July, 1922
T H E JOURNALIOF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERIA-G CHEMISTRY
667
COMMERCE REPORTS Notice-Commercci Rcporfs are received by all large libraries and may be consnlted fherr, or single numbers can be secured by agplicalion to the Bureau d Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Departmrnt of Commerce, Washington, D . C . The regular subscription rate for these Commerce Reports mailed weekly i s $3.00 per year (10 cents per single copy), payable i n advance to :ha SuPerinfendcnfof Documents, Gooernmcnt Printing O f i c e , Washington, D . C.
May An interesting report of the French bauxite industry in 1921 has been made by Consul Wesley Frost and copies may be had by application to the Iron and Steel Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. (P. 284) Official Spanish import statistics show that the United States continues to be the chief source of supply for petroleum and petroleum products imported into Spain. (P. 297) By decree of March 17, 1922, the government monopoly on the importation of copper vitriol into Switzerland has been removed, effective July 15, 1922. (P. 310) There is said to be a good market for caustic soda in Chile, both in wholesale quantities and in smaller packages. (P. 320) The development of the Esthonian oil-shale industry is described and the total output of Esthonian oil shale for 1919 is given as 9484 long tons, 45,417 long tons in 1920, and 93,157 long tons in 1921. The government is very optimistic as to the important future for oil from Esthonian shale and is anxious to interest foreign capitalists therein. (Pp. 357-8) The French export restriction on crude methanol, rectified methanol and acetone has been removed, and these products may be exported and reexported without special authorization. (P. 378) By a decree of March 30, 1922, the temporary surtax on gasoline and other petroleum products imported into France has been reduced to 10 francs per hectoliter. (P. 379) An order of the Controller of Customs of New Zealand increases the duty on certain petroleum products. (P. 379) Poland’s alcohol production for the past year is said to amount to 40,000,000 liters, of which 15,000,000 will be available for export. (P. 383) iMining operations are being carried on by the Soviet Mining Council in developing the radium resources of the Ferghana Valley and transporting the radioactive ore to the extracting works recently erected for this purpose a t the Bondujee Chemical Works. (P. 384) Tests recently completed by the Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, show that an alcohol mixture can be used successfully as a motor fuel and a t lower cost than gasoline. (Pp. 402-3) Samples of acid-proof cloth suitable for laboratory aprons, coats, leggings, gloves, etc., recently perfected in Lancashire have been received by the Textile Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Further particulars may be obtained by addressing that Division. (P.410) There are five mills in Italy manufacturing artificial silk, all of which use the viscose process. (P. 415) By Australian Customs Proclamations the exportation of metals, alloys, and minerals is prohibited. (P. 443) As a quarantine measure against agricultural pests, the Peruvian government has prohibited the importation of cottonseed into that country. (P. 443) A bill has been introduced in the Congress of Uruguay which proposes a government monopoly on the production, importation, or sale of alcohol. (P. 443) The National University of La Plata, Argentine, plans to construct and instal a hydraulic laboratory on the water front of La Plata. (P. 448) . Because of the importance of the Cuban import trade in caustic soda, bleaching powder, and hydrochloric acid, the uses to which these chemicals are put in Cuba are described. (Pp. 448-9)
All the nitrate firms in Chile are producers or possible producers of iodine but the Cornbinacion de Yodo restricts the free production of this drug. With a view to increasing the use of iodine the combination has offered prizes for the discovery of new uses for it. (P. 449) It is reported that poppy-seed oil is used for illumination and fuel in Smyrna. (P. 450) An exhaustive report entitled “Mineral Deposits and Industries in South Africa” is on file in the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce and may be obtained for consultation by addressing the Western European Division. (P. 456) The lignite and peat deposits in Italy are described. (P. 487) Rules for oil exploitation on federal lands in Mexico are cited. (P. 493) A new schedule of import duties on petroleum and paraffin is announced in Cyprus. (P. 506) The new tariff of the Virgin Islands of the British West Indies places a duty on oils and turpentine. (P. 507) A licensing system for the importation of dyestuffs into Japan has been proposed, but if adopted it will not be effective until three months after passage and advance notice of a t least 30 to 60 days will be given the public. (P. 507) A number of important changes, for the most part reductions, have been made in the minimum duties of the new Spanish customs tariff, affecting principally mineral oils and industrial starches. (Pp. 508-9) Changes in the Spanish export duties have also been made with respect to copper ores, cassiterite, copper precipitate, and metallic bismuth. (P. 509) The German government control of light oil, crude benzene, benzene, toluene, and related products was removed, effective April 1, 1922. (P.510) The action of the Brazilian government in making various loans and concessions to encourage the manufacture of caustic soda in Brazil will undoubtedly work to the detriment of American exportation of caustic soda to Brazil. (P. 513) The Latin American Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has available the following reports on the mineral deposits and industries of Brazil which will be sent to the Bureau’s district or cooperative offices upom request for the numbers given: 54,555, monazite sand; 54,559, manganese; 54,507, mica; 54,508, iron; 54,509, oil; 54,557, translation of the Brazilian mining law; 55963, mineral industries of Sao Pnulo. (P. 513) The tin mining industry of the Dutch East Indies is described. (P. 551-2) The petroleum trade of Palestine is reviewed. (Pp. 556-7) It is believed that the establishment of agencies in Aden would give American concerns an excellent opportunity to secure the small but steady market for paints in this district. (P. 582) Foreign experts are being added to the staff connected with the Industrial Experiment Stations of Japan to find a solution for the shortage of raw materials, the chief weakness of Japan’s industrial and commercial life, and an appropriation has been made for the Oska Industrial Experiment Station to ascertain to what extent artificial products can be used as substitutes for natural resources. (P. 588) SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS ISSUED DUTCH GUIANA GUATEMALA Trade 01 ADEN, Fiscal Year 1920-21
Trade of CZECHOSLO-Trade of HONGKONQ VAKIA in 1920 in 1920 Trdde of DENMARK Trade of WESTERN in 1920 SAMOAin 1920
STATISTICS OF EXPORTS TO
THE
UNITEDSTATES
-
BAGDAD-(P. 317) Gum, tragacanth and arabic
RED SEA DISTRICT(P. 386) Gum myrrh
TAMPICO,-MEXICG(P. 007) Petroleum
GREECE-(P. 385) Opium Olive oil
SYRIA-(P. Olive oil 386) Licorice root CANADA-(P. 491) Pulp wood Wood pulp
ADEN ARABIA-(P. 5’82) Gums Wax
