Chemical Industry Carries On Effect of Two Years of Depression as Revealed by Government Statistics OTTO WILSON,3025 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C.
H
OW has the buhiness of chemical manufacture come
through the three qu;et years since 1929? Following the great era of expansion in the decade after the war [reviewed in IND.ENG.CHEW, 24, 388 (1932)], it was t o be expected that the contrast between abounding prosperity and the succeeding dullness would be particularly sharp In numerous branches of manufacture it has been so. But as a whole the industry appears to have stood the reverse in much better shape than most other lines of manufacture. In the government’s census figures covering 1931. released in November and December, 1932, we have an official record of the extent to which production of chemicals fell off in the first two years after the break. They show that the largest single group of these products (compounds of sodium) dropped in value of output about 24 per cent from 1929 to 1931, and that that percentage may be taken as a fair average for the whole list. Considering the times, this is a good showing and, moreover, is convincing evidence that the fixpansion in 1929 and earlier years represented substantial grriwth and not merely inflation, although at its height demand and production were to some extent abnormally stimulated. In the government returns, ccmmercial chemicals are included as a special group within the broad classification “Chemicals and Allied Products,” and are themselves classified into nine subgroups as follows: acids, nitrogen and fixed-nitrogen compounds, sodium compounds, potassium compounds, alums and other aluminum compounds, bleaching compounds, coal-tar products, plastics, and miscellaneous chemicals. Preliminary figures showing 1931 production have been released for all these subgroups except bleaching compounds (whose separate items are covered by various other classes of products), and coal-tar products. Production figures for coal-tar products were formerly gathered and published by the United States Tariff Commicsion. This work has now been discontinued and no other statistics of output are available. Statistics for the seven subgroups for which figures have been released are discussed herewith, and also for compressed and liquefied gases, formerly listed in this group of commercial chemicals. While the figures are preliminary, they differ little from the final figures, which will not be published for many months. ACIDS Effects of the general dullness on the manufacture of acids were widely varied. A few of the leading items showed encouragingly small losses in 1931 as compared with 1929, but in many minor products the decline was heavy. For the group of acids as a whole, 1931 production for sale was 33 per cent less in value (at f. 0 . b. factory prices) than in 1929, the total standing at $66,063,000 as compared with $98,620,000. The 1931 level was lower than for any census year since the war except 1921 but was still about twice as high as that of 1914. Sulfuric acid, which makes up about one-half the total value of all commercial acids, made a somewhat better showing. Total production (basis 50” BB ) was 6,015,000 tons as compared with 8,491,000 tons in 1929, a reduction of about 30 per cent. But the production made for sale dropped only 27 per cent, amounting to 4,250,000 tons valued a t $33,202,000 as against 5,816,000 tons valued at $45,573,000
in 1929. Sulfuric acid made arid consumed in the same establishment totaled l,i65,000 tons in 1931 as against 2,6i5,000 in 1929, a drop of 34 per cent. Production for sale and total production were somewhat below that of eight years before, but were higher than for previous census years. In addition to this manufacture, reclaimed sulfuric acid was marketed to the extent of 310.000 tons (basis, 50” BB.) valued a t $1,320,000, as againbt 381,000 tons valued a t $1,389,000 in 1929. Including much larger amounts used in the plant? themselves, the total output of reclaimed acid was 830,000 tons in 1931 and 981,000 in 1929. Among the more important acids, the best record was made by nitric, which showed returns of 31,386 tons (basis, 100 per cent) made for sale in 1931 as compared with 32,961 in 1929, a loss of only 5 per cent. The value, $3,349,000, compared with $3,495,000 in the earlier year. Plant consumption, however, was much less, so that the total output was only 116,000 tons, 20 per cent under the 143,000 tons of 1929. On the other hand, mixed sulfuric and nitric fell off sharply from a total output of 184,000 tons in 1929 to 101,000 in 1931. Amounts marketed were 63,700 tons and 37,600 tons in the two years, respectively, a decrease of 41 per cent, although the total value of sales was reduced much more, falling from $4,214,000 to $1,800,000 or nearly 60 per cent. Dry-Ice is apparently responsible for the exceptional showing of carbonic acid, which recorded a notable gain in