The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-10-17
ZINC AND ITS FUTURE
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
MANY NEW USES ARE BEING
FOUND FOR METAL-Ex-
PERT OPINION.

With an enormous strain on the
supply of non-ferrous metals to meet
present requirements, especially tin
plate and aluminium, zinc is now as
dustrial world than ever before. Ex-
periments recently have brought to
light that rolled zinc particularly en-
bodies qualities that foretell it's con-
stantly increasing use both at pres
ent and after the war.
Zinc is just coming into its own"
said E. V. Peters. assistant general
sales manager of the New Jersey
zinc company, to the New York Her
aid. Research laboratories have
found that this metal embodies the
essential qualities of good material
for metal products of the non ferrous
class. The response to the govern
ments wish for such a replacement
metal has brought to light convinc-
ing evidence of the wide scope of
zines usefulness.
Present Uses.
Zinc oxide forms a considerable
per cent of the composition in an au-
tomobile or truck tire, this product
giving to truck tires and other high
grade rubber goods resiliency and
durability. Zinc oxide also gives
wearing quality to paint. This ma
terial, when used in paints with a
corresponding mixture of white lead
sulphate, which the zinc company en-
courages. provides toughness, lustre
and color constancy to paint, quail
ties that are essential in this age of
conservation.
"Spelter or metallic zinc, is with
"copper" a component in the manu-
facture of high grade brass. 1t gall
vanizes telephone and telegraph
wires to keep them from rusting and
becoming brittle and has large field
Of usefulness in other ways Rolled
easily drawn and spun, that the high
grade quality spelter is not brittle,
and that it takes as high a polish as
may be desired.
Among other points favoring zinc
may be mentioned the fact that, after
the war, America will be looked to to
supply several countries of the old
world now in the throes of the great
struggle. They must be rebuilt and
it will require a long time before
their own resources, such as reestab-
lshment of manufacturing plants and
the procurement of materials, can be
made ready to turn the wheels again
Much zinc, therefore, will be required
from this side to aid in the rebuild
ing program.
Zinc Roofing.
I'm the reconstruction period zinc
roofing, being non corrosive, will bt
needed in large quantities. These
conditions will apply to America as
we'll as to Europe, where zinc as 6
roofing material, has been much
used In fact, the non-rusting prop
erty of zinc is a quality already at
tracing to this metal much favor
able attention on the part of manu-
facturers. Weather strips made Out
of zinc have been used in all climates
for years and this metal has proved
very suitable for such products
For use in building hardware zinc
likewise has demonstrated its prac-
ticability. This applies to door knobs
door castings, window sash and fix
lures, opening an entirely new field
for the consumption of the metal
Such uses promise to increase wher
building activities are again renewed
on an extensive scale.
Zinc is the logical material fol
making leaders and cutters, due to its
ability to withstand outdoor wear
while in such commodities as electric
fuses, this material is standard Sui
phuric acid, an important ingredient
in fertilizers, is produced from sui
phur found in western zinc ores. This
material will grow in importance af-
ter the war, due to increased crop
production in various parts of the
world