880 



ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc. 



Brimstone. — Consumption in the United States has increased. It 

 is estimated that the annual imports of crude brimstone into this 

 country amount to 36 per cent, of the total exported from Sicily. 

 The demand for brimstone in the fertilizer acid trade is being satis- 

 fied by pyrites, which furnishes the sulphur at a lower cost. Prices 

 in 1902 show an increase over those for the previous year. The av- 

 erage price of spot brimstone was |23.54 for best unmixed seconds 

 and f!21.6.5 for best thirds, being an increase of 59 cents per ton for 

 best unmixed seconds and 95 cents for best thirds. 



Pyrites. — ^The high price of brimstone has caused increased con- 

 sumption of pyrites. Domestic production and imports have in- 

 creased, prices continuing firm. The total imports of pyrites in 

 1902, according to the Enginetring and Mining Journal^ were about 

 410,500 long tons, an increase of 3 per ce»t. Spanish pyrites fluctu- 

 ated between 12 and 13^ cents on the basis of 46-51 per cent, of 

 sulphur. Domestic pyrites sold at |5.00 per ton for lump ore and 

 10 cents per unit for "fines," f. o. b. Mineral City, Va., or Gharle- 

 mont, Mass. The American pyrites contains on an average 42 to 

 44 per cent, of sulphur. The price of raw materials for acid manu- 

 facture have apparently changed but little. 



Sulphuric acid has remained firm throughout the year. Whole- 

 sale price quoted by the combination have been, for 66 degree 

 acid, 11.20; 60 degree, fl.OO to |1.05 per 180 lbs., f. o. b. New York; 

 for 50 degree acid in bulk, |;13.50 to |14.00 per ton; 60 degree, $18.0Q; 

 66 degree, |21.00. 



New York wholesale quotations for acid phosphate, per unit of 

 available phosphoric acid, were, according to the Oil.., Paint and 

 Drug Reporter., during 1901-2, 62.5 cents; during 1902-3 this price 

 remained stationary. 



Potash Salts. — The reports of the U. S. Bureau of Statistics show 

 tfce following entries for consumption during the fiscal years 1901 

 and 1902: 



Muriate (pounds) 



Kleserit, kalnit, etc. (tons), 



1991. 



138,561,091 

 187,470 



1901. 



1*0,124,418 

 228,112 



The community of interest agreement between the German Kali 

 Syndicate and the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co., makes it pos- 

 sible, according to the Erigineering and Mining Journal, for the 

 latter company, as well as the American Agricultural Chemical 

 Company, to obtain supplies of potash salts at advantageous rates. 

 These two concerns, being tlie largest consumers in America, no 