quantity manufactured for sale. The 1931 production of 151,674,000 pounds was 11 per cent above that of two years before, which itood at 136,930,000 pounds. The value, however, showed about the same percentage of loss, being only $6,222,000 as compared with 86,932,000 in 1929. The 1931 manufacture included some 80,000,000 pounds piped to plants making Dry-Ice but did not include 26,896,000 pounds made and consumed in such plants. Among the other acids, large decreases were the usual rule. Phosphoric acid fell from a value of $2,073,000 in 1929 to $761,000 in 1931, a loss of 60 per cent; oleic acid from $5,375,000 to $1,871,000, nearly 70 per cent; and stearic acid from $5,488,000 to $2,057,000, more than 60 per cent. To a considerable extent these declines were due to lower prices, as the quantities sold in 1931 were much nearer the 1929 totals than the values. Acetic acid likewise showed a sharp break of 50 per cent in value, whereas the quantity sold approached that of two years before, the figures being as foLlom: dilute (basis, 100 per cent), 48,847,000 pounds valued at 82,761,000 in 1931 and 52,915,000 valued at $5,487,000 in 1929; glacial, 13,740,000 pounds valued a t $776,000 in 1931 and 13,449,000 valued a t $1,403,000 in 1929. In addition to these sales 13,816,000 pounds (dilute and glacial) were made and consumed in the same establishment in 1931. The 1929 returns for this use covered dilute only and stood a t 19,823,000 pounds. Hydrochloric acid stood out conspicuously in the 1931 returns, in that the total value of amounts sold showed a much smaller decrease as compared with 1929 than the quantity. Precisely the opposite was the rule with other important acids. ilctual sales were 82,422,000, about 24 per cent under the 1929 figure of $3,195,000, whereas the quantity of sales was 129,000 tons, some 34 per cent less than the 196,000 tons of 1929. These amounts, however, as usual represented
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only about three-fourths of the tots1 manufacture, which stood a t 173,000 tons in 1931 and 258,000 in 1929, the other one-fourth being consumed in the establishment of manufacture. The proportion of the product grading 20' BC. was the same as in 1929, about 80 per cent. Other acids included: boracic, 18,129,000 pounds valued a t $970,000 as against 26,055,000 valued a t $1,541,000 in 1929; chromic, 3,025,000 pounds valued at $423,000 as against 4,212,000 valued a t $710,000; citric, 8,381,000 pounds valued at $3,060,000 as against 10,756,000 valued a t $4,833,000; tannic, 667,000 pounds valued a t $251,000 as against 1,449,000 valued a t $504,000; and tartaric, 5,181,000pounds valued a t $1,463,000 as against 4,906,000 valued a t $2,060,000.
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third less in value than in 1929. I n addition, about 25,000 tons in 1931 and 37,000 tons in 1929 were made and consumed in the same establishments, not including caustic soda made and consumed in wood pulp and textile plants. As for many years past about 70 per cent of the total manufacture of caustic soda, or 456,000 tons, was the product of the soda lime process and 30 per cent, or 203,000 tons, that of the electrolytic process. Besides these amounts, repacked caustic soda to the amount of 22,500 tons valued a t $3,857,000 was reported, somewhat more than in 1929. Soda ash, second most important product of this group, achieved a total in 1931 of 2,275,000 tons (basis, 58 per cent), about 15 per cent under that of two years before. One-third of this amount was consumed in the same establishment as that in which it was made, leaving 1,509,000 tons for sale as NITROGEN AND FIXED-SITROGEN COMPOUKDS against 1,814,000 in 1929. Lower prices reduced the total Preliminary figures showing production of nitrogen value considerably more than the quantity, sales totaling compounds in 1931 are very encouraging. The value of the 522,493,000 in 1931 and $34,649,000 in 1929. As in preyear's output for sale was $32,504,000, only 15 per cent less vious years all but about 4 per cent of the manufacture of than that of two years before, which was $38,337,000. (These soda ash was by the ammonia-soda process, the natural and and following figures do not include ammonia and ammonia electrolytic sodas accounting for only 86,000 tons valued at products of the coke and manufactured gas industries, and $1,414,000. Other carbonates of sodium felt the reduced they also cover only those products made for sale, the values demand rather less than soda ash. Refined bicarbonates being based on f. 0. b. factory prices.) The leading product, were produced to the extent of 128,000 tons and a value of accounting for about one-fourth the total, was anhydrous $3,731,000, these figures comparing with 140,000 tons and ammonia. Prices showed no recession and the average $4,062,000in 1929; sal soda reached a total in 1931 of 48,000 value per pound was, in fact, a fraction higher in 1931 than tons