Other lead compounds.-The oxides of lead and pigments containing lead have been described in other surveys of this series. The lead compounds referred to in paragraph 57 of the 1913 act consist wholly of lead salts, of which there is a wide variety, and lead compounds for use as chemical reagents and other special purposes. Descriptions of these salts will be found in any standard work on chemistry, and, as few of them are marketed in any considerable quantity, they will not be described here. The list of varieties imported in 1913-14, which is given on a later page of this Survey shows most of the salts that are of more than purely theoretical interest. Aside from chemical reagents, the chief consumption of these salts is in paint driers and for the manufacture of rubber.

METHODS OF PRODUCTION.

The most important raw material for the manufacture of lead compounds is, of course, the metal itself. In fact a large number of the consumers of lead salts purchase only the metal and manufacture the required salt as a step in their process-generally producing the acetate or nitrate as a preliminary operation and converting it to the desired compound by treatment with the requisite acids. Other manufacturers purchase litharge or massicot` (lead oxide, PbO) or white lead residues as sources of the metal. The latter are acted upon much more rapidly than the metal itself and the production of the salts is much simplified.

For the production of lead acetate direct from the metal, the latter is granulated, feathered, or otherwise prepared so as to expose a maximum surface and then treated with pure acetic acid in contact with the air. Lead vessels are generally employed, although copper containers having a piece of lead soldered to them in order to protect the copper (by galvanic action) are occasionally used. The presence of an ample supply of air assists in the dissolving action, which is conducted intermittently, the metal being first moistened with the acid, then allowed to stand and oxidize, and again treated with acid. The operation is repeated again and again until the metal is in solution. The latter is then evaporated (to a density of 1.5) and allowed to crystallize.

Litharge is commonly used instead of the metal. It requires only to be treated with the acid as it dissolves readily. About 3 parts of acetate are produced from 2 parts of litharge by weight. In the production of "brown" sugar of lead, pyroligneous acid (crude acetic acid or wood vinegar) is used, the dark colored impurities contaminating the product.

Lead nitrate is made by dissolving litharge in hot dilute nitric acid, concentrating the solution and separating the crystals.

DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.

There are no statistics as to the separate productions of the several lead salts. The Federal Census reports that 7,290,936 pounds valued at $474,430 were produced in the United States in 1914. This amount, however, probably does not include a large part of the production that was consumed at the plants in which it was made.

1 Thorpe. Dictionary of Applied Chemistry.

FOREIGN PRODUCTION.

The production of lead salts in foreign countries has not been investigated. Germany, before the war, was one of the largest producers; but Great Britain, Belgium, and France produced considerable quantities.

IMPORTS.1

The imports of lead salts in recent years have not been large and, since the outbreak of the war in Europe, have been almost negligible. Prior to 1910 the quantities of these salts, especially of the nitrate, were much greater than they have been at any time since that year. The maximum importation since 1910, as shown by the statistics, amounted to 242,624 pounds valued at $21,785 in the fiscal year 1914. This was the first year for which the figures for importations of lead salts other than the acetate and nitrate are separately recorded and, even the above figures do not include the imports of these miscellaneous salts for the first three months under the act of 1909. Since the imports of the latter salts for the remaining 9 months amounted to nearly one-half of the total, there is a possibility that if the data for previous years were available it would be found that the progressive decline in the quantities of acetate and nitrate of lead was paralleled in the case of the other lead salts. The maximum shown for 1914 was due to the inclusion of these other salts in the statistics. The countries of origin of these articles are not published in Commerce and Navigation. But a report compiled by Dr. Pickrell of the Department of Commerce gives this information for the fiscal year 1914. The data pertaining to the lead salts are copied on page 130 of this survey. The imports of lead acetate in 1914 were derived chiefly from Great Britain, although considerable quantities were imported from Belgium, Germany, and Austria and a little from France. Great Britain (Scotland) was the main source of the nitrate imported in that year; only 2.6 per cent of the total 11,604 pounds of lead nitrate imported for consumption in 1914 came from Germany. A total of 46 different lead compounds within the classification of paragraph 57 of the act of 1913 were imported in 1914. Referring to the table on page 15, it will be noted, however, that only 13 were imported in amounts greater than $100 in value. The remainder may be considered as consisting chiefly of reagents for use in chemical laboratories and derived in large part from Germany. The most important importations were of lead salts for use as driers in the manufacture of paint. The next largest importation was of lead hyposulphite which is used in rubber manufacture. The latter came chiefly from Germany; but Belgium supplied a considerable quantity and a small amount came from England.

