of foreign supplies was reflected in a better demand for the domestic product, and the quotations advanced to $30-$60 per ton in April, 1918. Early in 1919, domestic "strong" was selling at 3-3 cents per pound and "medium" at $30-$60. Prices of the latter, however, were shaded in April to $30-$40. TARIFF HISTORY. Dry ocher and ochery earths, both crude and powdered and washed, were placed on the free list in the act of 1894; the product ground in oil was dutiable at 11 cents per pound. In the act of 1897, dry ochers were again made dutiable. The feature of this act was the division of crude ocher from the powdered and washed material. The former was dutiable at one-eighth cent per pound and the latter at threeeighths cent per pound, a margin of one-fourth cent per pound ($5 per ton) to the American paint grinder working on imported material. The duty on ocher in oil was increased to 13 cents per pound. The rates of the act of 1897 were continued in 1909 except that the margin on ocher in oil was reduced to 1 cent without noticeable effect on the imports, which continued to fall off. In 1913 ad valorem duties were adopted and all ochers were made dutiable at 5 per cent. The result, based upon the dutiable value of the imports of the preceding year, was a reduction in the duty on crude, from over 16 per cent ad valorem to 5 per cent, a decrease of $1.50 per ton. In the case of powdered or washed material, the reduction was much greater, as the three-eighths cent duty for several years had been equivalent to more than 40 per cent. The duty on ocher in oil was reduced a little more than that on crude, viz, from between 17 and 20 per cent to 5 per cent. The lower grades of French foreign ocher had never been imported into the United States even in powdered form. Unwashed crude of the cheap grades contains too much waste material to bear transportation charges to any great distance from the point of production. The duty of three-eighths cent per pound on washed or powdered ocher amounted to practically 100 per cent of the value of the cheaper products and served to exclude all but the high-grade material. The act of 1913 swept away the barrier on low grades, since the ad valorem rate took account only of the value without regard to the degree of manufacture. The import statistics for 1914 and 1915 reflect this situation. Although these statistics include all classes of ocher-even that ground in oil-the average dutiable value was less than in any previous years. COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS. A certain amount of French ocher will be imported under any circumstances because of its superior color as compared with the domestic product. Domestic mines, however, are able to meet the requirements of the country for the cheaper grades almost indefinitely, provided an adequate price can be secured for the product. American resources are ample and can be made available with little if any greater effort than foreign deposits. In the case of the earth colors, labor constitutes over 75 per cent of the cost of production.1 The situation, therefore, is different in 1 Various statements in tariff hearings and elsewhere. See p. 75. the case of ocher and the other natural pigments from the case of pigments manufactured in factories by chemical processes. In the latter the cost of the raw material is the important item, but these relatively cheap natural products derive their value chiefly from the work of extracting them from the ground and preparing them for market. Both of these operations call for a large amount of labor and there is little opportunity for adding to the effectiveness of the individual by better machinery or improved methods. Ocher production in United States. [From Mineral Resources, pt. 2. Production not reported since 1914.] 1900. 1904. 1909. 1910. 1899. 1904. 1909. 1910. 1911. Ocher, sienna, umber, and metallic paints. PRODUCTION IN UNITED STATES-"OFFICIAL SOURCE." Short tons. 11,703 15, 269 $109, 465 149,289 17,578 173, 944 14,387 136, 185 PRODUCTION IN UNITED STATES-"OTHER SOURCES." [From Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey (until 1914). Production not reported since 1914.] California. Pennsylvania. Vermont.. State. Other States 2, Total.. 1 Included in "Other States. 2 1910, Iowa, Kentucky, Oregon, and Tennessee; 1911, California, Iowa, Vermont, and Virginia; 1912, California, Iowa, and Virginia. 2 1913 and 1914, Alabama, California, Iowa, Vermont, and Virginia. Ocher and umber-Production in principal foreign countries.1 Ocher and ochery earths—Imports for consumption-Revenue. Ocher and ochery earths, n. s. p. f.—Imports for consumption—Revenue. Ocher and ochery earths, prices (wholesale) spot, New York market. 1894 1894 566 1897 1909 1913 42 Ocher and ochery earth-Rates of duty. Tariff classification or description. Ocher and ochery earths, umber and umber earths, and sienna and sienna earths, when dry. When ground in oil.. Rates of duty, specific and ad valorem. cent per pound. 13 cents per pound. Ocher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, umber and umber cent per pound. earths, not specially provided for in this act, dry. Ground in oil.... Ocher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, umber and umber Ocher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, umber and umber 49 Ccher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, and umber and 47 If powdered, washed, or pulverized.. If ground in oil or water. Ocher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, and umber and If powdered, washed, or pulverized. If ground in oil or water.. 55 Ocher and ochery earths, sienna and sienna earths, and umber and 14 cents per pound. 14 cents per pound. Free. cent per pound. cent per pound. 11⁄2 cents per pound. cent per pound. cent per pound. 1 cent per pound. |