PARAGRAPH 11-BORAX. It is clear that to place these commodities upon the free list can only result in aiding the large manufacturers of charcoal, blood char, bone char, or bone black in European countries, where the crude materials and labor are so much cheaper and lower than in this country, to the great detriment not only of the American manufacturer, but to those workmen who are dependent upon the industry here for the livelihood of themselves and their families. But if upon a consideration of the whole subject it be determined to place these articles upon the free list, then not only to be consistent, but in the hope of preventing the absolute destruction of the industry, there should be placed upon the free list not only crude bone but bone ground, crushed and broken particles of all kinds which might enter into the manufacture of charcoal, blood char, bone char, or bone black not suitable for use as a pigment. This would afford the American producer and his workmen a very slight or the only chance to continue the condition of their industry. Respectfully submitted. BAUGH & SONS CO., B. H. BREWSTER, Vice President. PHILADELPHIA, January 3, 1913. PARAGRAPH 11. Borax, two cents per pound; borates of lime, soda, or other borate material not otherwise provided for in this section, two cents per pound. For borax, see also Italian Chamber of Commerce, page 103. BORAX. BRIEF OF NATIONAL BORAX CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., IN FAVOR OF TARIFF ON BORAX, BORACIC ACID, AND BORATE OF LIME. The borax produced by the mines of the company which I have the honor to represent are situate in the northeastern portion of Ventura County, a very sparsely populated section and practically a desert country. The mines are a long distance away from railroad transportation, something like 70 miles, and we have been compelled to build and maintain wagon roads to haul our products and supplies this long distance at a very high expense. Our mine is one of the four existing borate mines in this country, and all are more or less laboring under these same disadvantages, besides having to pay the highest rate of wages to miners and other high costs for supplies. The ore produced by these mines is principally colemanite, a variety of borate of lime, containing a very large percentage of waste matter, and has to be refined before it becomes an article of commerce. The output of our mines will average 1,000 tons a month at an approximate value of $25 per ton for the crude ore at the mine. Over 100 people are more or less directly interested in the maintenance of the operations of our mines, and our pay roll, including supplies, exceeds the amount of $10,000 per month. PARAGRAPH 11-BORAX. Any reduction of the present tariff would only force us to discontinue our operations and would not only work a very great hardship upon our laborers and others depending upon them, but also upon our stockholders, of which there are 200. The present price of the refined commercial product, borax, and also all other products derived from the mineral we mine (colemanite, borate of lime) is lower than it has ever been known before. The reduction of tariff would only open the American markets to the borate of lime produced in South America, where they have very cheap labor, and would close the operations of all of the American mines, without giving the American consumer any compensating benefits. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. NATIONAL BORAX CO., By MAX P. FRIES, President and General Manager. CHAMBER OF MINES AND OIL, LOS ANGELES, CAL., URGES RETENTION OF DUTY ON BORAX. Mr. DANIEL C. ROPER, CHAMBER OF MINES AND OIL, Los Angeles, Cal., January 9, 1913. Clerk Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We beg to confirm our telegram to you to-day, quoting resolutions passed by our board of directors, urging that no action be taken by the Committee on Ways and Means toward placing borax or borate products on the tariff free list. We inclose herewith copy of the resolution, as telegraphed to you; also a brief of facts on the borax industry of this State, as prepared by our committee. We will appreciate it if you will bring this resolution and brief to the attention of the committee, and assure you of our appreciation in advance. Very truly, yours, DANIEL C. ROPER, Clerk Committee Ways and Means, CHAMBER OF MINES AND OIL, [Night letter.] LOS ANGELES, CAL., January 8, 1913. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Please bring to attention committee following resolution passed to-day by our board of directors: Whereas the borax-mining industry in California has shown a small but steady increase after 40 years of development work notwithstanding the limited market; and Whereas with the increase in production and transportation facilities there has been an enormous decrease in the price of borate products to the consumer; and Whereas any reduction in the existing tariff will eliminate this industry in California, throw open the markets of the United States to foreign mines, benefit foreign labor at the expense of American labor, practically destroy the work of those who have built up the industry, and cause great loss in capital now invested in California: Now, therefore, be it PARAGRAPH 11-BORAX. Resolved by the Chamber of Mines and Oil of Los Angeles, Cal., That we do most earnestly protest against any reduction in the existing tariff on borax and borate products, and do urge our Senators and Congressmen to devote their best efforts to the support of this resolution in the proper committees and on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives. RUSS AVERY, President. JANUARY 9, 1913. RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE Board of DIRECTORS, CHAMBER OF MINES AND OIL OF LOS ANGELES, CAL., PROTESTING AGAINST REDUCTION IN EXISTING TARIFF ON BORAX AND BORATE PRODUCTS. Whereas the borax mining industry in California has shown a small but steady increase after 40 years of development work, notwithstanding the limited market; and Whereas with the increase in production and transportation facilities there has been an enormous decrease in the price of borate products to the consumer; and Whereas any reduction in the existing tariff will eliminate this industry in California, throw open the markets of the United States to foreign mines, benefit foreign labor at the expense of American labor, practically destroy the work of those who have built up the industry, and cause great loss of capital now invested in California: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Chamber of Mines and Oil of Los Angeles, Cal., That we do most earnestly protest against any reduction in the existing tariff on borax and borate products, and do urge our Senators and Congressmen to devote their best efforts to the support of this resolution in the proper committees and on the floors of the Senate and House of Representatives. Certified as a true and correct copy. RUSS AVERY, President. JANUARY 9, 1913. BRIEF OF FACTS IN RE THE BORAX MINING INDUSTRY OF CALIFORNIA. In view of the fact that the entire production of borax in the United States is virtually derived from four producing mines in this State, the industry may be defined as essentially Californian. The crude ore now being mined is principally colemanite, a borate of lime, and its