The imports in 1918 consisted wholly of compounds not specially provided for. The amount was only 4,510 pounds valued at $242. There has been practically no acetate reported since 1915 and only about 1 ton of lead nitrate has been imported since the outbreak of the European war.

1 The references under this topic are to fiscal years ending June 30.

PRICES.

The prices of lead acetate and lead nitrate practically doubled during the war period. Prior to 1914, the prices of these salts had followed closely the litharge market; but during the war period, the increased prices of acids also became a factor. The war-time fluctuations of litharge and the various lead salts are shown in the following table:

1 Quotations from Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter except as otherwise noted. Quotation of Drug and Chemical Market.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Specific duties were placed on acetate of lead and nitrate of lead in the tariff act of 1883. The policy of specific rates has been followed in subsequent acts. Gray and yellow acetate of lead were mentioned in the act of 1897, being classed with brown acetate which had appeared in the former acts. "Other lead compounds" were mentioned in the paragraph of the 1913 act and made dutiable at 20 per cent ad valorem which was a slight reduction from the duty on these compounds under the act of 1909, which provided a duty of 25 per cent on all chemical compounds not specially provided for.

The duties on white acetate, brown acetate, and nitrate under the act of 1883 were 6, 4, and 3 cents per pound, respectively. These rates were progressively reduced in all the subsequent acts except that of 1897, which increased the duties of the act of 1894 but did not provide as high rates as the act of 1890.

In the act of 1913, both white acetate of lead and nitrate of lead were made dutiable at the same rate, 11 cents per pound, and the duty on brown, gray, or yellow acetate was reduced to 1 cent per pound. In former acts, white acetate had been dutiable at a higher rate than the nitrate.

A study of the imports of these articles since 1893 shows no marked effects of the successive tariff reductions upon the quantities imported with the exception of the act of 1894. The lower duties under that tariff were accompanied by greatly increased importations, especially of white acetate.

TARIFF CONSIDERATIONS.

The tariff problem relative to the compounds of lead included in paragraph 57 of the act of 1913 may be considered as a minor phase of the lead situation. Lead metal or the oxides derived from it constitutes the chief item of cost in most of these products. Domestic manufacturers are at little if any disadvantage as regards their

35284-21-A-15- -9

supply of acetic acid (calcium acetate) or nitric acid. The manufacturing process is not complicated.

Lead, however, and practically all articles made from lead are dutiable and their cost under normal conditions is a little greater in this country than in foreign markets.

Lead acetate, etc.-Production in United States-"Official source."

[Figures from Federal census.]

No data for years 1899, 1904, and 1909; in 1914 (listed as "Lead salts"; all other, except arsenate), the production was 7,290,936 pounds, valued at $474,430.

Lead, acetate of, white; paragraph 57, act of 1913; 14 cents per pound-Imports for consumption-Revenue.

Lead, acetate of, brown, gray, or yellow; paragraph 57, act of 1913; 1 cent per poundImports for consumption-Revenue.

Lead, nitrate of; paragraph 57, act of 1913; 14 cents per pound; Imports for consump tion-Revenue.

All other lead compounds, n. s. p. f.; paragraph 57, act of 1913; 20 per cent ad valorem— Imports for consumption-Revenue.

280

27

.126

9.84

22

2

.098

12.73

Lead, acetate, white, crystals; prices (wholesale) per pound, New York spot.

Lead, acetate, white, broken; prices (wholesale) per pound, New York, spot.