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UNITED STATES fTARIFF COMMISSION, WASHINGTON
INFORMATION CONCERNING
THE DOMESTIC
POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES
POTATO FLOUR
DRIED OR DEHYDRATED POTATOES
POTATO STARCH POTATO DEXTRINE
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1919
UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION, WASHINGTON
INFORMATION CONCERNING
THE DOMESTIC
POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES
POTATO FLOUR
DRIED OR DEHYDRATED POTATOES
POTATO STARCH POTATO DEXTRINE
PRINTED FOR USE OF
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1919
UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION.
OFFICE, 1322 NEW YORK AVENUE, WASHINGTON, D. C.
COMMISSIONERS,
WILLIAM KENT,
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION,
Washington, September 4, 1919.
Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives:
I have the honor to transmit herewith, in accordance with your
request, information compiled by the United States Tariff Commission
on the domestic potato-product industries.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS WALKER PAGE,
Acting Chairman.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Letter of transmitted 3
Summary 7
Industrial uses of the potato 7
Potato-product industries in the United States 8
Potato-product industries in Europe 9
Import duties 10
Tariff considerations 11
Potato flour 11
Uses 11
Processes 11
Domestic production 12
Prices 12
Tariff history and customs decisions .' 12
Imports 12
Dried or dehydrated potatoes 13
Uses and processes : 13
Production 13
German potato-drying industry 13
Tariff history 14
Potato starch 14
Description 14
Uses 14
Manufacture : 14
Domestic production 14
Production in foreign countries 15
German production of potato products, 1910-11 15
Imports 16
Exports 17
Prices 18
Tariff history 19
Potato dextrine 19
Description 19
Uses 20
Manufacture 20
Domestic production ^ 20
Foreign production ' 21
Imports and exports 21
Prices 21
Tariff history
Customs Decisions 23
Bibliography
Appendix 25
Definition of potato flour, United States Department of Agriculture 25
Customs decisions 25
5
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
SUMMARY.
INDUSTRIAL USES OF THE POTATO.
The white or Irish potato contains 75 to 80 per cent of water, 15
to 25 per cent of starch, about 2 per cent of proteins, and 2 or 3 per
cent of fiber and mineral salts, or ash. Its value as a food and in
the industries is due main!}- to its content of the carbohydrate, starch.
Starch, either directly as such or through derivatives such as glucose,
alcohol, and dextrine, is used in innumerable products and is essen-
tial to many industries. It occurs in many vegetable substances
besides the potato, the most important commercially being corn, rice,
wheat, cassava, sago, and arrowroot. While potato starch and its de-
rived products are preferred for a few purposes, it is competitive with
that made from other products. Whether one kind or another is
bought, is largely a matter of price; and the selection of the raw mate-
rial for starch manufacture is dependent upon its availability and the
cost of extraction. In the United States, which produces more than
twice as much corn as the rest of the world combined, corn is the prin-
cipal source of starch and its products; in the industrial nations of
Europe, whose climate is unfavorable for corn production, but whose
physical and economic conditions give them a similar preeminence
in potato production, potatoes take the place of corn as the primary
raw material.
The potato serves as a raw material for the manufacture of seven
products, of which live are of considerable industrial importance and
two have great promise.
1. Potato flour consists of the whole potato except the water and
peel, washed, cooked and dried, ground, and bolted to a fine flour.
Potato flour is used chiefly for mixing with other bread flours and for
other food products.
2. Dried or dehydrated potatoes, like potato flour, contains all of
the content of the raw potato except water and peel, but is sold in the
form of chips, flakes, or ''rice" instead of as a powder or flour. The
potato is first washed and peeled, and then either sliced, .parboiled,
and dried, or is steamed; forced through a die plate, and dried.
Dried potatoes are used almost entirely for food. This product has
many advantages over fresh potatoes: the heavy losses by decay or
freezing are eliminated, it may be kept for a considerable period with-
out special measures as to temperature and ventilation, and the cost
of freight and handling on the large percentage of water present in
fresh potatoes is avoided. .
3. Potato starch is made from potatoes by eliminating, as completely
as possible, the content of protein, fiber, and water. It is used prin-
cipally in the textile industries as a si/ing in weaving, in textile
printing, and in the finishing of cloth. It lias minor uses in laundering,
paper manufacture, in food products, and in the manufacture of
dextrine.
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
4. Dextrine or British gum is made from starch by the action of heat
or acids. Its chief use is in the dyeing, printing, and finishing of
textile fabrics. It is also used as an adhesive for gummed labels,
envelopes, and stamps, and has many other uses.
