67
Refined exports which had exceeded apparent
domestic consumption in 1904 did so five other times during
the period 1904-1914. But, while domestic production was
increasing, domestic consumption was expanding even more
rapidly, more than doubling between 1900 and 1910.
Refined exports exceeded apparent domestic consumption
for the last time in 1914; and, as the economy grew,
apparent domestic consumption of copper far outstripped
refined exports. By 1940, on the eve of America1s entry
into the Second World War, apparent domestic consumption
was almost three times as great as refined exports,
1,008,785 short tons devoted to domestic needs compared
to 356,431 short tons of refined exports.
Demands for copper changed radically when the
United States entered the Second World War; although
demand had increased prior to the war, domestic
supplies had been adequate to meet domestic needs. With
the war, the United States found itself squeezed for
resources; competing military and civilian demands for
the first time exceeded the amount of copper that could
be supplied.
The trend of events throughout 1940 and I9UI forced
many observers to revise their opinions regarding
the adequacy of copper supplies in the United
States. When the present World War began, few
would have believed that domestic production plus
unprecedented imports could fall so far short of
29
^Minerals Yearbook, 1945. p. 122.