valued a t $1,303,000 as against 58,000 tons valued a t in 1929, so that the output of 127,101,000pounds returned a $1,523,000 two years before. Demand for phosphates held up so well that manufacturers total money value of $8,044,000, as compared with 173,349,000 pounds and $10,673,000 in 1929. Cyanogen compounds disposed of slightly more in 1931 than in the good year of were second in importance, totaling a value of 86,725,000, 1929, thus continuing an upward tendency that had been about 14 per cent under the 1929 total of $7,783,000. Of particularly marked since the war. The total output of these values, ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian blue) made up 146,303 tons compared with 146,179 tons in 1929, and was $1,134,000 in 1931 and $1,446,000 in 1929. Production of 50 per cent higher than for any previous census year. The nitric acid in 1931, as mentioned above under Acids, was value, $8,146,000, was some 9 per cent below that of 1929 almost equal to that of two years before. Aqua ammonia but was far higher than for any earlier year. Kearly 60 per and ammonia liquor, however, were some 37 per cent less, cent, or 83,000 tons, were tribasic phosphates. A marked exception to the general downward trend was the 1931 production standing a t 18,831,000pounds (ammonia content) valued a t $1,032,000, as compared with 30,200,000 afforded by sodium silicate, which returned an actual increase pounds valued a t $1,784,000 in 1929. Of the ammonium of 12 per cent in quantity and 4 per cent in value over 1929, compounds, the chief one for which separate returns were the 1931 figures being 663,000 tons (basis, 40' Be.) valued at made was ammonium nitrate, of which 20,558,000 pounds $7,460,000 and those of the previous census 590,000 tons having a value of $845,000 were produced in 1931. No sepa- valued a t $7,179,000. Among the sulfates, salt cake, the rate figures were compiled for this product in 1929. Ammo- most important commercially, fell off about 40 per cent as nium sulfate more than doubled its 1929 output, 24,101,000 compared with 1929 production, total manufacture in 1931 pounds being reported for 1931 as against 11,853,000 pounds being 121,000 tons as against 207,000 two years previously. two years before. The value, however, was only slightly About four-fifths of the annual production is made for sale, higher, $263,000 as against $240,000. For all ammonium the total value of salt cake marketed in 1929 being $2,015,000 compounds taken together, the 1931 total value stood a t and in 1931, $1,571,000. The manufacture of niter cake $2,836,000, less than 20 per cent under the 1929 total of (bisulfate) fell precipitately from 112,000 tons in 1929 to $3,507,000. Nitrous oxide, which had been showing large 35,000 in 1931, the amount made for sale from 83,000 to gains up to 1929, held up well during the first two years of the 30,000 tons, and the value of the products marketed from depression, the 1931 output being 94,607,000 gallons valued %1,023,000to $543,000. Of the other sulfates, Glauber's at $923,000 as compared with 109,812,000 gallons valued at salt registered a much smaller decrease, dropping from 62,000 tons valued a t $1,112,000 to 51,000 valued a t $875,000; $1,196,000 in 1929. hyposulfite (thiosulfate) returned an actual increase of i per cent in value but a small decrease in quantity, the SODIUM COMPOUKDS 1931 figures being 23,500 tons as against 25,000 two years The value of sodium compounds made for sale in 1931 before, and $969,000 against $906,000. Sodium bichromate and sodium chromate showed the dropped to a lower level than for any census year since 1921, although it was still only 23.8 per cent below the highest effects of the dull times in a lowered production which reached point yet reached by the industry, that of 1929. The total only about 37 per cent of the 1929 figure. The quantity for 1931 was $104,886,000 as compared with $137,655,000 manufactured stood a t 24,700 tons compared with 39,300 two years before. It was but slightly higher than in 1919 tons in 1929, and the value $3,162,000 as compared with but was more than three times the value of production before $5,137,000. Borax made a better showing, registering a decrease in quantity from 92,000 to 80,000 tons, or 13 per the war. Leading all other items in point of value was caustic soda, cent, and in value from $3,280,000 to $2,432,000, or 26 whose 1931 total of 634,000 tons (basis 76 per cent) valued a t per cent. Sodium sulfide, with 25,000 tons valued a t $1,$26,565,000 was about one-eighth less in quantity and one- 300,000, produced some 24 per cent less than in 1929 but
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better prices brought the total returns to a point only 15 per cent under that of two years before. Sodium hypochlorite showed a substantial increase over 1929, production standing a t 32,300 tons valued a t $2,562,000 as against 26,800 valued a t $2,016,000 two years before.
