•
CONCENTRATES
INDUSTRY The unemployment rate for professional and technical workers climbed to 3 . 0 % in Decem ber from 2.4% in November, according to Labor Department statistics. Equally gloomy, the unemployment rate for all white-collar workers rose to 3.7% in December, its highest level since 1958. For the chemical industry the annual average of employees on the payroll dropped from 1,060,700 in 1969 to an estimated 1,057,000 in 1970. Shell's planned refinery near Smyrna, Del., meets tough opposition from the state. Governor R. W. Peterson, an ex-Du Pont executive, opposes the project on sev eral counts, notably the pollution hazard. Speaking last week to the state legislature, he said: "Heavy industries such as refineries or steel mills gulp large chunks of land, offer relatively few jobs, lower tax rev enues," and pose serious threats to the environment. "I will vigorously oppose any more such industry." Shell's proposed investment would total $200 million, with completion not planned until 1977. The Administration's depreciation-easing plans will have little immediate effect on CPI capital spending plans, chemical company executives and bankers said last week. The action might spur CPI capital outlays late this year, they say, but even then it won't be very much. Under the new rules, beginning Jan. 1, 1971, firms would be allowed to deduct the cost of new plants and equipment purchased after 1970 from their corporate tax in a period 20% longer or 20% shorter than under existing rules. The action permits a firm to recover more of the cost of new plants and equipment in the first year. In an unusual move, Dow Chemical Co. has sold a plant to three former employees. The plant—Dow's 36 million pound-per-year phenol facility (which also turns out an unspecified quantity of benzoic acid products ) in Kalama, Wash.— will be run by T. W. Palmer, R. E. Karns, and R. A. Kirchner as a newly formed corporation, Kalama Chemical, Inc. Transfer date of the sale is Feb. 1. Dow has contracted with Kalama to purchase the output of the phenol unit, but will have no interest in the new corporation. Aluminum use in 1971 autos will show the first drop since the 1965-model year, according to Aluminum Company of America. Alcoa forecasts that use of the light metal in 1971 models will average 76.8 pounds per car, compared to the 1970 model average of 77.6 pounds. The reason for the dip will be increased output of four- and six-cylinder autos, which use smaller alu minum power train parts and fewer aluminum accessories such as air conditioners, Alcoa says. Aluminum producers will ship 808 million pounds of the metal to auto makers for 1971 models, based on a pro jected domestic output of 8.4 million cars, the company adds. Domes tic production of 1970 models amounted to 7.6 million, with aluminum shipments totaling 737 million pounds. About $1 billion per year in adhesives and sealants is produced by 600 U.S. companies, says Skeist Laboratories, Inc., Livingston, N.J., as the company prepares for a client-sponsored market study of the industry. Of the 600 com panies, 50 have sales of more than $1 million. William J. Reid of Union Carbide earlier estimated the 1970 market for adhesives alone at $600 million (C&EN, March 16, 1970, page 18) and projected an 8.7% annual growth rate through 1980. JAN. 18, 1971 C&EN
Π