5. Glucose, dextrose, or starch sugar is made on a large scale in
Europe from potato starch, but in the United States cornstarch is
used almost exclusively as the raw material of the glucose industry.
6. Alcohol is made in large quantities in Europe from potatoes,
but in the United States molasses is the principal raw material of
the industrial alcohol industry.
7. Lactic acid is used in tanning leather, in dyeing and calico print-
ing, and in foods and beverages. It is made on a large scale in Ger-
many from potatoes, but in the United States is made from vegetable
ivory waste and from corn meal.
POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
The industries which utilize potatoes have a useful economic func-
tion in providing an outlet for large quantities of lower grade, cull,
and surplus stock that would otherwise be wasted. It has been
roughly estimated that approximately 50,000,000 bushels of potatoes
are wasted annually in the United States. Relative to the extensive
use made of the white or Irish potato in the manufacturing and
chemical industries of Europe, or to its use there as a food and feed-
stuff, the consumption in the United States is small. The greater
part of the United States is outside of the natural potato-growing
belt, and though the adaptability of the crop permits of its produc-
tion in almost every county, yields are much smaller than in Europe.
Factories must be located in regions whose production is sufficiently
large to yield a large supply of the lower grades, as it is unprofitable
to use No. 1 potatoes for industrial purposes. Such regions are com-
paratively few, and are widely separated.
Potato starch has been made in the United States for many years.
Although the most important of the potato products in this country,
the industry has been declining, while the volume of imports
increased nearly fourfold between 1904 and 1914.
Production and value of potato starch.
[From the United States Census.]
Year.
] Number
of Pro'luetion.
1 factories, i
Value.
1904 ...
Pounds.
l.'U 27,709,400
$924,476
1909. . '
110 24 873 415
823 019
1914
82 23, ">40, 472
718,006
Imports of potato starch rose from 4,438,038 pounds in 1904 to
lo,o IS, 434 pounds in 1914; they came chiefly from Germany and
from Holland. Potato starch can not be produced and sold in the
United States as cheaply as cornstarch, and its market is therefore
limited to the comparatively few purposes for which potato starch is
preferred. The output of cornstarch increased from 311,140,184
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES. 9
pounds, valued at $8,878,450 in 1904, to 574,247,697 pounds, valued
at $13,784,654 in 1914. Ameri an cornstarch and glucose compete
in the world markets with similar foreign products, and the exports
of eornstarch greatly exceed the imports of potato starch.
The manufacture of potato flour and dried potatoes in the United
States was begun during the war period and is as yet not firmly
established. A large domestic demand for these products has still to
be created. While cull potatoes may be used for starch production,
flour and dried potatoes, being foodstuffs, require sound stock, but
not necessarily the No. 1 grade which constitutes the great bulk of
the table potatoes.
Dextrine is made from potato starch in this country, but large
amounts are also made from cornstarch and tapioca.
POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES IN EUROPE.
Tn Europe, and especially in Germany, the conditions are quit<
different. Europe produces over 90 per cent of the world's annual
potato harvest, and the United States only about 6 per cent. The
cool and moist climate, which is not suitable for corn production, is
favorable to the growing of potatoes, while its large yields to the
acre and ready response to intensive cultivation adapt the crop to
the limited acreages and cheaper labor of Europe. There the potato
is a much more important part of the food supply. Yields to the
acre more than twice as large as in the United States are usually
obtained, under more intensive methods of cultivation and with a
liberal use of fertilizers. Varieties considerably higher in starch
content than are grown in this country have been developed for
starch manufacture, and prices of potatoes are much lower. More-
over, while our quarantines, due to the danger of importing foreign
plant diseases, prohibit importations of fresh potatoes from nearly
all the important producing countries, indirectly they encourage
shipments in the form of the prepared products.
In 1914 the German harvest of potatoes was over 1,674 million
bushels, while that of the United States was about 410 millions.
The use of the crop is different in the two countries. It has been
estimated that in the United States 68 per cent is used for human
food, 5 per cent is fed to farm animals, 11 per cent is saved for seed,
15 per cent is lost by decay and freezing, and not more than 1 per
cent is used in the manufacture of starch or other potato products.
