Taking the exports during the year 1906, which is the year quoted in which Mr. Cockerill states that 89,000 tons of ore were imported from Mexico and elsewhere, we find from Table E the exports were as follows, showing the exports equal to the imports of ore in 1906: This completely and absolutely refutes his statement that there would have been a shortage of metal in 1906 unless the zinc smelters had obtained their Mexican supply, and proves conclusively that under active conditions the mines in the United States were able to supply in that year all the ore necessary for American consumption of oxide and metal. I therefore call your attention to the fact that there was no apparent shortage of ore, and, further, that the increased output from the Joplin district, Wisconsin, and Colorado was giving every practical proof that the mines were rising to the demands of the American metal market. As to the absolute necessity of a duty on zinc ore, so that the mining industries of the United States should be properly protected from importations, I beg to again refer to Mr. Cockerill's favorite author, Mr. W. R. Ingalls, to refute Mr. Cockerill's own statement. On page 916, Mineral Industry, 1907, after a discussion of the vast supplies of ore which have come to the front in Australia, Japan, and other places, he states: The plethora of raw material in Mexico, Australia, and other sources has an important effect upon the world's market for spelter, for it has cut off all hope that the United States will become any exporter of spelter; on the contrary, it is to be feared that more frequently than usual the price of spelter in the United States will have to be reduced in order to prevent importations, in spite of the protective tariff of 14 cents per pound. You will note that it is feared that spelter must come down to prevent importations; and if there is no duty on ore the zinc industry will be menaced by both free ore and importations of metal, a condition which would paralyze the industry of this section and destroy the entire zinc-mining industry of the Western States. How this supply of free ore would affect the smelters is evidenced by the new convention of German smelters recently organized to regulate the price of metal in Europe. According to the terms of this convention, the product of German spelter is to be sold through the three great metal houses of Germany, viz., the Metalgesellschaft, of Frankfort; Beer, Sondheimer & Co.; and Aron Hirsh & Son. It is expected that this convention will extend to other zinc-producing countries of Europe. I beg to call your attention to the fact that all three of these firms are interested in the zinc-smelting industries of the United States. Beer, Sondheimer & Co. are interested in zincsmelting plant at Bartlesville, Okla.; the Metalgesellschaft Company are interested with the American Metal Company; and Aron Hirsh & Son have interests in the zinc smelting of the United States through their agents here. This abundance of the world's supply of ore referred to permits combination or an agreement of the smelters to regulate price and make a high charge for treatment. This has taken place in Europe, and would be repeated here if zinc ore was permitted free entry into the United States. The contention of those opposed to the levy of a duty on zinc ores fall, since the statistics given prove conclusively that the cost of production of zinc ores is so great that it is impossible to compete with foreign ores; further that the evidence given herein shows that the zinc mines of the United States can produce all the ore required by the smelters for the domestic consumption of metal and that the production of ores is increasing with the demand as long as the zinc. smelters pay fair prices for the ore. To conclude, I call the committee's attention to (1) The labor cost in producing zinc ores. (2) The comparative cost of smelting. (3) The increase in the supplies of zinc ores in the United States. to meet the demands of this country. (4) The abundance of foreign ore supplies. (5) The possibilities of decline in spelter prices due to these abundant supplies of foreign ore to prevent importations of metal in spite of the duty of 13 cents per pound on metal. I ask, therefore, that on all importations of zinc-bearing ores a duty be assessed at the rate of 14 cents per pound on the zinc contents. Yours, truly, AXEL O. IHLSENG, Mining Engineer and General Manager MR. A. B. COCKERILL, NEVADA, MO., MAKES CORRECTION IN HIS STATEMENT RELATIVE TO AXEL 0. IHLSENG. Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE, NEVADA, Mo., December 16, 1908. Chairman Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: I have a letter from Mr. A. O. Ihlseng taking exceptions to the statement made in my brief intimating that he is the buyer for the Vielle Montaigne Company, of Belgium, and having no desire to misrepresent Mr. Ihlseng in any way, I write to explain to you and the committee that my reason for making this remark was that at the time this company first commenced buying ore in British Columbia and Mexico Mr. Ihlseng was buying and shipping ore to this company, and continued to do so until tlie prices we paid were higher than the prices that the Vielle Montaigne Company was able to pay. Whether Mr. Ihlseng is or is not the buyer of the Vielle Montaigne Company cuts no figure, I presume, in this controversy, but it has not been my intention to misrepresent his position; hence this explanation. Yours, truly, A. B. COCKERILL. |