Glycerin saponification, loose, per pound, wholesale, New York, spot. Glycerin, dynamite, per pound, wholesale, New York, spot. [From Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter.] Glycerin, chemically pure, in cans, per pound, wholesale, New York, spot. Jan. 1, 19121. Glycerin, soap lye, loose, per pound, wholesale, New York, spot. [From Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter.] Sept. 28, 1914. 15-16 141-15 121-12 15 -17 nominal. Mar. 30, 1914.. June 29, 1914.. Dec. 28, 1914.. Mar. 29, 1915.. June 28, 1915.. Sept. 27, 1915. Jan. 3, 1916.. 39-43 Apr. 3, 1916.. October, 1918.. 1 Crude lye. Glycerin, refined, wholesale at New York, spot. [From Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter. Averages made from quotations taken on frst Saturday each Glycerin, brown in color and slightly above the specific gravity of 1.25, partially refined by distillation, was held dutiable as glycerin refined and not as "glycerin, crude, brown or yellow, of the specific gravity of 1.25 or less at a temperature of 60° F., not purified by refining or distilling" under the act of 1883. (Appeal of Wolf, T. D. 6048.) So was partially refined yellow glycerin of a specific gravity of slightly less than 1.25, water having been added to reduce the specific gravity. Appeal of Schloesser, T. D. 6648.) The Treasury Department refused in 1900 to establish a line of demarcation between crude and refined glycerin, and directed that in case of doubt a sample should be transmitted to the collector at New York for analysis and report. (Dept. Order, T. D. 22258.) In a case in which the Board of General Appraisers held glycerin, invoiced as "crude saponification glycerin," to be dutiable as crude rather than as refined, the Court of Customs Appeals held that the board erred in its ruling that the Government, as a condition precedent to the admission of evidence of analysis, must produce a sample of the substance analyzed, and remanded the cause for retrial. (United States v. Alpers, 4 Ct. Cust. Appls., 19 (T. D. 33201).) Glycerin in plain glass bottles less than 2 pounds gross weight was held dutiable at 20 per cent ad valorem by reason of the provision in paragraph 17 that "chemical and medicinal compounds, combinations, and all similar articles dutiable under this section, except soap, whether specially provided for or not, put up in individual packages of 2 pounds or less gross weight * ** shall be dutiable at a rate not less than 20 per centum ad valorem," and not at 2 cents per pound under paragraph 35 as glycerin refined. (G. A. 7833; T. D. 36031.) * AMBER AND AMBEROID. [Par. 36, act of 1913, $1 per pound.] GENERAL INFORMATION. Description.-Amber is a fossil resin from various species of extinct conifers and is found principally along the shores of the Baltic in eastern Germany. Originally it was obtained almost entirely on the seashore where it was picked up after storms or obtained by dredging. At present most of the amber is obtained from mines in Samland, East Prussia. It is found in a blue earth in the cretaceous formation at a depth of 108 feet and 46 feet below sea level. Amber varies in color from pale yellow to red, brown, or even black, and may be transparent, translucent or opaque. It is found principally in small pieces, the largest mass yet found weighing 13 pounds. Amberoid is produced by forming small bits and chips of amber into a solid cake by means of heat and hydraulic pressure. In some cases, before pressing, it is mixed with small quantities of copal resin and camphor. Uses.-The finest amber and amberoid are used for making beads and other ornaments, mouthpieces for pipes, cigar holders, etc. The smaller bits and chips of amber are used in making amberoid and for some kinds of varnish. It produces a very hard varnish but it too expensive to be of general use. Domestic production. The United States produces no amber, though small quantities have been found in Maryland and New Jersey, and on Marthas Vineyard. In none of these localities does it occur in commercial quantities. Foreign production. Most of the world's supply of amber comes from Samland, East Prussia, though small amounts are sometimes found after storms on the coasts of England, Denmark, and Scandinavia. Amber occurs in considerable quantity in Sicily and a mine is reported to have been discovered near Rockwood, Australia. In 1907 the mines of Samland produced 891,328 pounds of amber, while about 44,100 pounds were collected on the seashore. In 1913 Germany exported 94,798 pounds of crude amber, valued at $254,660, and 93,475 pounds of "amber chips, amberoid, and jet.” The mines of Samland are under the control of the German Government. Imports. All the amber used in the United States comes from the Baltic. In 1913 the imports of crude amber and amberoid amounted to 35,645 pounds, valued at $339,984, but since the beginning of the war these imports have greatly decreased. In 1917 only 36 pounds were imported. (See table on p. 51.) Tariff history.-Amber and amberoid have been on the free list. under all tariff acts except the act of 1913, which placed a duty of $1 per pound on them. Competing substances.-Amber is now being replaced in the manufacture of ornamental articles by an artificial product which resembles amber in appearance and physical properties, but differs greatly in chemical nature. These so-called "synthetic resins" are made by the chemical combination of phenol with formaldehyde or hexamethylene-tetramine. They are chemically more stable than amber. Such substances are bakelite, condensite, and redmanol. The manufacture of these synthetic products has increased greatly in the United States within the past few years, and the claim is made that they are equal to or better than amber for most purposes. There are two varieties of these, one which is plastic and used largely for electrical insulations and another which is nonplastic. Only the nonplastic variety, which is the more expensive to produce, competes with_amber. 1 Figures from Vierteljahrhefte zur Statistik des Deutschen Reichs. Amber and amberoid, crude—Imports for consumption—Revenue. |