69
1,338 thousand short tons, but the decrease was tran
sitory. By 1950, again bolstered by defense needs,
33
copper consumption reached 1,986 thousand short tons.
Apparent consumption fell after 1950, and did not reach
its former high wartime levels until the early 1960s,
but apparent consumption reached 2,039 thousand tons per
year in 1965 and remained at very nearly the same level
through 1969.^
By i960 the amount of copper going to building
construction had increased to approximately 19 percent
of total copper consumption. Communications construction
and electric power construction accounted for another 19
percent, and producer durables took approximately 32
percent. Motor vehicles maintained a share of about 9
35
percent and consumer durables accounted for 4 percent.
We have looked at the changing nature of the
demands for copper and iron within the United States
during the past century. The demand for both increased
at a spectacular pace between i860 and 1900 as new metals-
oriented industries came into being and expanded.
34
Minerals Yearbook, 1969. p. 452.
35
Landsberg, Resources in America's Future, p. 912.