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS While compounds of potassium shared in the general decline between the last two census years, the decrease was much lighter than in most other chemicals. The total value of these products in 1931 was $7,972,000, which, compared with the $9,998,000 of 1929, represented a 20.3 per cent drop. Five potassium compounds were listed separat)ely in the 1931 returns-bitartrate (cream of tartar), citrate, iodide, hydroxide, and acetate, Cream of tartar was the leading item in point of value, its output of 6,971,000 pounds (made for sale) being valued a t $1,572,000, which compared with 7,853,000 valued a t $1,931,000 in 1929, a decrease of 11 per cent in quantity and about 19 per cent in value. Potassium iodide enjoyed a rather more favorable year, decreasing from a quantity of 443,500 to 380,000 tons, a loss of 14 per cent, and from a value of $1,487,000 to $1,291,000, or about 13 per cent. The other three items were smaller. Citrate of potassium with 140,000 pounds and a value of $72,000 was 7 per cent smaller in quantity and 10 per cent in value than in 1929; and potassium hydroxide, with a value of $581,000, was 9 per cent less. Potassium acetate, with 80,000 pounds valued a t $23,000 in 1931, was not separately stated in 1929.
ALUMIIKMCOMPOUNDS AND ALuhfs With a decrease of 33.2 per cent in value as compared with 1929, this chemical group registered a considerably reduced activity in 1931. But the decrease among the various products was far from uniform. Aluminum sulfate, which made up three-fifths of the total value of the group in 1931 decreased only 12 per cent in quantity and 18 per cent in value, the 1931 production being 304,800 tons valued a t $6,565,000, as compared with 345,000 tons valued a t $8,039,000 two years before. Ammonia alum likewise held up well, the 1931 production of 4472 tons valued a t $234,000 representing decreases of 22 per cent and 19 per cent in quantity and value, respectively. Sodium aluminum sulfate showed an actual gain, the 1931 returns ttotaling 15,900 tons valued a t $902,000 and those for 1929, 14,900 tons valued a t $848,000. On the other hand, there were some heavy decreases. Most noticeable was that in the output (for sale) of aluminous abrasives from 33,200 tons in 1929 to only 7400 in 1931, or nearly 80 per cent, and from a value of $3,446,000 to $1,152,000, or 66 per cent. Potash and chrome alums decreased to 2600 tons valued a t $162,000, about three-fourths of the 1929 output, and aluminum stearate, with an identical production in point of quantity, 1065 tons, fell in value from $440,000 to $341,000. By far the larger part of the aluminum chloride manufactured was consumed in the establishment making it. As reported by the United States Bureau of Mines, total output in 1931 was 7121 tons valued nominally a t $621,000, which compared with 16,551 tons valued a t $1,601,000 in 1929. Census returns show that only 1099 tons (representing solutions calculated on basis of 100 per cent) valued a t $162,000 were made for sale in 1931 as against 1521 tons valued a t $225,000 two years before.
PLASTICS This group is comprised very largely of three kinds of products-pyroxylin plastics, rubber substitutes, and phenolic resins. The total value of these and the minor articles such
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as urea-formaldehyde, cellulose acetate, casein, etc., was $26,741,000 in 1931, or 33 per cent under the 1929 figure of $39,734,000. Pyroxylin plastics (not including photographic film) felt the full force of the depression and fell in total value from S28,585,000 in 1929 to $17,659,000 in 1931, a drop of 38.2 per cent, although the number of establishments engaged in production rose from ten to twelve. Altogether, 14,821,000 pounds of pyroxylin were produced, about one-fifth of which was consumed in the establishment of manufacture, leaving 11,819,000 pounds for sale in form for further manufacture. In 1929 the corresponding figures were 21,847,000 and 16,991,000 pounds,1 respectively. Sales of pyroxylin totaled in value $11,114,000 for 1931 and $17,266,0001 for 1929. In addition to the manufacture of pyroxylin as a raw material, the producing plants also turn out considerable quantities of finished articles of pyroxylin. These had an aggregate value of $6,545,000 in 1931, a drop of nearly 40 per cent from the 1929 total of $10,522,000. Phenolic resins continued to find a good demand in 1931 and registered a total manufacture for sale of 41,946,000 pounds valued a t $8,058,000. They were not separately reported for 1929, but it is evident that the decrease in the two years was not very pronounced. I n 1929 phenolic resins were included in “All Other Plastics” whose value was given as $10,943,000, including several minor products besides the resins. I n 1931 these minor products aggregated 16658,000. Rubber substitutes dropped off about two-thirds in the two years, the 1931 output being 3,398,000 pounds having a value of $367,000 as compared with 9,923,000 valued a t S1,003,000in 1929.
