The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-03-07
WAR MINERALS WANTED
FOR USE Of GOVERNMENT
PRODUCE METALS IMPORTED TO
RELEASE LARGE SHIPPING
TONNAGE.

| Development of American mines
would supply 100000 tons of miner
ais, essential to war industry, now i'm
ported, and allow the vessels to carry
additional food and supplies to our
army in France. That is the essential
feature of plan whereby the immedi-
ate crying need for ships, ships and
more ships to take food and supplies to
our men In France can in degree be
met without waiting upon the con-
struction of new ships, as outlined to-
day by Secretary of the Interior Lane
/ American mines, in the opinion of
Secretary Lane, can supply all these
essential war minerals If they are
given the proper opportunity and as
sistance by the federal government.
Statement by Lane.
"At the present time" said Secretary
Lane every ship that can be spared
| is badly needed to extend our military
operations in France. The minerals,
which we can supply and which are
imported, come from many distant
sources, involving long voyages and
delays in loading. These minerals rep
resent an import of about 100000
long tons per year, three -fourths of
which can be eliminated in case Of ex-
treme necessity Every additional day
spent in the submarine zone is not on
ly dangerous but unnecessary. In adj
dition to the sacrifice of ships, the i'm
portation of bulky materials congests
our ports and exhausts our credit in
the purchase of supplies abroad.
THE importation of these minerals
involves not only the diversion of ship
tonnage from military service, but al
so requires that this country furnish
fuel equipment and supplies to the
foreign mines producing these miner
ais and also the transportation to the
countries of other products which they
demand in return for their minerals"
Minerals Needed.
What particular minerals are
these?" the secretary was asked.
Minerals to which | refer are the
most important materials for the man.
ufacture of munitions. In fact, their
Importance is far greater than either
their tonnage or value would indicate
The two fundamental materials in the
production of all modern high power
explosives are nitrate chiefly as nitric
acid and concentrated suphuric acid
made from pyirte or sulphur. Manga
nese is the most essential alloy for the
high grade steel for munitions and i'm
portant industrial uses. Flake graphite
is used for crucibles required in the
production of brass and crucible steel.
Tin is required for tin plate for uten-
sils and cans for preserving food and
bearing metal. Mercury is used as a
illuminate to explode cartridges and
shells, and is essential for the safe
and effective use of all high explosives.
Potash is chiefly used as fertilizer
with smaller amounts for explosives,
soap, glass and chemicals. Tungsten
Is an essential alloy for high speed tool
steel. Anthony is required for hard
ening lead and bullets. Chromite is
used to make an alloy for steel going
into armor plate, armor piercing pro-
jectiles, tool steel and as a refractory
lining in open hearth steel furnaces.
Magnesite is used as a refractory in
Illn To Hin ptA ,N1n
pensable as an insulating material in
the manufacture of electrical apparat-
us.
All Found in United States.
American mines can produce all of
these minerals, providing they are
given the necessary assistance of the
federal government. l have, therefore.
asked congress to make special ap-
preparation so that a large force of
metallurgists can be set to work i'm
mediately on the necessary changes in
practice to use lower grade manga
nese ores. Field parties of engineers
and biologists must take samples for
quick concentration tests to improve
the quality of the domestic materials.
Many new mines must be developed at
once, and If these new mines are to
survive after war conditions and be-
come permanent industries, they must
be able to operate efficiently and take
advantage of the most improved meth
cd. With this object in view, technic-
al investigations suggested will inform
the new operators Of the best practice
in their operations and will undertake
to secure technical solution of the
difficulties which will make their pro-
ducts as desirable as that which was
imported. The development
Of new deposits, of better methods, |
and of substitute materials gives as
that a large part of this new
development may be permanent and |
thus make us less dependent on for
eign supplies for essential minerals.
Sulphur Deposits.
The bureau of mines has already
completed survey of the pyrite mines
Of the country and of the principal
sulphur deposits. 1t has made a pre-
iminary study Of the concentrated
,.1A ,.sl.