content of anhydrous boric acid varies considerably, owing to the presence of impurities in the ore. The total production for the present year, from present indications, will be in the neighborhood of 4,100 tons monthly, with an approximate valuation at the mine of $29 per ton. The present wholesale price of refined commercial borax, a chemical combination of boric acid and soda, is $3.75 per 100 pounds. Incidentally, the wholesale price in the United States is as cheap as in Europe. It is estimated that the industry provides employment for about 1,000 men; that salaries and wages will approximate $2,000 to $3,500 daily; that the average monthly purchase of supplies, very conservatively estimated and excluding machinery and equipment, will reach $50,000. Los Angeles, being the nearest large center to the mines, secures the bulk of this business. It is, therefore, apparent that the industry is a small one, comparatively, and one which would seem to warrant protection and encouragement. Any reduction in the present tariff will, we feel sufficiently confident, eliminate borax mining in the United States, and yet at the same time will not tend to reduce prices to the consumer. Such tariff reduction will open the United States market to foreign mines in South America, Asia, and Europe. It would also help foreign labor, throw out of employment in the United States men who have specialized in this industry and helped build it up from a gross production in 1895 of 5,959 short tons to 53,330 tons in 1911. It is interesting to note that with the growth of the borax mining industry there has been an immense reduction in the value of the crude ore. Thus in 1895 a production of 5,959 tons netted the miners $595,900, or $100 per ton; while the production of 53,330 tons in 1911 brought them but $1,569,151, or about $29 per ton. Statistics to be obtained from the Federal authorities will also show that the price of borax and boric acid to the consumers has been steadily reduced during the period mentioned. PARAGRAPH 11-BORAX. Even with the nominal protection afforded by the present tariff foreign competitore found it possible to import in 1911 for consumption in the United States borax and borates, including boric acid, with a valuation of about $24,000. The facts furnished above will prove the limited market for borate products in the United States, and a reduction in the present tariff will merely mean an increased profit for the foreign producer, as he could mine and ship the refined product to the United States at a slightly lower cost than at present, while such a reduction in tariff would effectually eliminate a minor industry in this State, the development of which has gradually lessened the cost of a household necessity year by year, and not followed the trend of other protected industries to the detriment of the general public. We urge all Senators and Congressmen receiving this brief to give the matter their most earnest consideration, and we sincerely trust that the facts presented may convince them of the necessity for retaining the existing small tariff on borax and borate products. BRIEF IN FAVOR OF THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF ON BORAX, BORIC ACID, AND BORÁTE OF LIME. VENTURA, CAL., January 7, 1913. The entire production of borax in the United States is virtually derived from four producing mines located in this State in outlying and desert country. Our mine is one of the four and is under heavy expense for hauling the ore 75 miles by wagon and very high rate for wages to miners and for supplies. Our crude ore is principally colemanite, a variety of borate of lime, having a large percentage of impurities, which necessitates refining The total yearly production of our mine is 6,000 tons, at an approximate valuation at the mine of $25 per ton for the crude ore. We employ about an average of 65 men, whose wage is approximately $200 per day. Any reduction of the present tariff will force us to discontinue operations and will not only work a hardship upon our stockholders, but also upon the laborers and others depending upon the operation of this mine. The present market price of the refined commercial product (borax) is lower than has ever been known before and would not be reduced even with a reduction of the tariff, and we can not see that it will be of any advantage either to the American consumer or manufacturer. HENRY M. RUSSELL, President Russell Borate Mining Co. PARAGRAPH 11-BORAX. BRIEF OF THE PACIFIC COAST BORAX CO., NEW YORK, N. Y. Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, PACIFIC COAST BORAX Co., New York, January 28, 1913. Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Referring to the present law: Paragraph 1. Boracic acid, present duty 3 cents per pound. Paragraph 11. Borax, present duty 2 cents per pound; borates of lime, soda, or other borate material not otherwise provided for in this section, present duty 2 cents per pound. We beg to protest against any change in the above duties, for the following reasons: BORATES OF LIME OR SODA OR OTHER BORATE MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR. The mineral (borate of lime) from which borax and boracic acid are manufactured is found in this country in commercial quantities chiefly in the western portion of the United States, and particularly in the States of California and Nevada, where it is confined to a limited area of desert country known as the Death Valley region. From this region there is mined annually approximately 50,000 tons of crude borate material. The production of this material has necessitated extensive developments for many years, and an industry of considerable magnitude has grown up in connection with the production of borate of lime in Death Valley. In the past years of growth in the borax business in America, it has been necessary to build railroads and wagon roads, and to establish water stations through the development of springs, and generally to civilize arid wastes of drifting sand. This development work has so opened up the thousands of square miles of land in Death Valley and other desert sections of California and Nevada that it is now possible to reach, with safety, most of the interior points on the desert, and prospectors as well as others are frequently seen traveling with safety from place to place on the desert, depending largely for food and water upon the stations established by the borax people, until death from want of water is much less frequent than formerly, and through prospecting thus made possible, much land containing other valuable minerals has been found which heretofore was entirely unknown. The possibility in potash alone is an example of what has been accomplished through civilization by the borax people, who alone have done the pioneer development work in the American deserts and converted them, and particularly the Death Valley, as it is generally known to-day, into an oasis of health and remunerative employment for many contented workmen and prospectors. During the past 10 years, extensive plants have been constructed in order that the borate material may be economically produced, assorted, calcined, and shipped. A great many men are constantly employed in this industry. A railroad of 127 miles in length has been built to carry the crude material from one of the fields of pro |