Evening star., 1940-05-19
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

CoA 0oS6 AhCSA Ao4os 3NOl tlllS
country consumes about half a mil
lion tons of rubber a year, or be-
tween SO and so per cent of total
world production. More than 95
per cent of our imports come from
British Malaga or the Netherlands
Indies. If the war extends to this
area, the United States may have
difficulty in obtaining the supplies
of crude rubber needed by its in
dustries.
The motor vehicle industry takes
about 80 per cent of the rubber i'm
ports. As the Army expands its
motorization and mechanization
program, the military Importance
of rubber is sure to increase. Rub
Der is indispensable in the manu-
facture of airplanes, submarines,
and gas masks, and its industrial
uses cover a wide range. More
than 10000 persons are employed
in the manufacture of rubber goods
In this country.
Only few months supply of
crude rubber is now on hand in
the United States. If imports are
cut off, or reduced in volume, more
reclaiming rubber will be used
Operating at full capacity, reclaim
ing plants, it is estimated, could
take care of about Is per cent of
our normal rubber requirements.
Though small quantities of synthetic
rubber are manufactured in the
United States, large scale produc-
ton would require several years.
About $4,000 tons of rubber were
produced for export in Brazil last
year. Mexico produces few thou
sand tons of rubber from wild
guayule, a desert shrub which also
grows in certain areas in the South
western part of the United States.
Britain to Furnish Some.
Under a barter agreement made
with Great Britain last year, 600 900
bales of American cotton will be
exchanged for $4,000 tons of crude
rubber. Acquisitions under this
barter agreement will give the Gov
ernment substantial reserve of
rubber stocks available for national
defense.
The United States is the worlds
largest consumer of mercury. AS an
ingredient in the manufacture OF
illuminate for decorating high ex-
plosives. and in the production of
drugs, dental amalgam and anti
fouling paint for ship bottoms, mer-
curry has important military uses,
In industry mercury is used in the
manufacture of felt, the generation
of power from mercury boilers and
in the production Of gold. III
Consumption of mercury has beer
increasing in recent years. Though
substitutes have been developed
mercury remains an important stra-
tegic material, with many industria!
ard military uses.
Spain and Italy provide most OF
the worlds supply, the United States
ranking third as producer. Mex
leo produces some mercury. The
United States depends on foreign
sources for more than half of its
supply.
In 1888 the United States imported
e,l43 tons of antimony, nearly one
third of the world output. Until
recently, we obtained most of our
supply from China. With the es-
tablishment of a smelter in Texas
dependence has shifted to the West
ern Hemisphere. South and Cen
trail America are today the principal
sources of our imports.
One of the most important uses
Of antimony is in the manufacture
of plates for storage batteries 1t is
used also for type metal, cable cov-
ering, chemicals and pigments and
for babbitt and other bearing metals
and also in the manufacture of
primer mixtures. pyrotechnics and
bullet alloys.
Sources of Nickel.
For its supplies of nickel, the
United States is almost entirely de-
pendent on foreign imports. Canada
accounts for 80 per cent of the WORLD
output and supplies SO per cent OF
our nickel imports. Because of the
close relations and the community o1
interest between the two countries
1t seems unlikely that any emergency
will arise to prevent access to Ca
madam sources of supply.
Nickel is an essential element in
many steels used for armaments
1t is in much demand as an alloy
in armor plate and projectiles, and
nickel steels are used in large caliber
rifles, marine shafting, automobiles
and bridge construction. Nickel Is
an important alloy for aluminium,
silver and copper. Stainless steels
have large content both of nickel
and chromium. Minor producers OF
nickel include New Caledonia, So
Wet Russia, Norway, India and
Greece.
The inclusion of silk on the list
Of strategic materials may cause
some surprise, for silk is usually
looked upon as luxury article.
American industry consumes large
quantities of silk, and silk is used
in the manufacture of parachutes
for the air forces, and powder bags
for heavier caliber guns.
The world. output of raw silk is
about 100,000,000 pounds year.
Japan produces 10 per cent, China
about 20 per cent, and Italy, nearly
10 per cent. The United States i'm
ports about 100000 pounds of silk
q year, and three fourths of this
comes from Japan.
In recent years, notable progress
has been made in the development
of satisfactory substitutes for silk.
Silk, therefore, may soon be elimin-
ated from the list of strategic ma
terials.