Evening star. [volume], February 04, 1942, Page B-8, Image 31

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Portugal Enjoying'Gold Rush'
Due to Sardines and Black Ore
Great Amount of Intrigue Marks Boom,
With Germans Coming Out Victorious
This is the last of a series
xcritten by an American corre
spondent just returned, from
Europe.
By DAVID M. NICHOL.
Correspondent of The Star and Chicago
Daily News.
Portugal is experiencing a modern
gold rush in the form of the sardines
its citizens fish from the sea and a
dull black ore called wolfram.
In the background is as much
international intrigue as ever graced
a novel of high adventure. There
are mysterious agents with endless
bank accounts and pockets full of
money, deals in tin cans by the
millions, legal trials which may de
termine the number of airplanes
the Germans can produce, and Por
tuguese peasants wearing silk shirts
and buying fountain pens by the
dozens because some one convinced
them this was an indication of af
fluence.
Wolfram is found in small chunks
on the surface, in slender seams just
under the topsoil, sometimes em
bedded in other stone. These unfor
tunate natural phenomena have al
tered the physical characteristics of
large areas in Northern Portugal,
and even some of its architecture.
Mad search Tor Ktcnes.
Farmlands have been tom up.
vineyards destroyed in the mad
search for the black wealth. In one
small town an entire building was
taken apart, stone by stone, because
some enterprising prospector discov
ered traces of the ore. Farm labor
has practically disappeared in the
north part of the country. The
Portuguese government has been
compelled to attempt regulation of
the industry, so far with little suc
cess.
Wolfram for years was just an
other of a long list of Portuguese
products. It attracted little atten
tion. There were supplies in other
parts of the world. Then came the
blockade and then came the Ger
mans. British counterbidding helped
to boost the price, but the real
bonanza did not occur until the
Russian war cut off previous Ger
man supplies from China, shipped by
the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
The importance of wolfram lies in
the fact that from it is produced
tungsten, and tungsten is vital to
many of the alloy steels, hardening
them and fitting them for use as j
cutting tools and other essential 1
items.
Germans rar-signiea.
Prices varied with international
market conditions, but in England
the semi-refined ore brought about
$700 a ton. The United States pays
about $1,400. a ton for its imports
from Bolivia. No one would start
tearing up their olive trees or their
cork orchards for the small amounts
they might find at that price.
But the far-sighted Germans,
through an agent named Dietmar,
began surveying the area a year
and a half ago. Purchasing by
pounds, or their fractions, they be
gan buying at the rate of $1.20 for
a kilogram or 2.2 pounds. By last
spring the figure was up to $4 80
for the same amount, and by Sep
tember to the equivalent of about
$7,000 a ton.
Then the real boom got under
way. In October It was $12,000 a
ton: by November, $18,000. and by
about mid-January, $24,800. The
importance of the olive trees disap
peared early in this rising market.
British and French capital con
trol the important commercial pro
ducers. but they have lost out on
the wildcr»ting. The German ar
mistice cor.*mission insisted that the
output of a large French concern,
the Borralha Mines, should be
turned over to the Nazis, but so far
the British have succeeded in block
ing the transfer in the Portuguese
courts The country’s total output
will be about 6,000 tons this ypar,
it is estimated.
Dizzy Course for Sardines.
Sardines followed almost the same
dizzy course, with variations of their
own. The “pack” this year will
approach 1,500,000 cases of 100 tins
each—important to the British as
food, more important to the Ger
mans for the oil and fat they con
tain. The catch was the tinplate
needed for the cans, and the Eng
lish believed they had the only
source of supply.
English brokers offered the sar
dine canners the equivalent of $2.40
at the docks for enough sardines
to pack a case, the unit of the
trade. The price was good, about
four times the normal January mar
ket. and the only factor the British
hadn't considered was the Nazi con
fiscation of tinplate in the occupied
areas of Europe.
German brokers appeared in the
Portuguese market with enough of
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the precious tin for 1,000,000 cases,
and gave the sardine market its
rosiest days for years. The price
at the docks was five times the
English figure, about $12 a case, and
the Germans will get about two
thirds of the pack as a result.
(Copyright, 1W12, by Chicago Dally Newa.)
ereToGo
at To Do
LECTURES.
“Wildlife Homes and Habits on
National Refuges.” with color films,
by Wesley F. Kubichek, sponsored by
the National Park Service, De
partmental Auditorium, Constitution
avenue between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets N.W., 8 o'clock
tonight.
"Keep America Strong by the
Prevention of Venereal Diseases,”
by Dr. Jack Derzavis, Jewish Com
munity Center, Sixteenth and Q
streets N.W., 8:30 o’clock tonight.
MUSIC.
Organ musicale, Washington
Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of
the Latter Day Saints, Sixteenth
street and Columbia road N.W., 8
o’clock tonight.
