The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-08
FRANCE IS GREATLY
 IN NEED OF COPPER
By HOLLAND

by hOLLAND
 New York, December 7.--(special)-A few days ago there arrived in New York industrial leaders from France who are not of the army, but who represent the erergy which France Is now revealing with intent to build up as rapidly as possible her industrial activities. Their arrival in New York was unheralded nor was it known to those upon whom they expected to call that they had sailed for the United States, having in mind one purpose only. These men have come Sd that they might learn what the chances are for securing very large amount of copper as speedily as possible, and what the price for copper is likely to be. They have already met some of the leaders in our copper industry and have gained some of the information which they sought.
 The coming to the American market of these representatives of 'reviving industry in France is one of the first and perhaps one of the most satisfactory demonstra- tions of what American industry of all kinds will be called upon to do as soon as peace is actually ratified by the United States and by the allies Already four industries are certain to receive heavy demands for the various commodities they produce One of these is copper. The resignation of John D. Ryan from the aircraft board so that he might be able to return at once to the direction of the great copper industries which are identified by his name, is spoken of as one of the indications of what the cop per industry will be called upon to do immediately after peace is secured. The destruction of copper during war days has been enormous. Some of it can be recovered but, comparatively speaking. not much. Copper, however, Is to be vital in the uphuilding of industries, es- pecially in Belgium and France, and by and by should there by a stable govern- ment established in Russia, large supplies of copper must be exported from the United States to Russia. Therefore the presumption is strong that the copper industry in the United States, including mining, refining and smelting will be represent one of the great peace activi- ties that will prevail throughout the United States
 THE OIL INDUSTRY
 So also the presumption is strong that there will continue a heavy demand for American oil and an increased demand for it from foreign countries. The best authorities say that the expansion in our exports of refined oil will be great and also in the export of gasoline. In ad- dition to that there is to be an increased demand for lubricatlng oil. At the same time the call upon the United States for fuel oil for admiralty purposes will be l decreased.
 1 The resumption of the use of motor cars for other than war purposes will 1 bring to the United States an enormous demand for oil. Those who speak for the Standard oil Co. of New Jersey have | recently said that while our exports of high-grade fuel oil and the volume of crude oil run through American re- l fineries may be expected to contract, nevertheless the necessity of re-estab- fishing the stockAin every neutral coun- 1 try and providing for the salvage of | the devastated war territory, point to l a very material increase in the exports
 from the United States of refined and lubricating oil and also the maintenance l of our shipments of gasoline abroad upon l a scale which has existed for the past l year.
 l Therefore the oil industry in it's -~ari- l ous phases will be maintained and in. l cTedBeQ III the OnlLcQ states aLIeT peace comes.
 AS IT WILL BE WITH COTTON | Cotton used to be called king, and it
 certainly now is among the princes of
 American industry. It is to maintain l that position after peace comes. The
 demand for cotton which will come from
 countries across the sea will be enor-
 nous. The planters of the south will
 have every inducement both to increase | ( o... u l. the amount of cotton produced. They
 will De the more tempted to do this be- cause high prices for American cotton will be maintained on account of the de- l mand for it.
 1 Therefore this American industry should
 maintain it's prestige and value from the
 beginning of the days of peace and con- tinue those qualities long after peace has
 been established. This then is. another
 industry which is certain to be favorably
 affected by the ratification of peace treaties.
 l AS IT IS WITH THE FARMERS Henry P. Davison a few hours after his
 return from Europe spoke of the cer-
 tainty that an enormous demand will be
 made upon the United States for food supplies in order to relieve the needs of those nations of the world which he believes are periously near semistarva-
 
 perative call upon the United States for food to relieve extensive suffering, never theless there would be a very heavy de- mand upon this country for food SUD- plies of all kinds. The farmers of the United States will therefore have every inducement to speed up the cultivation of the soil, sure that no matter how ex- cellent the crops which they harvest may be, these will command a ready ma rlSet and at higbly satiSfa ctOry nricac Here then are four American industries of which it can be said that the es- 1 tablishment of peace is certain to main- tain probably to increase them until nor nal conditions prevail throughout the world
 It may be that Judge Gary of the United States Steel corporation will in the course of a few weeks set forth in a publication his view of the steel and that will be as soon as peace is estab- lished Since the war began, with only one exception, Judge Gary's statements respecting the steel and iron industry have been found to be absolutely ac- curate The exception referred not to the iron and steel industry. but to the day when peace would be proclaimed. Judge Garys reasons for speaking as he did respecting an early coming of peace were excellent and were shared by lead ing manufacturers and many bankers. These statements, however, did antici- pate the end of the war by year or year and half
 Should Judge Gary make a statement forecasting the steel and iron industry and giving encouragement to the hope that this industry will be maintained and increased although no longer oc- cupied with the production of raw ma terial then if can be assumed that these