248 RICHMOND. 



of $2.90 could easily be exceeded in a small plant or one operated 

 unsteadily. 11 



Caustic soda, soda ash or sodium sulphite, according to the modifica- 

 tion of the process which was to be adopted, would need to be imported 

 from Europe or America. Based upon the present quotations and al- 

 lowing the very conservative estimate of ten dollars per ton for freight 

 from New York via Suez, caustic, soda, c. i. f. Manila, is forty-five dollars 

 per ton. 



In this connection it seems to me that the question of the electrolytic decomposi- 

 tion of salt brine for the simultaneous production of liquors for alkaline digestion 

 and for bleaching should seriously be considered, for the local salt would thus be 

 used for furnishing an expensive commodity otherwise imported, and the problem 

 would be solved of manufacturing bleached fiber, which otherwise would be out of 

 the question locally because of the . extremely high freight rates on bleaching 

 powder and its great tendency to lose strength during transit and storage. 



The commercial production of alkalies and bleach by this process, although of 

 comparatively recent origin, may be considered as well past the experimental 

 stage. The Townsend cell used at Niagara for the electrolytic production of alkali 

 and chlorine has been in continuous operation for over four years, and a high 

 efficiency and low initial and maintenance costs are claimed for it. The strength 

 of the caustic liquor can be regulated at will and the cell is on the market in 

 capacities of from 2,000 to 6,000 ampere units. 



The Whiting process for the electrolytic production of alkali and chlorine is 

 regarded as exceedingly economical in its use of power, and to require a minimum 

 amount of labor in its operation. It was recently developed by Jasper Whiting, 



"Approximately 1,200 tons of lime are annually marketed in Manila at the 

 present time. This is for the greater part water-slaked lime made from coral 

 deposits at Malabon on Manila Bay, and from the stone quarries at Binangonan 

 on Bay Lake. A much better source of limestone of a good grade for the proposed 

 industry is in the marble outcrops on Romblon Island, situated about 100 miles 

 from Manila and in nearly a direct line with the local coal supply. The deposits 

 are situated on a well-protected, deep-water harbor. The proximity of the town 

 of Romblon insures labor for quarrying and hauling. The deposits are practically 

 unlimited and the stone burns to a particularly fat lime, especially free from 

 iron, sand, and magnesia. As there is no fuel at Romblon, the limestone would 

 have to be transported to a more favorable place for burning.' 



The following information is given as a basis for estimating the cost of quarry- 

 ing and transporting stone under local conditions: The city of Manila is paying 

 one peso and twenty-five centavos per cubic meter of road material in quantities of 

 50,000 cubic meters (approximately 75,000 tons) , annually. This cost figure in- 

 cludes quarrying, steam-crushing, transporting for abo"ut 37 kilometers by water 

 and ulnoading. Nearly two-fifths of the above cost is for steam-crushing, which is 

 unnecessary for limestone for burning. It is estimated that quicklime could be 

 produced for about the maximum cost of manufacture elsewhere, viz, two pesos 

 and ninety centavos per ton. These figures are based upon the cost of quarrying 

 and transporting limestone from Romblon to the Bataan coast adjacent to mill 

 site at one dollar, and upon the local cost of labor and fuel. 



