potassium salt and has largely replaced it on account of the high price of that compound. It is used in the manufacture of blue pigments, in calico printing and dyeing, for the case hardening of iron, for making sodium ferrocyanide, and as a chemical reagent.

Production.-Sodium ferrocyanide, or yellow prussiate of soda, was formerly made by fusing iron filings and nitrogenous animal waste materials of any kind (horn, blood, hair, wool waste, and leather scrap) with sodium carbonate. It is now prepared in this country as a by-product of the purification of coal gas; also from sodium cyanide by lixiviating with hot water in the presence of iron.

In 1917 the production was 8,346,000 pounds, valued at $2,577,667; in 1918 it was 9,050,000 pounds, valued at $2,690,110.

Imports prior to the war had reached about 1,900,000 pounds in 1913. In 1914 they increased to about 2,300,000 pounds, and steadily declined until 1918, when no imports appeared.

BORATE OF SODA OR BORAX REFINED.

Description and uses.-Crude borax and borate materials used in the manufacture of refined borax are free of duty in paragraph 429. Sodium borate, or borax refined, is the most important derivative of boric acid. It comes on the market in two forms, common or prismatic borax, which contains 10 molecules of water of crystallization, and octahedral borax, which contains only 5 molecules. ·

The largest use of borax is in making enamel coating for cast and wrought iron sanitary and kitchen ware. It is also used in the manufacture of glass and soap, for sizing paper, in the soaking and cleaning of hides in tanneries, in the textile industry as a mordant and for rendering certain cloths fireproof, and as a flux in welding and brazing.

Production. It is now made from colemanite, which is calcined, the calcium borate is separated mechanically from the minerals, and boiled with a solution of soda ash, forming sodium borate and insoluble calcium carbonate.

Domestic production increased from 26,501 short tons, valued at $2,071,774, in 1914, to 28,309 short tons, valued at $3,805,711, in 1917, In 1918 the output was 26,673 short tons, valued at $3,909,565.

Imports have been less than 0.01 per cent of the domestic production. The maximum import was 11,768 pounds, valued at $882, in

1913.

Exports before the war were small and chiefly to the Orient. During the war a substantial export trade to Europe was developed.

CRYSTAL CARBONATE, SAL SODA, AND SODA CRYSTALS.

Description and uses.-Soda crystals is an indefinite term applied to several crystalline sodium carbonates. These compounds may be sodium carbonate or a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, containing water of crystallization. The term “crystal carbonate" refers to crystals of completely hydrated sodium carbonate which contain 10 molecules of water (Na,CO-10H2O), also known as sal soda and washing soda. The correct designation of this product is hydrated sodium carbonate, sal soda, washing soda, or crystal carbonate of soda. Monohydrate of soda, or monohydrated sodium carbonate, is a crystalline compound of sodium carbonate containing one

184911-20-9

molecule of water (Na,CO-H2O). Sesquicarbonate of soda is a mixture of chemically equivalent parts of sodium carbonate and sodium acid carbonate crystallized with two molecules of water (Na2CO3-NaHCO2H2O). Sodium carbonate or soda ash, which is the raw material used in the preparation of the above crystal carbonates, is free of duty under paragraph 605.

Production.-Sal soda is prepared by dissolving soda ash (sodium carbonate) in hot water to form a solution of a definite specific gravity. On allowing this solution to cool, the sodium carbonate crystallizes out with 10 molecules of water. The addition of a little sodium sulphate to the solution is necessary to obtain the proper crystal form. This fact, however, is sometimes taken advantage of to dilute the finished product with a cheaper inert material which has no cleaning properties. Sodium sesquicarbonate is formed by crystallization from a hot solution containing chemically equivalent quantities of sodium carbonate and sodium acid carbonate. For many purposes this product is preferred to the other soda crystals.

Production in 1914 was 106,591 short tons of sal soda, including monohydrate crystals. In 1917 the production of sal soda alone was 77,939 short tons, valued at $1,698,520, and in 1918, 82,215 short tons, valued at $2,014,021. The production of monohydrate and sesquicarbonate decreased from 55,035 short tons, valued at $1,262,875, in 1917 to 22,678 short tons, valued at $482,958, in 1918.

Imports.-The maximum imports of crystal carbonate, monohydrate, and sesquicarbonate were 354,609 pounds in 1912, which is less than 0.2 per cent of the domestic production. Imports declined to 60,000 and 70,000 pounds in 1917 and 1918, respectively.

Exports of sal soda in 1918 were 14.076,264 pounds, valued at $205,489.