Concert, Marine Band Symphony
Orchestra, Marine Barracks audito
rium, Eighth and I streets S.E., 8:15
o’clock tonight.
DRAMA.
“Brighton Rock,” an original adap
tation of the novel, by the University
Players. Catholic University Theater,
8:30 o’clock tonight, through Feb
ruary 10.
DANCE.
All States Club, Washington Hotel,
9:30 o’clock tonight.
FOR MEN IN THE SERVICE.
Square dance, Y. W. C. A.. Seven
teenth and K streets N.W., 8:30
o'clock tonight.
MEETINGS.
Chi Sigma Sorority, Mayflower
Hotel, 8 o’clock tonight.
Dames of the Loyal Legion, May
flower Hotel, 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Americanism Commission, Ameri
can Legion, Mayflower Hotel, |
o'clock tonight.
LUNCHEONS.
Junior Board of Commerce, An
napolis Hotel, 12:30 pm. tomorrow.
Washington Institute of Public Ac
countants, Madrillon Restaurant,
12:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Cosmopolitan Club, flay - Adams
Hotel, 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Dl-Ma-Va Club, Ambassador Ho
tel, noon tomorrow.
Kiwanis Club, Mayflower Hotel,
12:30 p.m, tomorrow.
ACHING-STIFF
I SORE MUSCLES
1 For PROMPT relief—rub on Mus
I terolel Massage with this wonderful
■ “counter-irritant” actually bring*
B fresh warm blood to aching muscle*
■ to help break up painful local con
I gestion. Better than a mustard
B plaster! Made in 3 strengths.
SHOPPERS
DINNER
55c
V
Balconv^Tea Room
Served d:tS to 5:.1» PM.
Thursday Only
Chicken Gumbo Roup or
Chilled Orange Juice
Fried Spring Chicken
Tomato Slice
Browned Potatoes
Buttered Lima Beans
Tomato Slices and
Lettuce Salad
Hot Rolls
Pumpkin Pie or Ice Cream
Beverage
Prelude To Spring!
Navy For Young-Minded ff omen!
SCROLL TRIM
BOLERO
Borrowed from our Southern neighbors! De
signed to please the busy American woman of
today. New rayon crepe bolero jacket dress to
be worn with or without the bolero. Simply
styled bolero with exquisite rayon taffeta trim
in a charming rose pattern to give a crisp new
look. Navy; sizes 16 Vi to 22Vi.
Women's Dresses—Second Floor
(/ Stripes! Solids!
JUNE ARDEN
COTTONS
325
Rejoice! You've found an unusual selec
tion of finely tailored chambrays and
seersuckers at a budget price! Shirt
waist styles and coat models . . . pleated,
flared, and gored shirts . . . collar trims
. . . high and low necklines . . . action
backs. Rose, blue, green, brown, multi
colors. 12 to 20, 38 to 44.
Daytime Dress Shop—Third Floor
Again It's Patent
and Gabardine!
PHYSICAL CULTURE’S MART
Getting ready for spring? Try these flattering Physical
Culture gabardines with shiny patent trim and neat open
toe. Slip into one and notice the smooth fit of elasticized
gabardine plus slenderizing beauty.
Exclusively Lansburgh’s—Women's Shoes—Second Floor
6.50
»_«*lansburgn9s »-"■«»
On Sale dt These Savings
for Thursday Only!
Regularly 13.95! Period Style
OCCASIONAL CHAIR
Thursday Only
Note the graceful ball-and-claw
feet, high restful back. The com
fortable spring seat is well padded.
Upholstered in durable cotton
tapestries (choice of rose, blue or
gold*. Buy a pair for foyer or liv
ing room at this special price.
LANSBURGH'S—Fifth Floor
Regularly 59c! “COMMANDER’'
RADIATOR SHIELDS
Thursday Only
Heovy metal with rounded cor
ners and closed ends. Ivory or
grain-walnut finishes. Fits all
radiators up to 9 inches wide.
Extend 19 to 35 inches.
79c Size, 24 to 47” Shields 65c
LANSBURGHS—Sixth Koor
Specially Priced! Gay “Nautical *
8-PC. DRINK SET
Thursday Only
Tall graceful crystal-clear glasses for
all your favorite drinks. The nauti
cal emblems (two in each topic)
are imposed on a frosted circle
background. Rounded bottom dis
courages tipping. Buy several sets.
LANSBURGH'S—Sixth Floor
Very Special! 1NNERSPPING
MATTRESS
Thursday Only
Our own "Reeleze" quality. All
steel innercoil unit covered with
heavy stitched sisal pads and in
sulated with fresh new cotton layer
felt. Durable printed cotton art
tickings. Single and double sizes.
Limited quantity, be here early!
LANSBVRQH’S—Fifth Floor