The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-07-11
TARIFF PROTECTION FOR ANTI
MONY AND TUNGSTEN.

The recent hearing by the Uniteo
States tariff commission at San Fran
cisco considered the question or
protective tariff on imports of certain
war minerals, and its proceedings
were largely confined to antimony,
tungsten and mercury. While the
country in general is interested in the
hearing, because it involved the sup
ply of metals necessary for the sue
cessful prosecution of the war, the
people of Idaho are particularly con
cerned in the attitude Of the commits
sion toward antimony and tungsten
The anthony producers of the. Occur
6,Alene district were represented at
the hearing, but there appears to have
been no one from this section repre-
senting the tungsten interests.
should be understood that the tariff
commission has no power to Tx the
tariff rate. This power is retained
by congress exclusively, the commis-
sion making recommendation to that
body, The present commission is un-
derstood to be normally opposed to the
principle of protection but the exigen-
cies of war have upset many econ
omic theories, free trade among them,
and it is believed that the commission
will base its recommendations to con-
gress upon practical rather than the
oretical conclusions. And by the same
token it may be expected that a dem
ocratic congress may change front up
on it's time honored advocacy Of free
trade.
In spite of a fluctuating market for
the metal, the anthony producers OF
the Occur dAlene district, even II
they have not made money, have con-
tributed to considerable extent to
the supply, and now since their pro-
duct has become a war necessity they
rightly feel that the government
should give them protection that will
insure steady production and reas-
enable profit. Their case was well
presented at the San Francisco hear
irg, and il Is believed that the report
of the commission to congress will
embody a tariff rate that will be salts
factory to both the producers and
smelters.
In 1917 about $4,000 tons of anti
mony were consumed in the United
States. OF this amount over $1,000
tons were imported two-thirds of
which came from China and the bal
ance from Bolivia and Mexico. The
domestic supply came from Nevada,
California, Idaho, Washington and
Alaska Owing to the demand for
ships for more important war service,
the government can not depend upon
importatons of anthony, hence the
necessity to take measures to en-
courage home production. The chief
uses of antimony are as an alloy of
lead to harden bullets for small arms
and shrapnel, as an alloy in type
metal for printing, and in bearing
metals to lessen friction.
While the production of tungsten in
the Occur d'Alene district has not
reached position of great import
ance, there are known deposits which
amply justify extensive exploration
and development and which will be
undertaken when once the government
gives assurance of such safeguards as
will insure fair return on the re-
quired capital. According to re-
cent statement by Van II. Manning,
director of the bureau of mines. the
supply of so per cent tungsten concen-
trates is between 5000 and 5000 tons,
about half of which is imported and
the other half produced in the United
States. The larger part Of the imports
come from South America The DOM
este supply is chiefly from Colorado
and California, small amounts coming
from other western states. Tungsten
is one Of the most important alloys
for high speed tool steel and 1t Is es-
timated that 80 per cent is used for
this purpose. Small quantities are
used in electric light ailments and
electric contacts.