The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-03-21
CONTROL OF ZINC, LEAD MAR.
kETs IN AMERICA ls NOW
ELIMINATED.
AN lNFLUENCIAL POWER
Combined Profits Of Three Large Con-
Germs in 1915, $4,000, 600; Also
Big Factor In Mexico and
South America.

washington, d. C.-Germany's con-
troll of the zinc and lead markets Of
the world and her tremendous inter
est in other metals was shown by a
report this week Of the alien prop
erty custodian to have been broken
in large part by the release Of Amer
lean, Mexican and South American
mines and smelters from the domi-
nance Of German owned corporations.
All the metal concerns in the Uni
ted States which were controlled in
Germany have been either disbanded
or Americanized, and the report de-
clares 1T is believed that the Ger
man influences In our metal markets
have been completely eliminated
Never a great producer OF metals,
Germany nevertheless welded tre-
mendous power over markets by the
fact that her three great metal COM
binations acted in concert in the pur-
chase OF ore and the establishment of
smelters, aided by unlimited credit
from German banks, which financed
the sales of huge quantities of metals
thereby influencing prices. At the
outbreak of the European war, the
report said, each member Of the tri-
umvirate had branch in the United
States, the American Metal company,
representing the Metallgesellschaft
of Frankfurt, L. vogelstein & Co.,
representing Aaron Hirhch and Sohn
& Beer, Sondheimer & Co., repre-.
senting the German syndicate of the
same name. All idea. OF their extent
may be had from the statement that
their combined profits in 1916 amount
ed to $4,000. 900, OF which $7,0OO,00C
was made by the American Metal
company.
Would Evade Seizure.
When the alien property custo
dian began investigating German
business in this country he found fire.
Quent attempts to transfer stock tc
supposed Americans in an effort te
circumvent seizure by the govern
| ment. The efforts were useless ani
| in the case of Beer, Sondheimer &
Gothic transfers were declared vote
| and the entire business was turned
| over to the custodian.
Disposition now has been decided
upon in all three cases of the meta
companies. Beer, Sondheimer & Co
Is in process Of lisuidation, includ
ing its subsidiaries, National Tin,
company, Norfolk Smelling compan!
and Cuba Copper chasing company
and it was said the stock would g
only into American hands. The com
pany's control over important flota
tiou patents also has been destroyed
Later Report on Tuesday.
Berlin.AFifty-five persons HAY
been killed and 10 wounded in tn
riots at Halle. Two hundred AM
eighty persons have been arrested 70
pillaging. The value of the .stolel
property is estimated at 10000
marks.
AS q result Of the plundering in tn
sections of the country outside o
Halle a state OF siege has been Pre-
claimed in Ditterfel, Delitzsch, Muer
cheln, Merzburg and Koennern.
I Rioting on the part Of the peasant
In Windschlag,( near Offenburg, Be-
varia, forced the visiting food CON
mission to seek the protection of tn
military authorities. The rural prt
ducers refused to make declaration
Of their food stores, and drove off tn
i officials with pitchforks and clubs.