I i V D U S T R I A L A N D T R A D E NOTES. Chemically Manwjactwed Pigment.7.-Under this heading are grouped the important lead pigments made from pig lead and lead compounds, and such minor pigments as lithopone and Venetian red, both of which are chemically precipitated from mineral salts. Much of the material now sold as Venetian red, however, instead of being precipitated from ferrous sulphate and calcium hydroxide, is made in several ways, such as by calcinating both pyrites and a mixture of ferrous sulphate and terra alba, and also by grinding natural red iron oxide with a white base, such as ground oyster shells. The following statement shows the amounts and value of the chemically manufactured pigments produced in the United States in 1908 and 1909, together with the quantities and value of similar pigments imported during the same years: Quantity. Description. Production. Basic carbonate white lead:
......... ......... ... .. ...... Total., . . . . . . . .
Red lead.. Litharge.. Orange mineral.. Lithopone.. , . , , , , Venetian red.
Imports. Corroded white lead. Red lead.. Litharge. Orange min Venetian re
......... ..........
Total.,
........
----
Value.
c___--.
1908.
Tons.
1909.
Tons.
1908.
1909.
--
115,259 32,840 19,103 20,690 590 14,847 8,358
$12,552,771 3,338,830 2,065,202 1,887,506 65,498 639,483 159,650
- ~-
$14,736,360 3,468,722 2,335,799 2,363,002 98,723 1,105,281 145,733
182,364
211,687
20,708,940
24,253,620
270 323 48 243 1,557
347 380 45 248 2,000
.30,452 28,155 3,327 26,645 25,745
39,963 30,428 3,740 27,562 28,864
2,441
3,020
114,324
130,557
101,109 31,479 16,720 15,542 397 8,292 8,825
--
Consumfition o j f’airtis and Varnishes.-G. B. Reckel, secretary of the Paint Manufacturers’ Association of the United States, is quoted as follows: The annual consumption of paints and varnishes in the United States exceeds $200,000,000, white lead, zinc oxide, and linseed oil alone amounting to nearly $40,000,000. Roughly speaking, this consumption is about equally divided between housepainting products and technical products (railway and bridge paints, wagon and implement paints, etc.). During the two years of depression paint consumption in the first classification was reduced by about one-half, this reduction being about balanced by the remaining demand in the second classification. The consumption of paint by the railways of the country has been conservatively estimated at from $I 2,000,000-1 5,000,000. But it must bc remembered that, during the past two years, this consumption has been limited on the basis of “rigid economy” and that now not only must the railways add their normal annual equipment, but they must also add the new equipment deferred for two years, besides providing for the repairs and renewals deferred during the same period; we shall, therefore, be conservative in estimating that the railways during the coming year will be forced to distribute between $ 2 0 , ooo,ooo and $30,000,000 among paint and varnish manufacturers.
EXPORT PRICES O F GERMAN POTASH. (From Consul-General Robert P. Skinner, Hamburg.)
The manufacturers of nitrate of potash in Germany have formed a trust agreement under which identical prices are demanded a t the several factories. I t is only possible a t times for individual dealers to propose tjetter terms than can be obtained direct, because such dealers make contracts for j o or IOO tons a t a time, and,are thereby enabled to break large lots into small ones, and sell the smaller quantities below the trust quotations. The best prices within my possession on powdered and granulated nitrate of potash for export to Africa, Asia, North America,
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Australia, Spain, Portugal, and Greece follow: In quantities less than 5,000 kilos (5 metric tons), 42 marks ($9,996) per IOO kilos ( 2 2 0 pounds); a t least j>oookilos, 41 marks ($9.758) per IOO kilos; a t least jo,ooo kilos ( j o tons), 40 marks ($9.52) per IOO kilos. Small, medium, and large crystals cost I mark ($0.238) per IOO kilos more. Long crystals (strahlen) cost 2 marks ($0.476) per 100 kilos more. These prices are f. 0. b., packed in barrels of 400 to joo kilos (880 to 1,100 pounds). For smaller barrels an extra charge will be made as follows: Barrels of j j o to 660 pounds, 9.52 cents; 440 pounds, 14.28 cents; 330 pounds, 19.04 cents; 2 2 0 pounds, 23.8 cents; I I O pounds, 47.6 cents; double bags of 2 2 0 pounds, 2.38 cents; I I O pounds, 1.19 cents. The prices quoted are f. 0 . b. Hamburg. Freight from Hamburg to New York is quoted a t the rate of I js. per ton of 1,000. kilos ($3.65 per 2,204 pounds), or 13s. 6d. ($3.28) on annual contracts. OUTLOOK O F CHILEAN NITRATE BUSINESS. (From Consul Alfred A. Winslow, Valparaiso.)
The nitrate industry of Chile has made good progress during the past year, notwithstanding the low prices prevailing for nitrate in the markets of the world. A number of new nitrate works have been opened, and most of the well-equipped plants have been running at full capacity, and seemingly a t a good profit. During the first nine months of 1910 there were 3,942,648 tons of nitrate produced in Chile, against 3,200,039 tons for a like period in 1909, and 3,092,506 tons exported against 2,847,j64 tons for the same time in 1909. The world consumption was 4,399,698 tons for the first nine months of 1910, against 3,612,020 tons during a like period in 1909. In this increase United States interests have taken an active part all along the line. American interests have taken over several nitrate works within the past year, and are negotiating for several more. The use of nitrate has increased very rapidly in the United States during thc past few years, the exports thereto having been 120,618 tons for 1907, against 335,722 tons for 1908 and 458,081 tons for 1909. The outlook seems good for this industry, even a t the present low prices of nitrate. The nitrate works that are provided with improved machinery and are run according to modern ideas seem to be prospering, while antiquated methods fail. There would seem to be still good openings for more American capital in this industry in Chilc. The agricultural interests of Chile are using much more nitrate from year to year, with excellent results. The Chilean Government gives special rates on the railways for nitrate as an inducement to the farmers.
WOOD DISTILLATION. (Preliminary comparative report for 1909 issued b y the Census Bureau.)
There was consumed in the United States during the calendar year 1909 in the industry of wood distillation, 1,265,000 cords of wood, as against ‘978,000 cords in 1908 and 1,282,000 cords in 1907. The averagc cost per cord reported for the 1909 consumption was $3.21, which was an increase of 23 cents, or 8 per cent. over that reported for 1908, and of 6 cents or 2 per cent. over that for 1907. While a substantial increase is noted in that branch of the industry using yellow pine, fir, and other soft woods as material, the revival of activity was more marked in hard-wood distillation, due undoubtedly to the material advance in the average value per gallon of wood alcohol over the two preceding years. While the average value per unit has varied little for most of the products of hard-wood distillation during the past three or four years, for alcohol it has fluctuated over a wide range,
