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Show METAL II DENY COB II ZINC Abnormal demands from 'abroad for zinc are straining this country's producing produc-ing capacity, and the market for the metal is so excited that present prices have scarcely ever been duplicated. The fact that business, especially in the steel and Iron industry, is not anywhere near normal is charged with savins the zinc industry from a "dangerous situation." The charge that a corner on the metal is beins attempted is denied emphatically by metal men who explain that this country's coun-try's normal output,of zinc, 30,000 tons per month, which hitherto has been taken entirely by domestic consumers, Is now taxed by a monthly export demand on the part 01' England, France, Italv and Russia, Rus-sia, amounting to sooo to 12.nno tons a month. Statistics show that for the past four years the average exports from this country were T500 tons annually. Three years ago' this country had to Import quite a tonnage from Belgium and Germany. Ger-many. Although domestic consumption has been below that of ordinary times. American manufacturers of ammunition have taken largo orders from the belligerents, belliger-ents, making the quantities available'in-sufricient available'in-sufricient for the demands. The market in this product is so excited that it is difficult to quote prices Seven and a quarter cents a pound, on an average aver-age 3 cents above the normal price of zinc (or spelter) is considered a fair price today. High sales have been reported and are expected generally and In all sales the quality of the metal and the time of delivery are being considered in determining deter-mining the price. In England the price of zinc has never been higher In twenty years. This country has Its capacity strained to the breaking point and the unprecedented unprece-dented conditions taken together loom up threateningly before American consumers There has been overbuying and stocking for future demands on the part of consumers con-sumers and producers, causing record prices. No one in touch with the metal market will attempt to gauge the present situation. Experts say that If business in this country in the steel and iron industrv that being the largest consumer of spe'fer for galvanizing purposes, were anvwhere near normal Lie situation would be dangerous. dan-gerous. Prices might go very much higher. high-er. As it is. prices are abnormal!- high today and have never oeen duplicated except in lime of great business activity in tliis country. Most of tile zinc Industrv- in this country coun-try is said to be controlled bv the Germans. Ger-mans. The government has' not" been able to issce miy preli m i narv report on jc-iiiri f'T.rUu r. ivdiiccis otjecleu to the |