Description and uses.-Two grades of cobalt oxide are found on the market, the black and the gray.

The oxide is usually produced directly from the ore, but if the pure substance is wanted the metal is first obtained and then changed to the oxide. Zaffer (par. 1690, free list) is an impure cobalt oxide.

Cobalt oxide is used in the preparation of cobalt salts, in the manufacture of smalt and of enameled ironware, for producing blue enamels and glazes on porcelain, and as a drier for paints and varnishes.

Production. Since Canada began producing cobalt in quantity the production of the oxide in the United States has been very small. Canada furnishes nearly all of the world's supply. The output in 1919 (preliminary figures) of cobalt salts was valued at $104,970.

Imports are almost entirely from Canada. They increased from 28,729 pounds in 1913 to 109,484 pounds in 1914 and to 238,934 pounds in 1916. The import during 1918 was 220,863 pounds.

The large increase in imports of cobalt oxide has been accompanied by a marked decrease in imports of cobalt ore, which was free of duty under the acts of 1909 and 1913. With cobalt oxide dutiable at 25 cents per pound, considerable ore was imported and converted into the oxide in the United States. Since the passage of the act of 1913 plants have been built in Canada; these treat the ore and ship oxide and metal into this country. Imports of cobalt oxide since 1917 have been as follows:

COBALT SULPHATE.

Description and uses.-Cobalt sulphate is a red powder derived by the action of sulphuric acid on cobalt oxide. Its chief use is in ceramics.

Production.-Statistics not available.

Imports of cobalt sulphate in 1914 (only year available) were 54.389 pounds, valued at $15,960.

Important changes in classification.-New specific provision.

COBALT LINOLEATE AND OTHER COBALT COMPOUNDS.

Description and uses.-Cobalt linoleate is one of the most important driers used in the paint, varnish, and printing ink industries, Owing to the accelerated drying effect which it produces. It is sold largely admixed with linseed or soya-bean oil, in paste or liquid form, ready for direct mixing with paints.

Production-Statistics are not available. Considerable quantities, Lowever, are made in this country. It is produced by heating together solutions of cobalt sulphate and sodium linoleate.

Imports. Statistics are available for 1914 only, when 18,933 pounds, valued at $4,677, were imported, almost entirely from Germany. It is known that several shipments have come from England Curing 1921.

Exports. Statistics are not available.

Important changes in classification.-New specific provision. The provision for "other cobalt compounds" is also new.

Suggested changes. It is suggested that the words "cobalt salts and compounds" be substituted for the term "cobalt compounds," Since tariff acts have long distinguished salts from compounds.

Description and uses.-Pyroxylin is a name applied to the soluble ntrates of cellulose. Collodion is a solution of pyroxylin in alcohol dether. It is used in surgery and to some extent in photography. Of the other cellulose esters the acetates are the most important. They are made by treating cellulose with acetic anhydride and sulphuric acid. Cellulose acetate is used for making one variety of artificial silk and replaces nitrocellulose where noninflammability important, as in "dope" or varnish for airplane wings and for moving picture films, when for use in the home or small theaters.

Production. The materials used in the manufacture of pyroxylin are cellulose in some form, nitric acid, and sulphuric acid. These liquid solutions of pyroxylin are made by a group of manufacturers other than those making compounds of pyroxylin (par. 29).

Imports of collodion and other liquid solutions of pyroxylin since 1917 have been as follows:

Imports of cellulose esters are not listed separately.
Exports.-Statistics not available.

Important changes in classification.-Cellulose esters have been specifically mentioned in this paragraph, and the liquid solutions of cellulose esters have been distinguished from compounds of pyroxylin. (See p. 88 and Reclassification Report, p. 37.)

PARAGRAPH 29.

H. R. 7456.

PAR. 29. Compounds of pyroxlin, of other cellulose esters or ethers, or of cellulose, by whatever name known. in blocks, sheets, rods, tubes, or other forms, and not made into finished or partly finished articles, 40 cents per pound; made into finished or partly finished articles, of which any of the foregoing is the component material of chief value, 65 cents per pound and 25 per centum ad valorem: Provided, That all such articles, whether or not more specifically provided for elsewhere, shall be dutiable under this paragraph.

ACT OF 1909.

