Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-10
ARSENATE SUPPLY
-MAY BECOME SHORT
by BUSTING SEASON
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
408 Evans Building,
BY THEODORE TILLER

The federal department of agricul-
ture announced Saturday that while
the shortage of calcium arsenate
was not as serious as was forecast
last fall, there is now indicated
rather serious shortage by the time
the cotton busting season becomes
active. The federal department says
that it's forecast is based on the fol-
lowing official report from Mr.. B.
r. Coad, of the bureau of entomol-
ogy, in charge Of the delta labora-
tory at TalIulah, La.
Mr.. Coads' official report on con-
ditions in the cotton belt of the
south, as made public today, reads:
Through the past winter there
has been a great deal of discussion
of the question of whether or not
there would be sufficient calcium
arsenate available to meet the de-
mand-for cotton busting this spring.
AS has been noted in earlier state
ments by the department, about six
teen million pounds of calcium ar.
senate was used on the cotton fields
of the south last year, and this
caused such a drain on the raw ar
senic stocks of the country that at
the end of the season a very defi-
mite shortage was faced for the 1928
busting.
Calcium arsenate requires white
arsenic for it's manufacture as the
principal raw material, and nearly
all existing stocks of white arsenic
had been consumed. A survey of
the manufacturing programs for cal
cium arsenate production up to
June, 1928, which was made in Oc-
tober, 1922, showed that, according
to the plans then existing, only
about ten and a half, or eleven mil
lion pounds Of calcium arsenate
would be produced. 1t was impossi-
BILE definitely to estimate just what
demand for 1923 would amount to,
but it seemed reasonably certain
that if the price of calcium arsenate
remained at a fairly reasonable
level there would be a demand for
at least double the amount used in
1922, or in other words, over thirty
million pounds.
Faced Serious Shortage
Consequently, as conditions were
at that time, the south faced very
serious shortage of calcium arsen-
ate. The arsenic and calcium ar
senate supply situation was then in
,vestigated jointly in considerable de-
tail by representatives of the Unit
ed State bureau of entomology and
the United States geological sur
vey. 1t was found that, despite the
rumors to the contrary there was
no evidence whatever of large sup
plies of either arsenic or calcium ar
r. lonJ ho
relief could be expected from any
such source at the same time.
However, it was also found that
there was still time for considerable
stimulation in production of arsenic,
and also that there could be quite
bit of Encouragement in production
programs, resulting in increases IN
calcium arsenate production.
ITO facilitate this, a meeting was
held in New YorG early in Deem
Der under the auspices Of the Unit
ed States bureau of commerce and
the subject W9s very thoroughly dis
cussed. From that time onward
every effort has been made through
out both Industries to accelerate pro
duction. 1t has been impossible to
make very definite estimates through
the early states of this development,
owing to the fact that it required
some time before the actual effect
Of the notifications could be meas
uTed, but they have not been going
long enough so that more definite
situation cOnfronts us.
Throughout this period the de-
partment of agriculture has been
M oil 1fs1it ,I1 L.
sible with arsenic production and
importation, and also with calcium
arsenate production. The amount of
both in prospect has been increas-
ing steadily, and a short time ago
a recanvass of the entire situation
was made for the purpose of de-
termining as nearly as possible how
much calcium arsenate would be
available by June, 1928.
According to this survey, there
is apparently a definite certainty of
production practically doubling that
in prospect last October. In other
words, combining the material al
ready produced with the anticipated
production, for which white arsenic
is actually available, we can see
about 22,000,000 pounds available.
Furthermore, in addition to this,
there are quite a number of other
sources which can not be measured
definitely as yet, but which in the
aggregate will probably be able to
produce a considerable quantity.
Greatly Increased Supply
Consequently there seems little
doubt that, If demand will justify
continued production, at least TWEEN.
ty-tive million pounds of calcium
arsenate will be available. This
great increase has not been brought
ABOUT by any sudden discovery of a
large quantity of material, but
merely by accelerated production
with establishments in programs
throughout the arsenic consuming
industry, resulting in more arsenic
being used for calcium arsenate pro.
ductlon than was at first anticipated
For instance, large quantities of
arsenic which had been intended
for making weed-killing compounds
nave been diverted to calcium arse
nate production. Imports of arsenic
nave also increased beyond earlier
prospects.
Inc question now is one Of de-
mand. Naturally this increased pro
duction has been brought about only
at the expense of an increase in
price. The early estimates on de-
mand were based on maximum
Wholesale price for calcium arsenate
OF Is cents or under, which would
permit the farmer to buy for 20
cents or less. For some time, how
ever, calcium arsenatej costs have
been such that the manufacturers.
have held to a base wholesale price
of Is cents or higher, and many
have not been quoting less than 18
or 10 cents. This price has undoubt-
| edly curtailed demand somewhat.
About the first of February a
survey of the situation showed that