most instances
not only an abundance of these mater
ials but have added that these same
metals, employed also in peaceful in
dustry, can be used to build up per-
manent industries in the United States
perhaps destroying for all time the
dependence of the United States upon
foreign countries for necessary raw
materials. These new industries have
already shown such growth as to add
materially to the American output and
to bring about diminishing importa-
ton of raw materials. This condition,
according to bureau of mines officials,
is equivalent to the production of new
tonnage for the use of the United
States, as many vessels now bringing
tries can be used for more pressing
war purposes.
Manufacturing of Ntrates.
1t may seem paradoxical that the bu-
reau of mines, created originally for
saving life in the mines, becomes in
war time an active aid in the prescott
ton of the military aims of the United
States, but here are some of the illus
trations:
The bureau, cooperating with the
war department, sent C. l.. Parsons,
chief chemist, to Europe to investigate
processes used there in the manufact-
ure of nitrates, necessary in large
quantities in war time in the making
of explosives, and also used for fertil-
izer. His report and recommendation
were adopted in substance by the COM
mittee on nitrate supply, and a large
plant for the production of nitric acid
for war purposes and ammonia for ag-
rlcultural purposes is in process of
erection If this plant does what the
experts hope it will do, all of the nj
trates needed by the United States.
even in peace times, will ultimately be
made here, and it will no longer be ne
cessary to depend upon Chile with the
constant fear that in times of war the
supply may be cut off by a hostile
fleet. Even If in peace times the plant
is not able to compete with Chile as a
source of nitric acid itself it can do
so in fertilizer material and this coun-
try will have the security that in war
time the nitrates can be made here
Pyrites and Manganese.
With the present sharp decrease in
available ship tonnage and the partial
shutting down in shipments from
Spain of iron pyrites used in the man
ufacture of sulphuric acid, the bureau
OF mines was called upon to find the
most available pyrite resources in the
United States. The experts have now
located a number of promising pyrite
mines and steps have been taken to
ensure full domestic supply of raw
material for the making of sulphuric
acid which is absolutely vital in war
time. 1t is stated by the bureaus ex-
perts that an American industry SIM
pied entirely by American raw mater
ial may be the permanent outcome
Manganese, used for the production of
nigh grade steel. is another valuable
peace and war mineral that the bureau
has been endeavoring to find in great
quantities in this country, the steel in
dustry being at present dependent on
Brazil for this ore. 1t has taken unite
a fleet of sorely needed vessels to bring
this ore to the United States, w. G
Phalen. mineral technologist of the
bureau has already visited the chief
producing divisions of the
country, and his report is that a con-
siderable proportion of the nations re-
quirements can be supplied. So prom
Using is this situation, it is intimated
that some of the vessels now CARRYING
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