SULPHATE OF SODA CRYSTALLIZED, OR GLAUBER SALT.

Description and uses.-Sulphate of soda crystallized was discovered by a chemist named Glauber and is known commercially as Glauber salt. It is sodium sulphate crystallized with 10 molecules of water. It is used as an assistant in dyeing, for diluting dyes, and for the preparation of cooling mixtures. Ordinarily most sodium sulphate is used in the anhydrous form (salt cake, par. 605) and only a small portion is converted into the crystallized Glauber salt. It is more economical to ship the anhydrous salt.

Production. Glauber salt is a by-product of the manufacture of hydrochloric acid. Domestic production was 46,471 short tons, valued at $512,464 in 1909. This decreased to 34,537 short tons, valued at $427,808, in 1914 and then increased to 47,757 short tons, valued at $732,403, in 1917 and to 50,233 short tons, valued at $1,027,581, in 1918. Imports have never been large and have disappeared from the reports.

INTERPRETATION AND COMMENTS.

The name "soda" was originally used to designate sodium oxide (Na2O), and is frequently applied indiscriminately to all compounds of sodium. It is better usage and prevents ambiguity to employ the term sodium, such as sodium chlorate. The true chemical name of the compound when not used exclusively in commerce might be am.

plified with the commercial term, for example, “sodium hydroxide, or caustic soda."

Under the construction against implied repeal, sodium benzoate is dutiable under the specific provision in paragraph 67 rather than under the provision for coal-tar medicinals in the act of September 8, 1916. (9 Ct. Cust. Appls., —; T. D. 37978, 37980, of 1919; Dec. Treas. Dept. Oct. 5 and Nov. 7, 1916, published in report of Tariff Commission on Dyes and Other Coal-Tar Chemicals, pp. 65 and 66.) Hyposulphite of soda is a commercial term used incorrectly to designate the chemical compound sodium thiosulphate. It would seem advisable to designate this compound by the term "sodium thiosulphate or hypo.'" Hydrosulphite of soda has been held to be dutiable as a chemical compound under paragraph 5, rather than as hyposulphite of soda under this paragraph. (Abstract 42707, of 1918.) Calcined sodium sulphate in powdered form was also held properly dutiable as a chemical compound or mixture and not within the provision of this paragraph for sulphate of soda crystallized or Glauber salt. (G. A. 7864, T. D. 36192, of 1916.)

The correct chemical name for "yellow prussiate of soda " is sodium ferrocyanide.

The wording "crystal carbonate of, monohydrate, and sesquicarbonate of; sal soda, and soda crystals" describes three separate chemical and commercial articles. Soda crystals is an indefinite term which may be applied to all three substances. Crystal carbonate and sal soda designate the same substance, which is also known as hydrated sodium carbonate, or washing soda. Monohydrate of soda is monohydrated sodium carbonate. These articles may be distinguished as follows: (1) Hydrated sodium carbonate, or sal soda, or washing soda, or crystal carbonate of soda; (2) Monohydrated sodium carbonate; and (3) Sodium sesquicarbonate.

The advisability of adding to paragraph 67 certain sodium compounds which are important articles of commerce might be considered. Sodium formate, which is the raw material used in the manufacture of formic and oxalic acids (see par. 1), was imported in 1914 to the extent of 1,843,245 pounds, valued at $44,693. Over 99 per cent came from Germany.

The above suggestions are summed up in the following proposed classification for paragraph 67:

Sodium Chlorate, [rate]; nitrite, [rate]; hydroxide, or caustic soda, [rate]; phosphate, [rate]; thiosulphate, or "hypo," [rate]; chromate and bichromate, [rate]; sulphide, [rate]; sulphite, bisulphite, and meta-bisulphite, [rate); ferrocyanide, or yellow prussiate, [rate]; borate, or borax, refined [rate]; sulphate, crystallized, or Glauber salt, [rate]; acid carbonate, or bicarbonate, or baking soda, or saleratus, and other alkalies containing 50 per centum or more of bicarbonate of soda, [rate]; carbonate, hydrated, or sal soda, or washing soda, or crystal carbonate, [rate]; carbonate, monohydrated, [rate]; sesquicarbonate, [rate]; formate, [rate].

Sodium hydrosulphite is another important compound which has been discussed under "Sulphite of soda." Separate provision might be made for sodium hydrosulphite and similar preparations, in a paragraph following paragraph 67, in these words: "Sodium hydrosulphite, hydrosulphite compounds, sulphoxylate compounds, and all combinations and mixtures thereof, [rate]."

