EXHIBIT B. Comparative prices foreign and domestic clays, minimum carloads, f. o. b. points, as indicated. Comparative prices of foreign and domestic gas retorts and gas bench settings Merchandise imported—Quantities and values, etc., years ended June 30, 1898 to 1907. OF ST. THE LACLEDE-CHRISTY CLAY PRODUCTS COMPANY, ST. LOUIS, MO., December 1, 1908. COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: We beg to hand you brief supplementing one submitted November 16. We have corrected and attached herewith Exhibits E and F, wherein the price of the foreign and domestic clays and clay products now afford a more favorable comparison, as the domestic are now priced on the same basis (with package and packing) as the foreign items. We also attach herewith imports entered for consumption for the last eight years of gas retorts and retort or gas bench settings. (Exhibit G.) We invite your special attention to the increase in price per retort, which is now being entered for consumption, showing ad valorem rate of duty greatly reduced at the present time as compared with the year 1901. The explanation is that the first and lowest priced retort listed is of standard or 9-foot type, the present importations being of sectional type; one complete retort may be as long as 21 feet 9 inches, over two and one-third times longer than the standard, and taxed but $3 duty each, the same as standard. We find in original brief that we omitted from recommendation for duty on retort or gas bench settings the percentage of ad valorem, and repeat in full the recommendation corrected as follows: Paragraph 87 to be specifically limited to apply to standard or 9-inch fire brick and "weighing not more than 10 pounds each;" the duty not to be changed; add "retort or gas bench settings, tank furnace blocks, and furnace stones, and all other refractory products of any kind, sizes, or shapes, not decorated, 35 per cent ad valorem, tax not to be less than $5 per ton." The balance of the paragraph appears all right and to remain as before with same duties. We bespeak your careful and favorable consideration. LACLEDE-CHRISTY CLAY PRODUCTS CO. Secretary and Treasurer. EXHIBIT D CORRECTED. Comparative prices foreign and domestic clays, minimum car loads. Baltimore. New York. $12.08 $15.05 $18.50 $15.20 $12.30 $14.80 $15.20 $18.60 $20.80 $9.20 15.80 18.20 21.40 9.80 15.40 17.80 21.00 9.40 15.20 12.30 Comparative prices foreign and domestic gas retorts and gas bench settings. Imports entered for consumption-Gas retorts and gas bench or retort settings. CLAYS. [Paragraph 93.] WILLIAM J. OLIVER, KNOXVILLE, TENN., THINKS DUTY ON CLAYS SHOULD BE ADVANCED TO ONE DOLLAR PER TON. Hon. SERENO PAYNE, KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 19, 1908. Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: For the past twenty years I have been to a very large extent interested in southern clays. On account of the very low duty, and the fact that they bring English clays in as ballast, it has practically put us out of business. We are now shipping from 5,000 to 8,000 tons a year from a mine which I own in South Carolina. We are in direct competition with the washed clays of Cornwall, England, and should the tariff be reduced, it will mean the closing of our mines. As a matter of fact, it should be raised at least $1 per ton. WM. J. OLIVER. CHINA CLAY OR KAOLIN. [Paragraph 93.] VARIOUS AMERICAN CLAY-PRODUCING COMPANIES URGE THE NEED OF CONTINUED PROTECTION. MACON, GA., November 19, 1908. Chairman of the Committee on Tariff Revision, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We inclose herewith a memorial on earths to your honorable body for proper consideration and action. Owing to the limited time at our command it has been impossible for us to supply complete data, which would be convincing of the absolute equity of our positions. If in need of additional facts or argument we sincerely trust that you will afford us a hearing or opportunity to submit additional facts. Yours, very truly, THE GEORGIA KAOLIN COMPANY. MACON, GA., November 18, 1908. Members of the Tariff Commission, Washington, D. C. SIRS: Your committee having announced its readiness to receive on the 23d instant memorials from those interested in the proposed tariff legislation as it may affect imported earths, etc., the undersigned, representing their various enterprises located in the State of Georgia, respect fully submit the following statement, with their petition that the duties on imported clays be increased, circumstances and conditions having so combined that the present duty affords very little, if any, protection to the industry in which they are interested. The duty upon imported clays was at one time $5 per ton of 2.240 pounds, and this was reduced to the present rate of $2.50 per 2,240 pounds. Since this reduction the competition of trunk lines and ocean steamers has combined to place the miners and refiners of clays located in the interior parts of the country at a decided disadvantage as compared with the foreign miners, whose plants are really all located convenient to shipping points in England. Your memorialists therefore desire to place before your committee such general information on the subject as the limited time at their disposal will permit, and they will be prepared at a later date to place such additional data as may be specifically requested. First. It is assumed that your commission is fully aware of the uses to which this kaolin or clay is put, but your petitioners will state that the consumers of their product include the following manufactures: Porcelain, tiles, sanitary wares, earthenware, paper, wall paper, paints, interior paints, soaps, linoleum, oilcloths, window shades, druggists' specialties; and that for these purposes a material of uniform character and of as white a color as possible is required. It must be free from sand, mica, and silica. Second. The deposits of clay in Georgia are sedimentary and are located on the coastal plain at an average distance from the seaboard approximating 150 miles. In some cases the deposits are of such purity as to be incapable of much refining, but in the great majority of the deposits a process of refinement is required to make the material suitable for the use of manufacturers. It is only of late years that the extent of these deposits has been generally known and their extent and apparent value have now attracted enterprise and capital toward their development. In the mining of these clays many unexpected difficulties have been encountered. The absence of surface rock has made it impossible to mine the clays by any process other than the removal of the entire surface material, which averages about 25 feet of sand and red earth. Hydraulic mining or any of the more economical or speedy methods are not practical, and the cuts or mines being open each rain storm compels not only the cessation of operations, but the seepage water carries much stain on the surface exposed. There is a singular absence of running streams of pure or clear water in the proximity of these deposits, and while expensive efforts have been made to discover artesian water or a supply by deep borings, these have so far proved unsuccessful and the miners are dependent upon the immediate rainfall or some small springs for water with which to carry on their work. While therefore the deposits are apparently rich, the difficulties with which they are uncovered and prepared for market are extremely great, and many obstacles have to be overcome before the industry, so far as the South is concerned, can be made profitable. Third. As compared with the methods possible to the foreign miners, whose clays are almost without exception residentary deposits, are all abundantly supplied with water, and are able to use hydraulic methods where the surface material is not of a staining character, the miners of Georgia clays are at a distinct disadvantage in addition to which your memoralists beg to point out that they are reliably informed that laborers in the English mines work for from |