Evening star., 1940-05-24
By OLIVER MCKEE.

BY OLIVER MCKEE.
During the % years that have
passed since the end of the World
War, the strategic material position
of the United States has undergone
many changes. The manufacture
of synthetic material from atmos-
pheric nitrogen, for example, has
made us less dependent on the
importation of nitrates from Chile,
and we now produce large part
of the potash required by Ameri-
can industry. AS a result of the
establishment of smelter at La
redo, Tex, equipped to supply large
amounts of antimony derived from
Mexican ores, we are no longer de-
pendent on imports of antimony from
Asia. The production of pyrites in
the United States has increased
greatly during the last two decades,
and the domestic sulphur industry
also has expanded enormously. I'm
proved technology has made pos
sible the utilization and exploita-
ton of many low-grade deposits
of strategic minerals.
There are many materials, how
ever, for which we are still largely
dependent on foreign sources of sup
ply. The great increase in the
use of alloys in industry has Gre
ated larger demand for such min
erals as maganese. nickel, chrome
and aluminium. Under the inter-
national conditions that now pre-
vail there is no certainty that the
United States will continue to have
access to foreign sources of sup
ply for the materials essential to
national defense and industry.
American ships are barred from
combat zones and if the war extends
to the Dutch East Indies and the
Malayan Islands, supplies of such
important commodities as tin and
rubber may be cut off.
Warning Given Two Years Ago.
'The experience of all nations in
the Great War and of those ma
tions now engaged in lesser wars,
proves again what has been proven
so many times before, that certain
metals and minerals are vital to war
requirements" the Interior Depart
ment warned in a report submitted
to Chairman Sheppard of the Sem
ate Military Affairs Committee two
years ago. Possession of these in
adequate quantities means victory.
Lack of them means defeat. Behind
the scenes in world diplomacy bit
ter struggles for their control are
taking place"
Last year, in recognition of their
Importance in industrial prepared
ness, Congress authorized the pur-
chase of stocks of strategic materials
by the Procurement Division of the
Treasury. Purchases under this au-
thorization so far have included
tungsten ore, quartz crystals, opti-
cal glass, manila fiber, chromium
ore. tin, manganese, quinine and
sulphate. Under the emergency ma
tional defense program purchases
will be stepped up during the COM
ing year.
AS part of the same legislation,
Congress directed the Bureau of
Mines and the Geological Survey to
investigate domestic deposits of
minerals designated as strategic and
to determine whether, by scientific
treatment and exploitation, such de-
posits could provide supplies of
minerals and metals needed by the
United States in an emergency,
even at higher than the usual cost.
Seven Materials Investigated.
Investigations now under way are
chiefly concerned with seven stra-
tegic minerals-antimony, chromium,
ferro grade manganese. mercury,
tin and tungsten Later, it is
planned to investigate domestic de-
posits of other metals and minerals
Of less strategic importance.
Earlier surveys of domestic re-
serves have been largely confined to
ores that are commercial, judged by
present standards, and existing me-
tallurgical practices. Industry coultl
hardly be expected to explore del !!
posits of subcommercial grade. With
the advance in technology and the
development of new processes, Fed
eral experts believe that these mar
ginal deposits can be used in an
emergency to supplement our sup
plies of strategic minerals and lessen
our dependence on imports from
foreign countries.
The Bureau of Mines has no
misapprehension that its investi-
cations are likely to disclose large
domestic deposits of high grade
strategic ores, but it is hopeful that
low grade deposits will be shown to
exist in this country containing i'm
portant quantities of strategic
metals that could be utilized in an
emergency provided methods for
their utilization had been worked
out in advance" Charles F. Jack