Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-12
GHOST INDUSTRIES
LIST AUGMENTED
Closing of Manganese Fac
tory Adds to Roster of
Abandoned Pursuits.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK. September 1.-THE
closing down OF the last manganese
plant operating in this country has
temporarily added another ghost in
dustry to brewing. carriage making,
whaling, livery stabling, certain forms
OF mining and the other industries
now RELOCATED to the limbo of American
economic life.
Unlike the other ghost" industries
which were discontinued due to in
vention, depletion or other normal
social or industrial causes. the Amer
lean production of manganese has been
stopped due to the dumping of Russian
exports of the metal into American
ports at below cost of production in
order to further the workings 81 the
new Soviet economic system.
Ore Still Used.
Manganese ore is still used extern
siveiy in this country. about 100000
tons year being consumed in steel
making. in which it is indispensable
The ore occurs in large quantities in
the United States. and the domestic
producers claim with the aid of the
present tariff to BE- able to supply a
large part of the requirements of the
steel companies. If fair competition
with foreign producers exists
An American supply of nearby
manganese ore, however, will shortly
be made available for the steel com
panies from the manganese properties
now under development in Cuba by
Freeport Texas Co. This company.
which for nearly 90 years has con-
fined its operations TO the production
of sulphur along the Texas Gulf Coast,
now is constructing large mill in
Cuba for treating manganese ore by
new patented process. Production IS
expected to commence shortly after the
first of the year at the rate of APP
proximately 00O00 tons year. and
will be admitted duty free under the
terms of the treaty with Cuba in eff
feet since Shorty after the war with
Spain.
1t is believed that the American man.
ganese industry will yet reappear on
the industrial scene in less ghostllke
outlines owing 10 the fact that Soviet
production of manganese cannot logi-
cally operate on a permanent below
cost basis. When the Russian ore again
begins to sell in American ports at or
above actual cost or is excluded entire
~ by an embargo now being sought.
the American producers are prepared
to reopen Immediately about Is plants,
provide work for thousands now I'M
employed and make the United States
partly Self-suStaining as TO one Of the
metals no less important than the steel
it creates.
The American manganese industry
got its start through governmental aid
during the World War. when foreign
shipments to this country were greatly
curtailed. Following the war produce
ton of the ore declined to roughly one
NTH of the wartime production. re-
naming in the neighborhood OF $4,000
tons a year until about 1923. New
sources and processes Of treating the
domestic ores then were developed and
American producers equipped new
plants and opened additional deposits
TO produce a much greater proportion
of the domestic needs. The local II
dustry would be thriving today. the
American producers insist. if Russian
cargoes were not dumped in this
country at prices flXed 10 put the
American manganese industry out CT
business.
Supply Is Large.
The scheduled output of Freeport
Texas Co.. together with the potential
production of the important domestic
producers. estimated at nearly 100000
tons a year. should supply almost one
half of the consumptive demands Of
the American steel companies. In the
event of a national emergency those
familiar with the potentiaiities Of
these two sources are convinced that
their combined production could be
stepped up so that the Nation would
not have to depend on Russia, Brazil
or Africa. the principal sources Of
manganese outside of the United
States. in the manufacture y. NUM-
tons and other war equipment.