The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1918-07-03

pObcS. OlncldlS WIN lUalcu W Hccu tilc
warnings Of platinum experts at the
beginning of thexwar are wondering
how they can retrieve their error in
not vigorously meeting the national
necessity by using every legitimate
means to obtain platinum For, the
total amount of known platinum
throughout the world is only 1000 900
ounces, of which about one-fourth is
in the United States. Much OF that is
virtually irreclaimable through use
in dental work and personal jewelry
and the output, since the Russian de.
bacle, fallen to fraction of what il
was in times of peace.
II is the last reason which is giving
officials so much concern. Russia has
been the source of most of the worlds
platinum and, in 1913, was credited
with production of 100000 Troy
ounces. Columbia with $4,000, New
South Wales and Tasmania 1,275,
United States California and Oregon
being almost the only producing stat.
esq only 483, Borneo and Sumartra
200 and Canada so.
The German invasion of Russia gave
the enemy the opportunity of replen-
ishing his stocks of platinum, to the
detriment Of the Allies Mining in
Russia virtually has ceased now. even
II the metal could be shipped out of
the country, and the world looks to
Columbia for platinum. Suggestions
for government monopoly of plati-
mum have been advanced in the Col
nmbian congress. Whatever action Is
taken, the fortunes of war will mea
wealth for the southern republic.
One of the most spectacular feats
Of the war was the concentration of
10000 ounces of platinum in Russia
by young American mining engineer
attached to the embassy there. who
recognized the importance of obtain.
ing the metal. Each precious brick.
wrapped in a leather cover, was
brought halfway across the world to
the United States and turned over to
the government for use in the manu-.
facture of sulphuric acid. consti.
tuent of explosives, for the manufac.
ture OF contact points in electrical an.
paratus and other uses necessary to
war An interesting history of plati
mum is given by the Latin-American
Division of the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce.
Platinum was discovered in what ID
now Columbia in 1875. by Standard
named Don Antonio de Ulloa. who SC.
companied a French scientifice ok.
petition, and his account of il was the
flrst information regarding the metal
TO be brought to the attention of Enro.
peans. Its resistability to acids and
the difficulty of working il were re.
marked upon, but ii was not consider.
ed TO be nearly as precious as gold
ana was used at times by counterfeit
ers as a basis for coins. 1t was moi
until the middle of the nineteenth cen.
fury that the demand for platinum
FOR use in chemical laboratories and
Tor electrical use brought its yalue nm
10 Inc point where il ranked as one or
the most precious metals.
In the placer mining of gold
Columbia il was formerly thrown
away as waste. and when the rise in
price made it more valuable than gold
the ground on which the waste had
beeh thrown became in its turn field
TOR mining operations. and even the
streets to the principal center of gold
refining in Columbia Qubdo, were
torn up and the soil washed for part.
icles of the new treasure. One man
tore down his store in order to get at
the ground beneath. and found so much
platinum that he was enabled to re-
build and make an extra $4,000 for
his trouble.
Platinum is recovered principally
from the beds of streams. the parti
cles having been deposited there
through erosion of large rocks. classi