This source is a newspaper article from the New-York Tribune, in August of 1917. It was written by William Starr Bullock, who seems to simply be an author or editor for the paper. Not much information can be found on him. Based on his article, he is very passionate about copper because it supplies America with so many uses and products. His tone is upbeat and intense, at one point he states, “Truly copper is king” (Bullock). He also includes an extensive list of everyday items copper is contained in. Finally, he begins the article discussing how copper is useful for warfare. This article was produced just 4 months before the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I. So, warfare during this time was heightened.
This source is useful for my project as it shows the worlds’ view of copper. I am constantly discussing how copper is valuable and useful, and this shows evidence of that. It shows how intrigued Americans were over copper and how it was an extraction that was very high in demand. The Copper Bullock is raving about, was exported from Chile, as he mentions later in the paper. This allows evidence for the relationship between Chile and The United States. The U.S. was heavily relying on Chile to provide copper to maintain the products desired, as we can tell from the article.
By William Starr Bullock
“Modern warfare could not be but for copper. In almost every gup of every calibre on land or sea, in every airplane, sea ‘plane or battle ‘plane, and in the thousands of searchlights, copper is present. So it is in the shells containing ammunition, whether for rifle, mortar, field gun or deadly “75.” Copper is used in every ambulance which brings the wounded from the front. Copper in soluble form is the most powerful disinfectant known in hospital practice. Field telephone and telegraph lines are of copper, and observation officers watch a battle’s progress through brass telescopes and field glasses. The use of copper has made possible the submarine and the submarine chaser. Sulphuric acid —copper in solution—is the basis of some of the most deadly forms of explosives known to the science of war. Brass buttons and brass helmets by the millions are worn by the contending troops. After the war is over a profitable business will be done for months by peasants along the former lines or carnage in the collection and sale of metal to be reconverted into brass for use in the arts of peace.
Copper is indeed the metal universal. In some of its thousands of forms it is within the reach of your hand as you read this. Are you at your breakfast table? You coffee urn and the table silver contain an alloy of copper to make them hard. The electric toaster is wired with copper. The coins in your pocket—all of them—contain copper in varying proportions. So does the jewelry you wear. There are brass nails in the heels of your shoes and brass in your buckles and in your bedstead.
Coppers Everywhere
The door has copper in the lock. Most plumbing fixtures are brass, nickle plated. But you may be in the library. Look at your reading lamp, or the chandelier over your head. Or possibly you are on a railway train, trolley car or other public conveyance. The window at your side is brass fitted —so is your traveling bag. The telephone, the motor car, the office clock, the elevator, and many of the things we use, see and handle daily have copper in their composition.
Hardly a wheel turns or power starts without copper. Heat, light and power transmission over any distance is universally accomplished by the use of copper. Millions of miles of copper wire carry human through flashes under the ocean cables. Even the wireless uses copper instruments. Without copper rapid transportation by sea, air or land would be impossible. Central power stations are dependent upon copper, and few indeed are the manufacturing industries which do not use copper in some of its multitude of forms. “
Bullock, William Starr, “Supply of Copper, A Vital Factor in War or Peace, Lags Behind Consumption” New-York Tribune, August 26, 1917. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83030214/1917-08-26/ed-2/