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By B. H. STODDARD 1

PRODUCTION

The talc industry in 1923 practically kept the high position it won in 1922, after a period of depression in 1921 and the early part of 1922, as shown by a comparison of the figures for 1923 with those of earlier years. (See fig. 10.) In spite of a generally poor market in the East, the center of the industry-the demand at times not being equal to the supply, with lowered prices, especially for the roofing grades, and keen competition-the total sales were only 1 per cent less in quantity than in 1922, and the total value was 5 per cent higher.

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FIGURE 10.-Talc and soapstone produced in the United States, 1880-1923
Talc and soapstone sold in the United States, 1919-1923

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The figures showing imports and exports have been compiled by J. A. Dorsey from the records of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and those showing foreign production by Miss W. I. Whiteside.

The sales of the several grades of talc and soapstone are shown in the above table. Practically all talc sold in the crude state by producers is eventually ground, but as figures are collected only from producers the value of this material after grinding is unknown.

PRODUCTION BY STATES

Talc and soapstone sold in the United States, 1921–1923, by States

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Other States

a121, 986a1,755,942 198, 684 2,859, 897196, 692 3,012, 253 100

a Included under "Other States."
1921: Georgia and Massachusetts; 1922 and 1923: Georgia.

California. Most of the tale mined in California is pure white, and its color, together with its purity and good slip, renders it suitable for the manufacture of talcum powder. In 1923 there were 7 producers, compared with 6 in 1922. The American Talc Co. ceased operations and leased its property, near Acme, to the Master Products Co., 5756 Alba Street, Los Angeles, which produced crude talc. Walter S. McLean shipped crude tale from Butte and Eldorado counties. Mining Topics of November 6, 1923, reported that Mr. McLean is mining and shipping soapstone in carload lots from the big deposit on the Western Pacific Railroad not far from Oroville, Butte County, for use at the chemical plants around San Francisco Bay. The Pacific Coast Talc Co., 2149 Bay Street, Los Angeles, increased its output of high-grade talc mined near Silver Lake; the Russi Soapstone Co., Folsom, formerly A. W. Prouty, shipped crude talc from Eldorado County near Shingle; the Sierra Talc Co., 401 Equitable Bank Building, Los Angeles, shipped high-grade talc from its property in Inyo County near Keeler; and the Tramway Talc Co., Keeler, shipped crude talc from Inyo County near Keeler. G. W. Morton also shipped a small amount of crude talc from Acme. The Western Talc & Magnesite Co., Los Angeles, bought property near Acme and is reported to be extensively developing the mines preparatory to shipping in 1924. The talc is said to be of high grade. One of the largest producers of talc in California reports business as steadily increasing. The average value of crude tale shipped in 1923 was $5.77 a ton, and in 1922 $5.76; the average value of ground tale was $17.43 a ton in 1923 and $18.02 in 1922. These were the only grades mined in California in 1922 and 1923.

Georgia. The Georgia Talc Co., Asheville, N. C., was the only producer of talc in Georgia in 1923. Most of the product was sold in the ground form, but some was used in the manufacture of crayons. Maryland. The Harford Talc Co., which mines a refractory talc, was the only shipper in Maryland in 1923.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania.-Operations in the Easton-Phillipsburg district of New Jersey and Pennsylvania continued as usual, the Rock Products Co., 403 Trust Building, J. O. Wagener & Co., 520 McCartney Street, and C. K. Williams & Co., 640 North Thirteenth Street, all of Easton, Pa., being the producers. The material shipped was all in the ground form and ranged in price from about $8.50 to $13 a short ton.

New York. Three firms produced talc in New York in 1923the Carbola Chemical Co., 299 Ely Avenue, Long Island City; the International Pulp Co., 41 Park Row, New York City; and the W. H. Loomis Talc Corporation, 173 East Main Street, Gouverneur. Ground talc was the only grade shipped, and the average value per short ton was $15.14.