In Germany, however, 28 per cent of the crop is used for rood (the
average per capita consumption being much larger than in the
United States), 40 per cent is fed to farm animals. 12 per cent is
used for seed, 10 per cent is lost by decay, 6 per cent consumed in
the production of alcohol, and 4 per cent is used for making starch,
glucose, and dextrine. Farm stills and factories are encouraged,
and various special measures have been taken to encourage the
various branches of potato manufacture. The by-products of
alcohol and starch manufacture are fed to live stock. Associations
or k artels of producers wore formed to control the distribution and
prices of the several products in the home markets and to develop
foreign markets.
135455192
10 DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
IMPORT DUTIES.
The tariff act of October 3, 1913, contains the following provisions:
PAR. 581 (free list"). Potatoes, and potatoes dried, desiccated, or otherwise pre-
pared, not specially provided for in this section: Provided, That any of the foregoing
specified articles shall be subject to a duty of 10 per centum ad valorem when imported
directly or indirectly from a country, dependency, or other subdivision of govern-
ment which imposes a duty on such articles imported from the United States.
PAR. 234. Starch, made from potatoes, 1 cent per pound; all other starch, includ-
ing all preparations, from whatever substances produced, fit for use as starch, one-
half cent per pound.
PAR. 36. Gums: * * * dextrine, made from potato starch or potato flour, ]{
cents per pound.
With regard to fresh potatoes, it is noteworthy that shipments from
the countries of largest production are prohibited, under regulations
promulgated by the Federal Horticultural Board in accordance with
the plant quarantine act of August 20, 1912, designed to prevent the
entry of injurious plant diseases and insect pests. Only Canada, the
Bermudas, Holland, Belgium, and certain regions of relatively insig-
nificant production are permitted to export to the United States (the
Territories of Porto Rico and Hawaii are exempt from this restric-
tion). The reciprocal provision of paragraph 581, permitting entry
free of duty, applies to Canada, the Bermudas, Holland, and Belgium.
Of the countries from which effective competition in potato flour
and dried or prepared potatoes appears possible, the following may
ship these products to the United States free of duty under the
reciprocal provision of paragraph 581 of the 1913 tariff: Canada,
Belgium, Denmark, Holland, ana the United Kingdom.
Potato starch was formerly incorrectly designated in the trade as
<; potato flour." Under Treasury Decision No. 16955 of February
4, 1896, so-called ''potato flour" consisting really of potato starch
was held dutiable under paragraph 232 of the tariff act of 1894 as
"starch" rather than as a nonenumerated article. (See Appendix,
p. 25, for reprint of this decision.) On August 18, 1915, the Bureau
of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture, under the authority
of the pure food and drugs act of June 30, 1906, ruled that the term
"potato flour" can not oe applied to a product containing starch
alone, but only to a finely divided or powdered product containing
fat, fiber, and ash constituents from the edible portion of the potato.
(See Appendix, p. 25, for reprint of this decision.)
On March 5, 1914, the Treasury Department ruled that "potato
flour" should be classified as a nonenumerated manufactured article
under paragraph 385 of the act of 1913 rather than as "potatoes,
dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared" under paragraph 581 (T. D.
34236). This decision was sustained by the Board of General
Appraisers (Abstract 37090, T. D. 35020), but was overruled on
March 3, 1915, by the Court of Customs Appeals (Stein v. United
States, 6 Ct. Cnst. Appls., 154), which held that the "potato ground
meal'' or "potato flour" consisting of the entire potato, inducing
the skin or of the edible contents of the potato, should be classified
under paragraph 581 of the act of October 3, 1913, as "potatoes,
dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared," rather than as a non-
enumerated article. (See Appendix, p. 26, for a reprint of this
decision.)
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES. 11
TARIFF CONSIDERATIONS.
The commission has no tariff policy and makes no recommendation
of rates, but if Congress determines to impose duties it should be
borne in mind
(1) That as potato starch is the raw material used in the manu-
facture of dextrine, a duty, if any, upon dextrine ought logically to
be adjusted to that of starch. The differential allowed in the 1913
tariff was one-fourth cent per pound. While about 20 per cent is
lost in the process of dextrine manufacture, manufacturers regain
part of this loss by allowing the product to absorb moisture.
(2) That intermediate products, such as potato flakes and pressed
potato cake, may be imported free of duty under paragraph 581;
such products may be produced more cheaply in Europe. If a duty
is placed on potato flour or starch, provision logically should be made
for ''potatoes, dried or otherwise prepared," in order to prevent
evasion through the importation of semi-manufactured products.
(3) If it be the legislative policy to protect by means of import
duties the several branches of manufacture which provide an outlet
for surplus or lower grade potatoes, provision should also be made
for dried or dehydrated potatoes.