PAR. 17. * ** all compounds of pyroxylin or of other cellulosé esters, whether known as celluloid or by any other name, forty cents per pound; if in blocks, sheets, rods, tubes, or other forms, not polished, wholly or partly, and not made up into finished or partly finished articles, forty-five cents per pound; if polished, wholly or partly, or if in finished or partly finished articles, except moving-picture films, of which collodion or any compound of pyroxylin or of other cellulose esters, by whatever name known, is the component material of chief value, sixty-five cents per pound and thirty per centum ad valorem.

SENATE AMENDMENTS.

ACT OF 1913.

PAR. 25. compounds of pyroxylin or of other cellulose esters. whether known as celluloid or by any other name, if in blocks, sheets, rods, tubes, or other forms not polished, wholly or partly, and not made into finished or partly finished articles, 25 per centum ad valorem; if polished, wholly or partly, or if finished or partly finished articles, of which col- | lodion or any compound of pyroxylin or other cellulose esters, by whatever, name known, is the component material of chief value, 40 per centum ad valorem.

PYROXYLIN PLASTICS.

(See Survey A-6.)

Description and uses.-Pyroxylin is a name applied to the soluble nitrates of cellulose.

Pyroxylin plastics are substances composed of pyroxylin, camphor, and a solvent, and are sold under trade names such as "celluloid, "fiberoid," "viscoloid," "pyralin," and "nixonoid." They are used for making combs, mirror and brush backs, knife-handles, buttons, toys, rims for eyeglasses, and many other articles. Pyroxylin is used also in the manufacture of artificial leather and silk."

Production. The materials used in the manufacture of pyroxylin are cellulose in some form, nitric acid, and sulphuric acid. A stabilizer, usually urea, is added; also pigments and dyes for opaque or colored products.

The domestic production of pyroxylin plastics has increased greatly, its value being in 1899, $1,526,572; in 1909, $5,682,379; in 1914, $8,876,509; and in 1919 (preliminary figures), $30,169,000.

Germany was formerly the largest producer of pyroxylin and our strongest competitor. England and France were extensive manufacturers of pyroxylin plastics before the war. When the factories were largely given over to the making of explosives the production of plastics in those countries greatly diminished, with a consequent increase in exports from the United States. Japan will probably become the leading competitor under normal conditions, since she controls the world's supply of camphor and is growing in experience in manufacture.

Synthetic camphor was manufactured in this country during the war, but its manufacture was discontinued because of the low prices of natural camphor. It is now reported (December, 1921) that manufacture is to be resumed at an early date.

Imports of pyroxylin plastics not made into finished or partly finished articles have not averaged more than 1 per cent of the domestic production, even though a marked increase followed the act of 1913. Imports of the partly or wholly finished manufactured articles in 1914 were about 10 per cent of the domestic production. Later statistics follow:

Exports of celluloid and manufactures in 1910 were valued at $1,189,080; in 1914, at $1,387,541; in 1918, at $3,744,745. In postwar years exports increased to $9,046,302 in 1920 (calendar year) and then declined to $1,771,299 during the first nine months of 1921. They have gone chiefly to France, England, Canada, and Italy.

Important changes in classification.-The words "or ethers, or of cellulose," have been added, as compounds are made of cellulose or of cellulose ethers similar to those of pyroxylin.

Compounds of pyroxylin are now dutiable (par. 25, act of 1913) at different rates, depending upon whether or not they are polished, those polished carrying the same rate of duty as manufactured or finished articles composed in chief value of pyroxylin. As this division has caused some litigation, arising from the facts that the polishing constitutes a comparatively slight advance in the value of pyroxylin, and that the surfaces are given finishes other than polishing, this distinction was omitted in H. R. 7456. (Reclassification Report, p. 37.)

Description and uses.-Galalith, a product of casein, is a hornlike material made largely into fine-toothed combs and other toilet articles. It competes to a certain extent with celluloid articles, but is not so strong and is subject to warping. It is fire resistant, however. The process of manufacture consists in hardening casein with formaldehyde.

Production. The domestic industry manufacturing galalith articles from casein is small. The industry is confined mainly to France, and, to a lesser extent, to Germany. A few manufacturers in this country make finished articles from sheets, rods, tubes, etc. In 1914 the German production amounted to 10 metric tons daily, with the year's output valued at 10,000,000 marks.