Meerschaum, crude or unmanufactured-Imports by countries (fiscal years).

Total imports, by countries, of meerschaum, crude or unmanufactured, in 1918 amounted to $4. In 1920, 13,386 pounds, valued at $52,274.

Meerschaum, crude or unmanufactured-Imports for consumption-Revenue.

BRIAR ROOT OR BRIAR WOOD.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

TARIFF ACT OF 1913.

Paragraph 168 of the tariff act of 1913 reads: "Briar root or briar wood, ivy or laurel root, and similar woods, unmanufactured, or not further advanced than cut into blocks, suitable for the articles. into which they are intended to be converted, 10 per cent ad valorem."

DESCRIPTION.

Briar root or briar wood is an imported wood derived from the white or tree heath (Erica Arborea) which flourishes in Italy and Algeria, and grows in small quantities also in Spain, France and Greece. The wood is obtained from the burl where the trunk expands, at the base and is the only part of the tree used. The ivy and laurel woods are of domestic growth, found chiefly in North Carolina. They are somewhat similar in appearance and quality to the briar root, but are much softer and impractical for the manufacture of pipes.

USES.

The only use or at least the only important use of briar wood is in the manufacture of tobacco pipes.

SUBSTITUTES.

Any substance used in making pipes, such as clay or meerschaum, may be regarded as a substitute. Attempts have been made to use the domestic ivy and laurel woods in place of the imported briar wood but these substitutes have not been found satisfactory by manufacturers. Other domestic woods, which are used as substitutes, are apple (for cheaper grades), manzanita, wild lilac, red gum, and birch. Ebony, an imported wood, is also used.

IMPORTS.

Importations since 1910 range between two and five hundred thousand dollars in value. The chief sources of supply. are France, Italy, and French Africa. Imports are shown in more detail by the following table.

PRICES.

Prices since 1910 for blocks of the principal size are quoted by a leading manufacturer as follows: 1910, $4; 1912, $4; 1914, $6; 1916, $7 to $12; 1918, $16; 1919, $16; 1920, $16 for the first six months, later 10 per cent reduction. Quotations are per gross.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Briar wood was admitted free of duty before the act of 1909. In that year it was subjected to a 15 per cent ad valorem duty, which was reduced to 10 per cent in 1913. In the hearings preceding the act of 1909 petitions were made for a duty for the purpose of developing the laurel and ivy root industry in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS.

Although briar wood has been on the dutiable list since 1909, the domestic industry has not been developed. The difficulty is not one of comparative costs of production but of quality. Pipe manufacturers claim that the domestic woods are not suitable for the manufacture of smoking pipes. The wood is too soft and will not stand the heat of the burning tobacco.

Briar root or briar wood and ivy or laurel root-Imports by countries.

1 July 1 to Aug. 5, 1909, under act of 1897.

2 15 per cent old law, July 1 to Oct. 3, 1913. New law Oct. 4, 1913, to June 30, 1914. 3 Calendar year.

Briar wood-Rates of duty.

Rates of duty, specific and ad valorem.

168 Briar root or briar wood, ivy or laurel root, and similar wood 10 per cent ad valorem.
unmanufactured, or not further advanced than cut into blocks
suitable for the articles into which they are intended to be
converted.

15 per cent ad valorem. Free.

Do.
Do.

Briar root or briar wood has been provided for by name in the last five tariff acts.

In a decision of 1877 under the Revised Statutes blocks of briar wood roughly sawed into a form from which smokers' pipes are manufactured were held to be dutiable as wood unmanufactured and not as wood manufactured.-Dept. Order, T. D. 3411. The question whether these blocks were of cabinet wood was not raised.

The matter came up again under the act of 1883. The evidence showed that the importation consisted of briar-wood blocks of various sizes and forms such as were used by manufacturers of pipes, pipe bowls, and cigar holders. The evidence also showed that briar wood was extensively used in the arts and in the construction of the finest cabinet work because of its variegated appearance and its hardness and capacity for being carved and highly polished.

The department held the blocks exempt from duty as cabinet wood unmanufactured, notwithstanding almost exclusive use in the manufacture of smokers' articles. Dept. Order, T. D. 7366. This is the

case referred to in the tariff hearings of 1890 at page 1019.

Blocks of wood cut to size and prepared for engravers' use for making wood type, classified under paragraph 215 of the act of 1909, were held dutiable under paragraph 202. (Abstract 32937, T. D. 33594, of 1913.)

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