(4) The use of the term "natural" as applied to potato flour,
current in Germany probably to distinguish it from potato starch, a
similar product, should be avoided, as it is apt to give rise to various
interpretations, is unnecessary because of decisions under the Pure
Food and Drugs act, and may cause confusion.
POTATO FLOUR.
During the shortage of wheat incident to the world war, potato
flour was extensively used, especially in Europe, for mixing with
other bread flours. Bread with as much as 50 per cent of this flour
can be made. This has been the principal outlet; it may also be
used in making soups, cakes, and many similar preparations. It is
claimed that an admixture of 5 per cent of potato to wheat flour
improves the flavor of bread and enables it to retain its freshness for
a longer period. Moreover, by reason of its characteristic quality
of absorbing moisture, bakers may obtain a larger number of loaves
from a given unit of flour than by using wheat flour exclusively.
For this reason potato flour may be used by bakers even when higher
in price than wneat flour. However, a large domestic demand has
yet to be created.
PROCESSES.
The machine process most generally employed was developed in
Germany. Sound slock below the Federal grade of Xo. 1 is used.
Potatoes are washed, cooked, dried on a roll or ''flake' drier, and the
"flakes," scraped from the drier, arc ground and bolted. The prod-
ucts of this flaking process may take the form of flakes, which may
be kept for a considerable period without spoiling, of a coarse meal,
and of a finely-ground Hour. It requires about 5 pounds of potatoes
to produce 1 pound of this flour, a bushel yielding 12 pounds.
12
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
In 1918 five potato flour factories were operating, their combined
production being 2,500,000 pounds. Three of these factories are
controlled by a large corporation, which is surveying the field with
a view to erecting others in regions of large production. The first
domestic plant was established in Idaho in 1917; four others are
operating in Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
PRICES.
Prices for potato flour are approximately the same as for starch
(see p. 18). The prewar price was between 3 and 4 cents per pound.
In 1914 the average declared value of imports was 3.2 cents per pound.
TARIFF HISTORY AND CUSTOMS DECISIONS.
Neither the existing tariff nor those previously enacted made sepa-
rate provision for potato flour. Under a decision of the Court of
Customs Appeals (Stein v. U. S., 6 Ct. Cust. Appls., 154) potato ground
meal or flour, invoiced as "kartoffelwalzmem, obtained by reducing
the entire potato with or without the skin to a state of flour by desic-
cating and grinding, the process involving the application of sufficient
heat materially to modify the starch granules, was declared to con-
tain the entire and chemically unaltered elements of which potatoes
are composed and not having acquired a new name, character, or use
and serving the culinary purposes of potatoes, was held to be exempt
from duty under paragraph 581 of the tariff act of October 3, 1913,
unless ''imported directly or indirectly from a country, dependency,
or other subdivision of government which imposes a duty on such
articles imported from the United States, ' ' in which case a duty of
10 per cent ad valorem applies. This flour was found to be chiefly
used for breadmaking, a minor use being the making of soups and
other food products.
IMPORTS.
While potato flour has not been separately enumerated in the com-
merce and navigation statistics of the United States, the imports of
"potatoes, dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared," apparently con-
sist chiefly of this flour. The maximum imports occurred in 1914,
when they amounted to 560,987 pounds, valued at $17,937. In 1918
there were imported 449,034 pounds, valued at $115,718.
Imports for consumption.
POTATOES, DRIED, DESICCATED, OR OTHERWISE PREI'AKED.
Fiscal year.
Rates of duty.
Quan-
tities.
Values.
Duties
collected.
Value
ner unit
of
imantity.
Actual
and com-
puted ad
valorem
rate.
inu ChcL'inning Oct. :i,
Free. . . .
PIIUJI//K.
KS, 12!
Dollin.
1,422
Dnllm.
Doll'ITK.
0. 037
Percent.
im:<).i
I!)1.3
10 per e.pnt nd valorem.
Free ....
522, NH
13, W3
10, 515
90S
1,651.50
.032
.064
10
I'titi
Id percent ad valorem.
Free ....
<>7,751
J -1,184
2.338
1.101
233. 80
.023
.077
10
11)17
10 per cent ad valorem.
Free
5, 525
3,417
321
74*)
32.10
.058
.216
10
jii'v.
10 per cent ad valorem .
Free
10,020
fi 4-15
1,80()
2 ''20
180.00
.18
.344
10
Id per cent ad valorem.