COMPRESSED .IXD LIQUEFIED GASES The manufacture of gases for commercial purposes is carried on not only as a separate industry but very extensively as a side line in industries devoted primarily to other purposes. In 1931 these gases totaled in value $56,455,000, of which only 841,373,000 represented the products of the compressed and liquefied gas industry itself and $16,082,000 the by-products of other industries. In 1929 the total value of manufacture was $71,293,000, of which $19,670,000 came from other industries. In the two years the reduction in manufacture was thus about 20 per cent both in total production and in production within the industry. Oxygen, the leading commercial gas, dropped off about one-third as compared with 1929. Total production was 2043 million cubic feet, valued a t $16,350,000. The 1929 output was 3140 million cubic feet valued a t $23,410,000. All but about 2 per cent of the 1931 total was produced by liquefaction, the electrolytic process accounting for only 53 million cubic feet. In 1929, 323 million cubic feet, or more than 10 per cent, were produced by the latter process. In contrast with the usual rule, the average value of manufactured oxygen was higher in 1931 than in 1929, standing at $8 per thousand cubic feet as against $7.45 in 1929. Included in this group are anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, for which figures have been given above under Acids and h’itrogen Compounds. I n addition to the 151,674,000 pounds of carbon dioxide made for sale, as mentioned above, the plants making Dry-Ice produced and consumed in their own operations 26,896,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, making a total for the year (not including Dry-Ice itself) of 178,570,000 pounds. No comparable figures are available for 1929. The total manufacture of Dry-Ice (or solid carbon dioxide) is given as 84,954,000 pounds in 1931, valued a t $2,900,000. Figures for 1929 are 1
Revised figures.
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TABLEI. PRODUCTION OF MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICALS CHEMICAL
1929
1931
ORGANIC
Acetone: a Pounds a Value Alcohols: $11,841,000 Methanol, synthetic: Gallons Value Other alcohols (not including ethanol, glycerol or methanol produced by wood distillation). value .. Butyl acetate: 4,524,000 Gallons Value $5,680,000 Carbon disulfide: Pounds 7 1,010,000 Value $2,860,000 Carbon tetrachloride: 32,713,000 Pounds $1,728,000 Value Ether: 6,464,000 Pounds $1,897,000 Value Ethyl acetate: 10,932,000 Gallons $9,007,000 Value Glycerol: Crude:b 28,790,000 Pounds $2,358,000 Value Refined: 113,140,000 Pounds $12,716,000 Value Plastics: Pyroxylin (made for sale) : 16,991,000 C Pounds 817,266,000C Value $10,522,000 Finished pyroxylin products, value Rubber substitutes: 9,923,000 Pounds $1,003,000 Value Phenolic resins: d Pounds d Value
26,056,000 $1,819,000
......
