Evening star., 1932-01-23
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 23-Depres-
sion's downward pull on prices in 1881
was less pronounced In its effect on
the chemical industry than on any
other branch of manufacture, accord
ing to q survey just published by
Chemical and Metallurgical Engineer
ing. The industry sold s10,000000, 900
worth of its products and held fa-
rorable position. despite price wars
among alkali producers and lowering
in sulphuric acid demand due to q
drop in call for fertilizers.
Price competition in the alkali field
last year cost producers what amounts
to free gift of $4,000, 900, according
to the publication. The competition
now appears to have ended and price
cutting was not evident in bidding for
1882 business. 1t is extremely doubtful
whether the reductions which marked
the rate battles sold a single pound
more soda or caustic than would have
been shipped had prices held, says the
survey report, and from this standpoint
the year was highly unsatisfactory. So
far as production was concerned, the
alkali producers Jared better than in
dustry in general, declining only about
10 per cent from 1880. as compared
with the all-industry decline of about
IT per cent.
Sulphuric acid consumption declined
PTS per cent in 1881 from 1880 levels
and 33.2 per cent from the record year
of 1929. The decline was not violent
In all industries consuming sulphuric
acid. Textiles, for example, showed an
increase in consumption of S.8 per cent.
Fertilizers lead the decline with drop
from 1880 Of 44.3 per cent and from
1929 of 43 per cent. Coal products,
principally sulphate Of ammonia, the
demand for which suffered with fer
tilizers, showed a reduction in con-
sumption Of sulphuric acid Of 3l2 per
cent; iron and steel, 272 per cent;
petroleum refining, 141 per cent; paints
and pigments, 10 per cent; chemicals,
7.3 per cent, and explosives, Ia per
cent.
Comparative gains maintained the
plastics industry In a position above
present industrial average activity, ac-
cording to the survey report. Consid-
er1ng general business at about 81 per
cent below its normal operations, plas-
tics can be estimated at about Is per
cent below AS a whole, it averages
some 40 per cent under 1929, the peak
year. Nitrocellulose receded slightly
from its position of 1880, its production
In 1881 being estimated at about 16,-
100000 pounds, exclusive of film, and
valued at about $19,000,000.
Fertilizer Markets.
Fertilizer markets are suffering more
severely than most others from the
economic depression and even worse
prospects seem ahead, the survey re-
port goes on to say The 1000, ,000-ton
market Of the fertilizer year 1929-3O
suffered a decline of 10 per cent dur
ing the fertilizer year closing in 1881.
A composite of experienced estimates
indicates that not more than 100000
tons of fertilizers can be expected to
find sales during the coming year.
Alcohol produced at industrial plants
last year fell off in volume when COM
pared with the total of the preceding
year, but the decline was less severe
than for 1880 in comparison with 1929.
Tor the first 10 months Of 1881 the out
put OF industrial alcohol was 1873, 3,449,-
600 proof gallons, which compares with
128 1913, 900 proof gallons for the CORE
spending period of 1880. For the fiscal
year ended June 30, production Is Of
flcially reported at ls1,85s,334 proof
gallons for 1880, and 166,014, ,346 for
1881.
Consumption of specially denatured
alcohol in the same fiscal year shows
that the greatest volume-9,055,312
wine gallons-was utilized In the manu-
facture Of lacquers and solvents. Nitro
cellulose manufacture called for T.
$50, 1892 wine gallons and chemicals and
food products accounted for another
7508,027 wine gallons. Next in order
came vinegar, the manufacture of