El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-07


Z Argentina. The ore was smelted in
Germany and sold 10 the rest Of Eu-
rope. The most OF the product went
TO the Krupp steel works at Essen.
Today the United States is the larg-
est producer Of tungsten ore in the
world, making about one fifth Of all
that is mined Our principal deposits
are in Colorado California Idaho,
New Mexico. Nevada, South Dakota
and Alaska, the richest and most val
liable Of all being in the Mojave
desert Of California. The mineral is
produced also in Burma. Bolivia,
Portugal and Australia
Platinum Highly Valuable.
As 10 platinum itself. this is now
one of the most valuable metals on
earth. II was worn twice as much
as gold before the war began and it
is now worth five times its weight in
that metal The most of the world s
supply has come from Russia, and be-
fore the war the Russian output was
controlled by a French syndicate which
brought the platinum to France and
sent it out from there. When the war
came the Russia mines broke down,
and from now on they will be in the
hands Of the Germans. We shall have
to get our additional supply from Co
lombia and from California. Nevada
and Wyoming, where 1t is known to
exist in small quantities.
We are indebted for our present
supply in part TO one of our army Of
ficers who was travelling through
south Russia at just about the time
We entered the war. He saw the great
need the United States would have for
platinum, and without any authority
grOm the government he secretly
bought up all the platinum he could
find He had to buy il in competition
with the Germans, but he succeeded in
getting something like 1000 ounces at
a cost which I am told was upward
Of 100000 He paid for this out OF
his own pocket and those Of his
friends, and struggled It out Of Rus
STA and cross the Transiberia road to
Japan. and thence to the United
States. 1t is now in the hands Of the
government
Outside OF Russia the chief deposits
Of platinum are in Columbia. South
America. where the Germans are buy
ing all that they possibly can It is an
imperative need that we send men TO
that country to secure every ounce
that comes into the market
The supply Of platinum that we now
have is made up of that imported be-
fore the war began We had more
than $4,000 ounces in 1914 and we
have been getting something like 20
600 ounces a yesr from Colombia
There is considerable in the jeWelry
OF the stores andsin the hands OF pri-I
vate parties. and some also owned by
GROWING teeth and for bridgework.
This could be Communicated II neces-
sary-
Make Acids For High Explosives.
Among the chief war values Of plat
mum is in the making Of acids for
high explosives. Il is used by the
contact process in the manufacture
Of sulphuric acid. and II may be used
IN the same way IN the turning OF
ammonia into nitric acid In these
processes there is but little loss OF.
the platinum and Il can be used over
and over again In 1915 We used a.
900 ounces OF platinum for contacts.
Another most important use Of plat
mum in these DAYS Of scientific war
laboratory work. There is no other
known substitute that viii do for this
work. The metal is employed also IN
the making OF incandescent electric
lamps It expands and contracts in
the same way as the glass and there
fore it can be sealed in the glass at
the base OF the lamp II is used in
electrical apparatus for Intermittent
contacts. and especially for our air.
planes In combination with iridium,
il is employed in the setting Of dia-
monds and other precious stones The
Of upward OF 80, ZOO pounds
per square inch Platinum wires have
been drawn out so fine that 1900 of
them laid side by side would cover a /
width OF only one inch.
The United States geological survey
and the federal bureau Of mines re-
port that there are placer fields in J
northern California and northwestern !
Oregon which produce this metal and
that at three places in Wyoming and ]
nevada small amounts Of platinum are
found in the rocks The amount 4
needed is not great. but we dare not
risk a lack OF supply.
Manganese Very Important.
A mineral which is Of tremendous I
Importance in making war steel is
manganese This has doubled and
trebeled in value since the war began 4
We have some Of it in Virginia, Geor- /
gia, Arkansas, COLORADO and California A
and we are now importing large /
amount from Brazil India has some |
which was formerly in the hands Of !
the Germans and now goes 20 Great /
Britain Russia has mines, the supply /
Of which will now 20 to Germany. The /
United States may be able 10 get all II 4
needs from this country and Mexico, I
as our geological experts have called /
attention TO the new available sup I
plies. I am told that we can use 1000 4
tons a day as long as the war lasts
Manganese is necessary TO the max I
ng Of all the hig grade steels now
In use. When iron is made into steel ]
practically all the carbon and other /
impurities are taken out in the open 4
hearth furnaces or the Bessemer con-
Terters, and II is necessary TO put 4
back a small amount Of carbon TO 4
make the best steel Manganese is /
used for this purpose. It adds TO the /
-Oughness Of the metal and makes 4 /
iense solid steel free from honey I
combs and blOwholes. There is some
1f il in every bit Of armor plate. and /
In every shell and other projectile I
It is used in all our airplanes. motor I
ears and other vehicles Of rapid trans /
DOrtation. Since the war began we /
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