994 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

about 74 per cent of the 4,201,500 tons of pyrites used in the manufacture
 of sulphuric acid in France. It dominates the superphosphate
 syndicate in France, which controls more than three-fourths
of the chemical fertilizer production of the country. The syndicate
has brought about many changes in the superphosphate business in
France. It has carried on a campaign to convince the farmers that
the products of its laboratories may be depended upon; it has established
 ‘fertilizer factories at various points so that freight expense
sould be lowered; it has divided France into geographical zones,
sach with an assigned quota; transportation expenses are shared in
common, and profits are prorated among the members.
In like manner the St.-Gobain company dominates or influences
the syndicates formed to control chloride and hypochloride of lime,
hypochloric and nitric acid, and soda.?

ITALY.

In 1903 the Unione fra i consumatori e fabricante di prodotti chimici
(Union between Consumers and Manufacturers of Chemical Products)
was formed by the joining of two large fertilizer concerns, Magno
Magni &amp; Co., of Venice, and Ducco &amp; Alessio, of Florence. The
initial capitalization of 15,000,000 lire was later increased to 25,-000,000
 lire.
In 1904, under the direction of M. Magni, of the Unione, 16 of the
most important superphosphate concerns in Italy were merged under
the title Unione Italiana Concimi (Italian Fertilizer Union) with a
capitalization of 12,000,000 lire and a combined capacity of 250,000
metric tons of superphosphate—the new combination apparently operating
 under the control of the Unione fra i consumatori e fabricante
di prodotti chimici. Each company made over its plant to the
Unione Italiana Concimi, receiving payment one-half in cash and
one-half in stock of the new concern. In order to assure to the factories
 the necessary raw materials the important phosphate deposits
of Kalaa-Djerda in Tunis were purchased by the combination and a
development company, the Tunis Phosphate Society, organized to
work them, 12,000 of its 16,000 shares of stock being held by the combination.
 Another company, the Italian Union of Pyrite Mines,
was formed and pyrite mines at Agordo and Montauro in Italy were
purchased. In addition the Society for the Utilization of Sulphur
was established to operate a sulphur mine in Sicily.
By 1908 the Unione Italiana Concimi had 26 factories scattered
throughout the most favorable districts of Italy. It had also four
sstablishments producing altogether 250,000 quintals of sulphate of
copper. At Vicenza, Rifredi, and Borista it manufactured great
quantities of sulphuric acid and other chemicals. It acquired shares
2 Tbid., pp. 285-304. ”

1 Laur, op. cit., Vol. III, pp. 287-207.