SALT, BROMINE, AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE By K. W. COTTRELL SALT PRODUCTION Reports received from operators in the salt industry in 1923 indicate that demand was generally fair or good, but the cost of harvesting the evaporated salt was higher, and increased competition tended to reduce the price obtainable. The sales of salt in the United States in 1923 increased 5 per cent in quantity but only 1 per cent in value. Salt sold or used by producers in the United States, 1918-1923 8 The values are f. o. b. mine or refinery and do not include cost of cooperage or containers. per Increases in both quantity and value were shown in six of the saltproducing States: Idaho increased 48 per cent in quantity and 29 per cent in value; Louisiana, 7 per cent in quantity and 9 per cent in value; New York, 5 per cent each in quantity and value; Virginia, cent in quantity and 82 per cent in value; West Virginia, 25 per cent in quantity but less than 1 per cent in value; and Nevada, from which no report was received in 1922, reported sales for 1923. California reported 2 per cent decrease in quantity but 10 per cent increase in value; Utah, less than 1 per cent decrease in quantity but 21 per cent increase in value. Kansas reported 11 per cent increase in quantity but 7 per cent decrease in value; Michigan, 6 per cent increase in quantity and less than 1 per cent decrease in value. Three States showed decreases in both quantity and value: New Mexico, 27 per cent in quantity, 9 per cent in value; Ohio, less than 1 per cent in quantity, 1 per cent in value; Texas, 12 per cent in quantity and 11 per cent in value. The leading States in the production of salt were Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Kansas, in the order named. The number of operating plants in California was 22, Michigan 21, Kansas and New York 13 each, Ohio 7, other States 1 to 6 plants each-a total of 97 active plants. Salt sold or used by producers in the United States, 1920–1923, by States 6,840, 029 29, 894, 075 4,981, 154 24, 557, 966 6, 792, 849 27, 464, 838 7, 130, 713 27,795, 941 • Included under “Undistributed." 1920: Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Virginia; 1921: Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, and Virginia; 1922: Porto Rico, Texas, and Virginia; 1923: Nevada, Texas, and Virginia. Comparison with figures for 1922 shows an increase in both quantity and value in only three varieties-salt evaporated in vacuum pans, rock salt, and salt in brine. A decrease was shown in both quantity and value of salt evaporated in open pans or grainers and in pressed blocks from evaporated salt. Solar evaporated salt and pressed blocks from rock salt decreased in quantity but increased in value. The average value of all salt was 14 cents a ton less than in 1922. Salt sold or used by producers in the United States in 1923, by method of manufacture New York, Rock salt was reported by 24 plants in 8 States. Kansas, and Louisiana were the leading States, reporting 46, 25, and 17 per cent, respectively, of the total sales of rock salt. • Includes pressed blocks made of rock salt, as follows: 1920, 15,182 tons, valued at $172,211; 1921, 20,148 tons, valued at $169,244; 1922, 38,593 tons, valued at $245,174; 1923, 38,043 tons, valued at $281,302. Evaporated salt sold or used by producers in the United States in 1922 and 1923, by Included under "Undistributed." 1922: Idaho, Louisiana, Porto Rico, and Texas; 1923: Louisiana, Nevada, and Texas. The production of pressed blocks in the last six years as reported by the original producers of the salt and shown in the following table does not represent the entire pressed-block industry, because some firms that do not produce salt are making pressed blocks of salt bought in the open market: Pressed salt blocks sold by original producers of the salt in the United States, Of the total supply of salt in the United States in 1923 almost 99 per cent was of domestic production and less than 2 per cent was imported. Supply of salt for domestic consumption, 1919-1923, in short tons According to figures obtained from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce, and converted from pounds, as reported by that bureau, to short tons, the salt imported for consumption in the United States in the last five years has been as follows: Salt imported for consumption in the United States, 1919-1923 • Includes salt imported for curing fish, as follows: 1922, 2,252 short tons, valued at $5,549; 1923, 16,472 short tons, valued at $46,260. Salt imported into the United States, 1920-1923, by countries Canada. Guatemala. Mexico... Newfoundland and Labrador. West Indies: British Barbados 3,156,200 $22, 188 1,692, 000 $13, 560 1,889, 300 $14, 547 3,064, 500 $17,736 500 26 18, 200 142 115,000 2,800 1,012, 600 1,153 1,034,100 1,379 3, 575, 700 4,169 1 The tables of imports and exports were compiled by James A. Dorsey, of the Geological Survey. Salt imported into the United States, 1920-1923, by countries-Continued Germany. Italy.. 5,846, 400 8,347 440,000 $2,070 47, 669, 300 $143, 158 82, 712, 700 $250, 614 110, 656, 000 $274, 511 57, 453, 100 135, 959 10, 304, 000 10, 350 561,100 2,503 Spain. 65, 732, 100 71, 158 United Kingdom England 44, 281, 500 236, 374 16, 676, 700 123, 999 14, 104, 100 105, 172 16, 448, 500 121, 253 Scotland. 275, 308, 200 676, 499 186, 190, 100 531, 031 227, 627, 500 523, 036 196, 879, 100 404, 318 Salt exported from the United States, 1918-1923 Short Value 136,783 $1,677, 577 1921. 1,396, 625 1922. 1,901, 593 1923. Year Short Value 109, 563 $1,415, 471 134, 989 1, 429, 172 125, 529 1, 211, 226 Salt exported from the United States, 1920-1923, by countries |