The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-18
STEADY GROWTH OF
 GRAPHITE INDUSTRY
 IN UNITED STATES
Successful Operations in Alabama Attracting Wide Attention-Steiner's
 Properties

'The graphite industry in Alabama i' fast coming to the front on large scale. made possible by the Alabama Power company" said Leo K. Steiner who is president of two concerns-tht Jefferson Graphite company and the Liberty Graphite company, both located in Clay county, not far from Lineviie One of his plants is now in operation 1t is equipped with the most approved milling machinery and the output will Dc steadily increased.
 Our going plant is about six ml.es from a railroad-fhe Atlanta, Birming ham and Atlantic-but as the graphite flake, extracted from the rock and ready for shipment is light in weight, it is easy to carry it these few miles by truck" said MT. Steiner. T spent last Friday at the mill and was agreably surprised to find the roads In good con dition. In bad weather they are, ot course, in bad condition, but even then we will be able to get our product to the railroad
 The demand for graphite was grow ins fast before the war, and now, with cruclble steel so largely used in the manufacture of war supplies graphite values are corfespondingy advanced.
 "As graphite is found in only a few states, and in none is it more worka ole than in Alabama, it may well be classed as one of our greatest natural resources. After the war there will still De a brisk demand for it. No investment of capi- tai can be made to pay better, perhaps, than that employed in the development of graphite.
 If the industry in Alabama is in its infancy now, the time is not far distant when this state will become known as the leading graphite state. It will bring millions of new capital 10 Alabama. Clay, which used to be thought of as one of our poorest cotn- ties, is sure to become one or the richest"
 Commercially profitable graphite is found in Coosa county and the CeyloI company. in which several prominent Bir- mngham men are interested, operating near Goodwater is producng on an c,l- tensiYe scale, and is said to be making '.big money"
 From q government report outIinine the history of graphite production In the United stasee it is seen that in 1870 the letal iu'beata son was about l0Ol tons This increased to about 550) in 1880 te over l2039 tons in lsS9, about 35.010 teas in the irregular years of 1899 and issa ishd IL IS now something above 35,090 tons
 Since 1870 the consumption of ali kinds Of graphite ill the United States has Increased about tenfold or from aUV. tons q year to nearly 4o,000 tons Since 1880 the production Of American graphite has increased over fifteen-fold, or from about Se0 tons a year to something like botO tons a year. The cost of producine American flake has steadily declined due principally to Improvements in meth. Cds and machinery,
 The Essex county (New YorlO opera fion was the origin of what is known as the American graphite plant, owned and < managed by the Joseph Dixon Crucible company. This plant has been q steady producer of graphite for over 20 years
 Quoting from the government report Nearly 20 years after the start in New York, Alabama began to show signs ol becoming a graphite producer IL, like the others, had a series of failures, but Is now a steady, profitable producer"
 IT. a report made by the late J. A. Montgomery of Birmingham it is seen that the worlds use Of graphite in the year 1913 was made up as follows. Cru cibe, 55 per cent: stove polish. b per cent; foundry facings 10 per cent. lead pencils, per cent; paint, , per cent lubricants. per cent. all other uses, ] Ser cent.