442,589
113,912
11,391.20
.268
10
1 Not separately stated prior to Oct. 3, 1913.
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
13
DRIED OR DEHYDRATED POTATOES.
USES AND PROCESSES.
During the American participation in the World War large quantities
of potatoes were dried for Army use. The product took the form of
potato chips or dried, sliced and "riced" potatoes; it could readily be
prepared lor use under field or camp conditions. Among its ad-
vantages over the raw potato arc the elimination of waste through
decay and freezing, ease of transportation, storage and preparation,
and avoidance of much of the loss incident to the usual method of
peeling.
The manufacturing process is more expensive than that involved
in making potato flour. The Army specifications required the use of
Xo. 1 potatoes, but small or slightly damaged stock is ordinarily used.
The fresh potatoes are first run through a washing and peeling ma-
chine, and then carried on a "sorting belt" where workers eliminate
unsuitable stock. Xext it is either sliced, parboiled, and dried in a
current of warm air, or put through a'' ricing process/' i. e., is steamed,
forced through a die plate in the method of macaroni manufacture,
and thoroughly dried. When dried until thoroughly brittle these
products will keep indefinitely. They may be used for stews, soups,
und similar preparations, and may also be ground and bolted into
flour. Potato flour and dried potatoes contain all the constituents
of the fresh product, the peel only being removed in the flour by
bolting and in the dried product by the peeling machine. In starcn
manufacture the proteins and mineral constituents are removed as
completely as possible.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
Sixteen plants were producing dehydrated potatoes in 1918, their
combined output being about 7,000,000 pounds. With the cessation
of hostilities and a great reduction in the demands of the military
establishments, the industry is placed on an uncertain footing. To
a greater degree than in the case of potato flour, the future of the
drying industry is dependent upon the development of a demand for
the dried product, as a substitute for fresh potatoes, in households,
hotels, and restaurants.
The German potatoe-drying industry. l
1908-09 1909-10 ,
1910-11
170 1 254
327
Factories using as raw material:
6 i 8
4
164 , 246
323
i
bushels. .
5,898.774 ! 12,222,302
15,345,485
Products:
Cut and sliced potatoes
pounds. .
do
14,263,762 35,163,370
77,072,816 il.i7,143,888
31,878.516
204,0^7,776
All others
do....
330,690 j 793,656
661,380
Total .
do....
91,667,268 1 193, 100,914
236,597,672
1
Source: Statistiches Jahrbuch fur das Deutsche Reich, Berlin, 1911.
14 DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
TARIFF HISTORY.
" Potatoes dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared," were first specif-
ically provided for in the tariff act of October 3, 1913, paragraph 581.
They are free of duty when from countries which accord like treatment
to the American product; when from other countries the duty is 10
per cent ad valorem, which was equivalent to about three-tenths of
a cent per pound in 1914.
POTATO STARCH.
DESCRIPTION.
Potato starch is a white or gray, odorless and tasteless powder.
Chemically it is identical with starch from other sources but the
physical properties of potato starch, which differ slightly from those
of other starches, better adapt it to certain industrial uses, especially
in the textile industry.
USES.
The uses of starch may be divided into three classes: (1) For
edible purposes, especially in puddings, confectionery, pastry, and
for stiffening ice cream, custard, and pie fillings. Starch is also the
largest component of most cereals and flours. (2) For laundry pur-
poses. (3) For manufacturing purposes, including weaving, dyeing,
printing, and finishing textiles, the manufacture of dextrine, soluble
starch, glucose, alcohol, and lactic acid and the explosive, nitrostarch.
Potato starch competes with other kinds of starch for these uses
and being more expensive than cornstarch is used in relatively small
amounts in the United States. In the textile industry and in the
manufacture of dextrine, potato starch has certain advantages which
give it a market even at a higher price. Cornstarch manufacturers
have, however, found means to make varieties suitable for use in the
textile industry and are offering increasingly severe competition to
potato starch.
.METHOD OF MANUFACTURE.
