304 SEALE. 



is a subject of sufficient interest to warrant giving tlie following sug- 

 gestions : 



Location of factory. — Jlanila, Cebu, Iloilo, or Zaniboanga would be a good place 

 for the establishment of a button factory. The cost of renting a suitable 

 building for a factory in either of these places would not exceed 50 dollars per 

 month. A building would cost somewhat more than a similar structure in the 

 country or coastwise districts in the eastern United States. 



Labor. — The laborers would be Filipinos. Tliey are found quite satisfactory 

 by the Manila button factory, the pay in this factory being from 5 to 10 pesos 

 per month, ten-hour days. 



Power. — Steam or gasoline power would probably be found most satisfactory, 

 although in all the places mentioned, except Zamboanga, electric power could 

 be obtained. Wood as fuel is quite out of the question; coal costs from 10 to 

 14 pesos per ton in Manila. At Zamboanga water-power might be secured. 

 Gasoline in Manila sells at from 4.50 to 5.00 pesos per 10 gallons; petroleimi 

 costs 1.40 pesos per tin of 5 gallons. 



Taxation. — ^A manufacturer's license, costing 2.40 pesos, is required, and the 

 internal revenue tax is one-third of 1 per cent of the gross receipts, payable 

 quarterly. 



Amount of shell available. — The amount of shell available for button making is 

 about 450,000 kilograms of great top and green snail shell and 300,000 kilograms 

 of pearl shell, making a total of about 750,000 kilograms (1,675,000 pounds) 

 of shell per year. 



Bleaching shell for button snaking. — A large portion of the button trade is 

 with the Chinese and they require a very white button, consequently a bleach 

 of some sort is necessary. The following method, given by Robert E. Williams of 

 the laboratory of organic chemistry, Bureau of Science, is effective and cheap. 



■'Many processes are in existence for the bleaching of ivory, horn, and shell for 

 ornamental or other purposes. When chemicals are used those having a solvent 

 or oxidizing action on the organic matters in the horn or shell are chosen. 

 Nowadays the most commonly used agent is hydrogen peroxide which may be 

 had very reasonably in Europe and America. It is not feasible to use it at a 

 distance from the factories making this chemical because of the deterioration in 

 transit. Therefore it is more practicable to use a metallic peroxide and generate 

 the hydrogen peroxide when needed. Barium or sodium peroxide may best be 

 used, preferably the latter. The following process has been tested on shell 

 buttons and found satisfactory. The buttons are first immersed in fuming 

 sulphuric acid for ten to fifteen minutes. The acid is then drained off and may 

 be used repeatedly if kept in well stoppered bottles. The buttons are then 

 rinsed three times with water and covered with a 5 per cent solution of oxalic 

 acid. Ordinarily 1 liter of buttons will require 1 liter of solution, though 

 more is necessaiy for large or dark-colored buttons than for small or light ones. 

 The oxalic acid solution should be kept ice cold if possible or at least below 20° 

 C. Commercial sodium peroxide is now added in small quantities with constant 

 stirring till the solution is alkaline to litmus paper. About 40 to 45 grams will 

 be required per liter according to the purity of the chemicals. A very little of 

 the 5 per cent oxalic acid solution is now added till, after stirring, the solution 

 reacts acid to litmus. It is important that the solution be acid, but a large 

 excess of acid is to be avoided. 



"The buttons are allowed to lie in this solution for 24 to 72 hours according to 

 their size and color. Bleaching proceeds better and more rapidly if the buttons 

 are exposed to direct sunlight while lying in the liquor. This can be done in 

 colorless glass jars which, if possible, should be tightly stoppered. 