North Carolina.-The Georgia Talc Co., Asheville, N. C., continued the manufacture of crayons at its property near Marshall, Madison County. The output of the Standard Mineral Co., operating in the pyrophyllite region in Moore County, near Hemp, greatly exceeded that of 1922. This company has moved its office from New York City to Hemp. The National Soapstone Co. (Inc.), Baldwin, reported in March, 1924, that it had opened its quarry 51⁄2 miles south of Jefferson and expected to make shipments soon. The offices of the company have been moved from Roanoke, Va., to the plant near Baldwin. The Talc Products Co.'s mill at Glendon has been temporarily closed pending new construction.

Vermont.-Activities in Vermont in 1923 were practically the same as in 1922. No new operators were reported, but the Eastern Talc Co. and the Magnesia Talc Co. were absorbed by the Eastern Magnesia Talc Co. (Inc.), Burlington. On account of the low prices prevailing during the year, especially for roofing grades, the industry was dull and production exceeded the demand. However, one producer reported (January, 1924) that the new year opened with a "marked increase in demand" for ground talc. The five producers in this State sold their product ground, except the Magnesia Talc Co., which used some of its talc for the manufacture of crayons and whose production of crayons greatly exceeded that of 1922.

Virginia. The talc and soapstone output in Virginia in 1923 was the largest on record, and the quantity was 3 per cent higher than it was in 1922, the previous record year. The product in this State is nearly all soapstone, manufactured by the Virginia Alberene Corporation, 153 West Twenty-third Street, New York City, at its property near Schuyler. The Bull Run Tale & Soapstone Co. (Inc.) sold ground tale from its property near Clifton. The Blue Ridge Talc Co., near Henry, sold ground talc and a small amount of crude talc. A new company, the Charlottesville Soapstone Corporation (Inc.), Charlottesville, whose property is 4 miles west of Esmont, Albemarle County, was reported to be opening up a quarry preparatory to manufacturing soapstone. Oliver Bros. (Inc.), who formerly operated the Phoenix Soapstone Co.'s quarries, ceased operations in

1920. In August, 1922, the Phoenix Stone Co., 111 Broadway New York City, leased the property at Arrington, but there has been no output from this property since 1920.

WORLD'S PRODUCTION

World's production of talc and soapstone, 1919-1923, by countries, in metric tons

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• Data furnished by Dirección general de minas, geología é hidrología, Argentina. Data not available.

New South Wales Dept. Mines Ann. Repts.

South Australia Dept. Mines Rev. Mining Operations.

• Exports. Aussenhandel Oesterreichs. Figures for 1919 represent second half of year only.

Canada Dept. Mines, Mines Branch, Ann. Repts. Dominion Bur. Statistics Ann. Rept. 1921, Prelim. Repts., 1922-1923.

1919-1921: Statistique de l'industrie minérale en France. 1922: Information furnished by Ministry of Public Works, Paris.

1919-20: Consular rept., Mar. 18, 1922. 1921-22: Glückauf.

India Geol. Survey Rec.

i Rivista del servizio minerario. Information furnished by the Ispettorato generale delle miniere, Rome. *Norges Officielle Statistikk, Norges Bergverksdrift.

'Estadística minera de España.

Bergshantering. Figures for 1921-22 do not include small amounts for which only value is given. Ann. Repts. Sec. Mines, Union of South Africa, Dept. Mines. Dept. Mines and Ind., Monthly Reports • 1919-20: Mines and Quarries. 1921-22: Ann. Rept. Sec. Mines and H. M. Chief Inspector Mines.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Talc imported for consumption in the United States, 1919-1923

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To Sept. 21, 1922, duty free; after Sept. 21 duty was 4 cent a pound. Prior to Sept. 22, 1922, classified as "Talc, steatite, and French chalk-cut, ground, or washed," with 15 per cent duty. From Sept. 22 to Dec. 31, 1922, under the new tariff, the totals include items classified as follows: "Ground, washed, powdered, or pulverized (except toilet preparations)," 3,964 tons, $86,707 (duty of 25 per cent ad valorem); 'cut or sawed, or in blanks, crayons, cubes, disks or other forms," 12 tons, $2,134 (duty of 1 cent a pound); manufactures (except toilet preparations) wholly or partly finished, not decorated," 138 pounds, $109 (duty of 35 per cent ad valorem); "manufactures (except toilet prepara tions) wholly or partly finished, decorated," 1,411 pounds, $324 (duty of 45 per cent ad valorem).

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