7,767,000 $1,462,000 $4,891,000 3,311,000 $3,492,000 83,045,000 $3,200,000 34 096 000 $1:720:000 6,982,000 $1,432,000 7,283,000 $3,220,000 25,918,000 $1,578,000 102,341,000 $10,299,000 11,819,000 $11,114,000 $6,545,000 3 398 000 i367:OOO 41,946,000 $8,058,000
INORQANIC
Arsenic: Oxides: Pounds Value Calcium amenate: Pounds Value Lead arsenate: Pounds Value Barium salts and compounds. value Bismuth salts and compounds, value Calcium: Acetate: Tons Value Areenate (see Arsenic) Chloride (basis, 73 to 79’%). Tone Yalue Hypochlorite: Tons Value Phosphate: Tons Value
28,643,000 $852,000
34,346,000 $1,054,000
33,064,000 $1,860,000
26,129,000 51,280,000
30,682,000 $3,523,000 $2,234,000 $898,000
37,974,000 $3,674,000 $1,525,000 $880,000
58,163 $4,695,000
26,079 $973,000
277,010 $5,947,000
233,000 $4,739,000
93,116 $3,351,000
59,603 $1,961,000
38,129 $5,557,000
withheld by the Census Bureau to avoid giving information concerning individual establishments. Chlorine is likewise heavily consumed in the plants where it is manufactured. I n 1931, out of 361,740,000 pounds, 106,229,000 pounds were thus used, leaving 255,511,000 to be sold. The factory value of this production was $5,248,000. Comparative figures for 1929 show a total output of 398,944,000 pounds of which 289,855,000 were sold, bringing in $7,113,000. There was thus a decrease of only about 9 per cent in total production and of 12 per cent in the quantity made for sale. The total value of sales, however, dropped 26 per cent. Acetylene gas was manufactured and sold to the extent of 741 million cubic feet valued a t $12,867,000, as compared with 970 million cubic feet valued a t $16,554,000 in 1929, a drop of 24 per cent in quantity and 22 per cent in value. Other hydrocarbon gases fell off in value from $2,447,000 to $1,614,000. Hydrogen gas, while more than doubling in
CHEMICAL 1929 IKORGAXIC (continued) Calcium (cont’d) : Phosphate (cont’d): Monobasic : Tons Value Dibasic and tribasic: Tons Value Satin white (sulfate and alumina): Tons 21,007 Value $532,000 Carbide: Tons d Value d Stearate: Pounds d Value d Copper sulfate(b1ue vitriol) : Pounds 78,669,000 Value $4,345,000 Hydrogen peroxide: Pounds (basis, 100 volumes) $2,372,000 8,509,000 Value Iron alloys (electric furnace only) : Tons (2240 pounds) 220,410 Value $28,655,000 Magnesium : Sulfate (Epsom salt): Tons 36,983 Value $1:126:000 $1 405 000 Other salts and compounds, value Mercury salts and compounds value $1,557,000 Silver : Nitrate: Ounces 5,647,000 Value $2,016,000 Other salts and comDounds, value $88,000 Sulfur: Chloride: Pounds 17,827,000 $312,000 Value Lime-sulfur, dry: Tons 7,203 $603,000 Value Lime-sulfur solution: 11,974,000 Gallons Value $1,446,000 Refined: Tons 78,119 Value $3,066,000 $13,112,000 Tin compounds: Chloride, stannic: Pounds Value Chloride, stannous: Pounds Value Oxide: Pounds Value Vitreous enamels (frit),value $4,512,000 Zinc salts and compounds (not including pigments), value $3,111,000
1931
36,454 $5,06 1,000 4,541 $533,000 16,759 $354,000 128,263 $8,024,000 167,000 $28,000 60,038,000 $2,184,000 $3,293,000 12,855,000 130,252 $13,211,000 34,350 $1,524,000 $708,000 $962,000 4,688,000 $1,036,000 $92,000 22,796,000 $325,000 5,493 $540,000 10,767,000 $1,229,000 66,914 $2,089,000 34,872,000 $5,743,000 193,000 $45,000 3,330,000 $912,000 $3,589,000 $2,709,000
Withheld to avoid disclosing approximations of data for individual establishments. b Production for sale by chemical and soap-manufacturing establishments only; the total production of crude glycerol, 80 per cent basis (Quarterly Census of Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils), was as follows: 1929, 140,080,000 ounds; 1931, 140,002,000 pounds. e Revisez d Not separately slated a
volume as compared to 1929, was nearly a third less in value, the totals being 490 million cubic feet valued a t $955,000 in 1931 and 208 million cubic feet valued a t $1,423,000 in 1929. Sulfur dioxide fell off less than the average, total manufacture for sale being 16,105,000 pounds valued a t $839,000 as compared with 17,601,000 valued a t $974,000 two years before.
~IISCELLANEOUS CHEMICALS In addition to these chemicals assigned to special groups, American manufacturers in 1931 turned out a long array of miscellaneous chemicals aggregating in value more than $190,600,000. Inorganic chemicals comprised $84,852,000 and organic chemicals $105,766,000. Table I shows each item in the list whose value approximated $1,000,000or more in 1931, with comparative figures for 1929. RECEIVED January 4, 1933.
