No. 6. DHPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 901 



Raw Materials of Acid Manufacture. 



Brimstone: High prices and increased consumption of pyrites 

 by acid-makers have reduced the imports of brimstone about 7,000 

 tons. The total imports into the United States for 1901, as given 

 by the Engineering and Mining Journal, were about 160,000 tons, 

 chiefly in best unmixed seconds; and these were consumed largely 

 by paper mills. Prices were maintained by the trust in Sicily 

 nearly all through the year and would have continued to rise had 

 not the Anglo-Sicilian Co. been compelled to make concessions. As 

 compared with those of 1900, New York prices show an increase of 

 77 cents a ton for spot and 82 cents for shipments. Best unmixed 

 thirds sold in New York at |2 to |3 below best unmixed seconds. 

 The average New York price for 1901 for best unmixed "seconds" 

 ''spot" was $22.95. 



Pyrites: The demand has been good and deliveries on contract 

 large at good prices. Domestic production has increased and im- 

 ports during the year 1901 were 17 per cent, above those for 1900. 

 The U. S. Bureau of Statistics shows imports for the year ending 

 June 30, 1901, of 339,217 tons, valued at $1,166,686, or |3.44 per ton. 

 For the year ending June 30, 1900, the imports were 334,131 tons, 

 at $3.61, in both cases most of the imports being from Spain. 



The Engineering and Mining Journal estimates the imports into 

 this country for 1901 as 389,000 tons, chiefly from Spain. Low 

 freight rates favored these large imports. The same journal sum- 

 marizes prices as follows: Spanish pyrites (Huelva, 46-51 per cent, 

 sulfur) were sold at 12 to 14 cents per unit ($5.52 to $7.14 per ton) 

 ex ship Atlantic ports. Domestic pyrites, 42-44 per cent, sulfur, 

 f. o. b. Mineral City, Va., $4.90 per ton for "lump" ore and 10 cents 

 per unit ($4.70 per ton) for fines." Massachusetts, f. o. b. Charle- 

 mont, $5.00 to $5.50 for "lump" and $4.75 to $500 for "fines." The 

 raw materials for acid manufacture were, therefore, only a little 

 higher than during the preceding year, though the fall of 1901 wit- 

 nessed an increase. 



Concerning sulfuric acid, the same authority states that the Gen- 

 eral Chemical Co. has kept prices at a satisfactory level. As the 

 year advanced, prices were raised to meet the higher cost of raw ma- 

 terial. In New York, prices were for 66 per cent, acid, $1.10 — $.1.30 

 per 100 lbs.; for 60 per cent, acid, 90 cents to $1.10 per 100 lbs., and 

 for 50 per cent, acid in bulk $12.00 to $16.00 per ton. 



During the fall of 1901, therefore, rock prices were considerably 

 lower, acid prices slightly higher than in 1900. Valuation schedules 

 must be based, however, upon the actual wholesale prices of the 

 acid phosphates, rather than upon those of the raw materials from 

 which they are made. New York wholesale quotations for acid 



