No. 7. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



749 



Raw Materials of Acid Manufacture: — The Engineering and Min- 

 ing Journal gives tlie following summary: 



Brimstone and Pyrites : — Nearly 00 per cent, of the consumption of 

 sulphur is met by pyrites, the cost of the latter being less than of 

 crude brimstone. The total consumption for the year was brimstone 

 196,117 long tons; pyrites G1G,131 tons. Sicilian brimstone was 

 booked for shipment at an average of .|22.75 in January and |21.75 

 in June, with an average for the year of .f22.25 for best unmixed 

 seconds. 



Best thirds sold in New York at an average of |20.75 in January 

 and in November at $21.50, making |21.20 for the year, 



A decrease in the demand for pyrites affected prices somewhat. 

 Spanish pyrites containing from 13 to 51 per cent, sulphur sold at 

 10 @ 13.5 cents per unit for lump and 1) (<~v 11.5 cents for fine. Do- 

 mestic ore containing 12 to 11 per cent, sulphur brought an average 

 of $5.00 per ton for lump and 10 cents per unit for fines f. o. b. At- 

 lantic coast mines. 



Sulphuric Acid: — Contract delivered in 1903-4 in New York and 

 vicinity have been quoted on the basis of |1.05 per 100 lbs. for 60 

 degree acid in carboys and flS.OO to |20,00 per ton in bulk; 66 degree 

 acid 11.20 per 100 lbs. in carboys and |21.00 @ |23.00 per ton in bulk; 

 50 degree acid $13.50 to |11.50' per ton. 



New York wholesale quotations for acid i)hosphate, per unit of 

 available phosphoric acid, during 1903-4, were 63.75 cents. 



Pota.th Salts : — The reports of the U. S. Bureau of Statistics show 

 the folloAving entries for consumption during the fiscal years 1902 

 and 1903: 



Muriate (pounds), .. 

 Kieserit, kalnit, etc. 



172,838,780 

 247,261) 



This trade is so managed that, before March 1, nearly all wholesale 

 deliveries of the year are contracted for. The schedule of prices on 

 the basis of large lots sold through brokers and delivered at Boston, 

 New York or Philadelphia, is as follows: 



.Salt. 



Muriate, 80 per cent 



Sulphate, 48 per cent, potash 



Double manure salt. 48-."i0 per cent 



Kainit. 12.4 per cent, actual potash, 



Sylvinit, per unit potassium sulphate, .. 

 Manure salt, 20 per cent, potash, per unit 



