RAW MATERIALS: Copper: No. I Problem

Of all the basic raw materials needed for defense, none is more vital than copper—and none is scarcer. Into every B-47 bomber goes a ton of copper; even a 155-mm. howitzer takes more than half a ton of the red metal and its alloys. The U.S. is the world's biggest producer (960,000tons or 40% of all output), but its crude production is lower now than it was eight years ago. It is also the biggest copper importer, but imports are dropping. Last week the Government took two big steps to boost production.

One step was taken by the RFC. It...

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