Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
Eiuht-Bi||ion Output
In Minerals in 1913
Causes Ickes Concern
~ the Associated Press.

Causes Ickes Concern
~ the Associated Press.
Reporting 5000 .00o, 900 worth of
minerals, an all-time record, was
dug, scooped and pumped from
United States soil in le43, Secretary
Of the Interior Ickes expressed con-
Germ yesterday over dwindling re-
sources and called for measures to
assure this country "its share of the
worlds minerals at fair prices"
He raised the question of "how
much longer we can continue to
lead the world In mineral output"
and to enjoy large measure of
self-sufficiency.
The Secretary made public year.
end estimates by the Bureau of
Mines, headed by DR.. r. r. Sayers.
The physical volume of minerals
produced in 1943 went up per cent.
Because of higher prices their value
went up 6 per cent.
Among the materials in which pro-
duction records were broken were
aluminium, magnesium, bituminous
coal, oil and natural gas.
Metallic products for the year
were valued at $4,000 900 900, a 6 per
cent gain; mineral fuels, $4,566, 000,-
600, IL per cent gain: other nom
metallic minerals. 1854 900 900, a de-
cline Of II per cent. This decline
was mainly in sand, gravel, stone
and cement and reflected the reduc-
ton in construction activities.
aluminium production increased
more than Is per cent from 62l, lo6
short tons In 1912 to approximately
e2o, 900 tons in 1943.
Magnesium increased from 47,420.
tons in 1912 to about 1875, 900 tons in
1s43, this output being nearly 80
times that of 1910.
The record production of crude oil
In 1913 is estimated at 1903 ,00O, 900
barrels.
Production of bituminous coal and
Ignite was estimated at $50, 900 900
tons, about 100000 tons greater
than the previous record in 1912.
Close Aluminium Plants.
Meanwhile, the War Production
Board moved to reduce aluminium
output by closing four production
lines in two government owned
plants.
The WPB action, effective imme-
diately, directed closure Of two of
the three production lines at Bur-
Ington, N. j., and two out of eight
lines at Maspeth, N. Y. Both plants
are owned by the Defense Plants
Corp. and operated by the Alum
mum Corp. of America.
Within the next 80 days. said
Arthur H. Bunker, WPB vice chair
man for metals and minerals, cut
backs may reduce monthly alum
mum output by 100000 pounds.
Closing of the four lines will cut
100000 pounds from monthly pro-
duction. Mr.. Bunker would not say
how much production is exceeding
consumption.
Alcoa already has curtailed pro-
duction in its plants at ALCOA,
Tenn, Baden, N. c., and has re-
duced output of alumina, a prelimi-
nary stage in aluminium produc-
ton, at its plants in Baton Rouge,
La, and East st. Louis, Ill.
Production curtailment, the WPB |
announcement said, was made pos
sible by "the ample production Of
aluminium ingots at this time,p the{
New York and New Jersey plants
being chosen, because their power
supply comes from coal and be-
cause the aluminium they work
with must be hauled from the
Mississippi valley.
Future shutdown orders, Mr..
Bunker said, would consider the
coal shortage and the fact that
Is pounds of coal are consumed in
the production of each pound of
aluminium.
Closures Are Criticized.
Four Washington State repre-
sentatives in a statement yesterday
criticized WPB and Jesse Jones,
head of the Defense Plant Corp,
for planning to close down Amer
lean plants while. they said, ap-
proximately 600,000,000 pounds
year were purchased from the Ship
shaw project of the Canadian
aluminium Co. in Canada.
The statement was issued by Rep
resentative Coffee, Democrat, and
was concurred in by representatives
Magnuson, Koran and Norman, all
Democrats.
IT said the Northwest now is
threatened with the closing down
OF some of its aluminium plants and
that they protested the closing
down of any plants using hydro
electric power.
Mr.. Coffee said it was his under
standing that there is now an alum
mum surplus Of approximately 70O,-
100000 pounds, or one third of the
national requirements, and that it Is |
the policy of WPB to import about
that amount. from the plants built
with United States money in Canada
rather than to keep plants operat-
Ing on this side of the border"
Mr.. Koran said the Shipsaw con-
tract would run until the end OF |
1914, with the United States taking
between 100000, 900 and 100000, 900
pounds each year.
Blood plaSma saves those fighting