Description. and uses.-Sponges are collected principally in the Mediterranean and Red Seas and waters of the West Indies, Florida, and Central America. The finest sponges are obtained from the Mediterranean, the next in quality from the Red Sea.

Crude sponges are prepared by maceration in cold water for several days and then beaten to break up and remove concretions contained in them. The better grades are treated with a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to remove remaining calcareous matter and then, if desired, are bleached by chemical means.

Sponges are used for mechanical purposes only.

Production. Most of the crude sponges marketed in this country are from the Florida fisheries. The product of these fisheries in 1913 was valued at about $735,000, a little over $615,000 in 1914, and over $920,000 in 1917. In 1918 it was considerably less, about $623,000. This decrease was due partly to the high price of fish, which induced those engaged in sponge gathering to take up fishing. Tarpon Springs, Fla., is the center of American sponge production. New York is the principal distributing center.

Imports of crude sponges have averaged a little more than half the domestic production since 1913, in that year valued at $289,642. The value for 1918 was $510,265. Imports of chemically treated or manufactured sponges have been much less, amounting to $38,300 in 1914, $58,797 in 1916, and $27,682 in 1918. Crude sponges come mostly from the British West Indies, Cuba, and Greece.

Exports, 1910-1914, inclusive, averaged about 200,000 pounds, with a value of a little less than $200,000. Production dropped in 1917 to 116,131 pounds, valued at $129,063.

INTERPRETATION AND COMMENTS.

Sponges taken by vessels enrolled or licensed under the United States laws have been held exempt from duty as products of American fisheries. (T. D. 26550, of 1905.) Rubber bath sponges are not within this provision, but dutiable as manufactures of india rubber. (149 Fed., 1022, of 1906.)

Sponges would be placed logically in Schedule N (Sundries) rather than in Schedule A.

13. * per pound.

*

PARAGRAPH 69.

* French chalk 1 cent

69. Talcum, ground tale, steatite, and French chalk, cut, powdered, washed, or pulverized, 15 per centum ad valorem.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

The tariff act of 1913 also contains the provision, "Talcum, steatite, and French chalk, crude and unground" (par. 621, free list), which is considered in connection with paragraph 69.

Description and uses.-Talc is a natural magnesium hydrogen silicate. It has a greasy or soapy feel, and is one of the softest minerals known. The massive, compact variety is known as steatite or soapstone.

Talc has a great variety of uses. As soapstone it is cut into slabs and used for table tops in hospitals, laboratories, etc., and made into vessels for storing acids, also into sinks and laundry tubs; as a heat resistant, it is used for griddles, foot warmers, and hearthstones; as an insulator, for electrical switchboards and floors of electrical plants. Ground or powdered talc is used as a filler in the manufacture of paper and paint and as a dressing for rubber, cloth, and leather. It is extensively employed in the manufacture of toilet powders; as a preservative coating on stonework and as a nonconductive material for covering steam pipes; also as an adulterant for soaps and other goods.

French chalk is high-grade talc in its natural state cut to shape and size for marking cloth, metals, slate, etc. Talc is used in making tips for gas burners and some varieties are substituted for graphite in lubricants.

Production. The United States produces more tale than all other countries; Italy and France produce the finest varieties. Before the war France ranked second to the United States in total production. Virginia produces all the soapstone mined in this country, and New York produces most of the fibrous talc used in paper making.

In 1915 the total production of talc and soapstone in the United States was 186,891 short tons and in 1917 it was 218,848 short tons. Imports. Most of the talc, ground or prepared, imported before the war came from France and Italy, with smaller amounts from Canada and Austria-Hungary. Since 1914 the imports from France have fallen off, but those from Italy have increased. The total imports during 1914 were 29,690,092 pounds, and during 1917 were 34,288,429 pounds. The imports for 1918 were 27,550,409 pounds.

In 1914 the imports of crude and unground talcum and French chalk amounted to 2,807,974 pounds and in 1918 to 4,721,980 pounds.

INTERPRETATION AND COMMENTS.

Talc and French chalk are not the same thing for tariff purposes. (2 Ct. Cust. Appls., 92, of 1911; 3 Ct. Cust. Appls., 522, of 1913.) French chalk is a species of talc suitable for uses such as the marking of cloth by tailors, for which other varieties of talc are not fitted. (3 Ct. Cust. Appls., 522, of 1913.) Powdered talc, to which a small quantity of boric acid has been added, for use as a toilet preparation for application to the skin is not ground tale within this provision, but dutiable under paragraph 48. (7 Ct. Cust. Appls., 89, of 1916) (See par. 15.)

Talcum, steatite, and French chalk might appropriately be transferred to Schedule B.