The manufacture of starch from potatoes consists simply in the
mechanical separation of the starch from the other parts of the tubers
by a process of disintegrating the cells and washing out the starch
with water. The quantity of starch contained in the raw material
varies with the variety of the potatoes. In Germany, special vari-
eties of potatoes with a starch content of 20 to 25 per cent have
been developed for the starch industry. In the United States, culls
and lower grades, containing from 14 to 17 per cent of starch, are
usually employed.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
The manufacture of starch is the most important of the industrial
uses to which the potato is put in the United States. However, the
industry is declining owing to the severe competition of cornstarch
and of imported potato starch. The consumption of potatoes by the
starch factories decreased from 210,608,127 pounds in 1909 to 169,-
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
15
878, 784 pounds in 1914 and the output of potato starch from 24, 873,41 5
pounds in 1909 to 23,540,472 pounds in 1914. The number of estab-
lishments reporting the manufacture of starch has decreased from 131
in 1904 to 1 10 in 1909 and to 82 in 1914. Of the 89 factories engaged
in the manufacture of both glucose and starch in 1914, 51 were
located in the State of Maine, 7 in Minnesota, 5 in Illinois, 4 in
Massachusetts, and the remainder were distributed among 14 other
States. Aroostook County, Me., is the principal center of the potato
starch industry in the United States.
Production of potato starch and cornstarch in the United States.*
Year.
Number
of fac-
tories.
Potato starch.
Cornstarch.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
1904 . .
131
111)
82
27, 709, 400
24.873,415
23,540,472
5924,470
823,019
718,00!)
311,140,814
638,825,366
574,247,1197
775 H91 649
$8, 878, 450
15,%2,91
13,784,654
1909 .
191-1 . .
1915 .
1916 . .
8<>8,916,578
1917
Ntt, 131, 7.55
481, 761, 893
1918 (first six months)
1 Figures for 1904, 1909, and 1914 are from the Census of Manufactures; those for 1915-1918 were com"
piled by the cornstarch producers and taken from the Textile American, December, 1918.
PRODUCTION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
In Germany about 4 per cent of the total crop of potatoes is used
for the manufacture of starch. The production of potato starch and
related products in Germany for the fiscal year 1910-11 is shown in
the following table:
German production of potato products, 1910-11.
Quantity.
Value.
Potato starch:
Wet starch - - -
Pounds.
125,671,700
$1,424,192
383 019 70S
8 447 S10
7 948.905
61,880
5, 277, 592
168.266
Potato meal (lump)
S26, 725
2S, 560
21,940.400
550. 018
( ! lucose sirup
124,332. 385
3,104.472
9,673,123
307' 734
49 310 2SS
1 404 914
3,602 or 6
107 100
27,804,636
144^942
513 556 940
212 295
Total
1,272,961,498
15,962,184
Source: Vierteljahrshefte ?,ur Statistik des Deutschen Reichs, III (p.) 114, Berlin, 1914.
As a result of the total elimination of Germany from the world's
markets and the great reduction of the exports from the Netherlands,
Japan produced and exported large quantities of starch during the
war. Prior to 1917 the exports of starch from Japan were not shown
separately but were grouped with the less important grains, meals,
and groats. In 1917 the total exports of starch alone were given
as 133,467,552 pounds valued at $7, 483, 278. Of this amount,
68.65 per cent was shipped to Great Britain, 12.51 per cent to the
United States, and the remainder to France, Egypt, and British India.
16
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
IMPORTS.
Approximately 95 per cent of the starch imported into the United
States is potato starcn. From 1904-1908 imports averaged 6,121,589
pounds valued at $163,655, from 1909-1913, 13,730,665 pounds valued
at $375,767, and from 1914-1918 they averaged 15,143,778 pounds
valued at $704,712. Before the war, Germany and the Netherlands
supplied practically all of the imports but during the last two years
great quantities have been received from Japan. Imports from that
country which amounted to only 677,422 pounds in 1916 rose to
18,008,666 pounds in 1917 and to 21,806,975 pounds in 1918. Of
the total imports of starch in 1918, 58 per cent entered at the New
York customs district and 33 per cent at the Pacific coast districts.
Imports of starch, by countries.
[Fiscal years.]
191C
1911
191
2
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Gorman v
8 993 273
$234 062
665 060
$171 228
7 268 433
$216 426
Netherlands
1 304 993
39 544
459 693
10 788
6 823 852
194 ase
England
177 507
14,753
335 023
21, 952
770, 505
33 444
Canada
172
14
129
8
Japan
39 2.53
1 708
36, 145
1,463
39,665
1,588
All other
346 284
14,963
442 C37
17, 025
938,853
32,613
Total
10 861 310
296 030
7,938 730
222, 470
15,841,437
478, 465
1912
1914
191
5
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Oorinany. . .
6 312,661
*178,296
9, 2.52, 707
S227, 723
1, 583, 796
$36,968
Netherland?
9, 480. 720
228, 618
5, 265. 399
126, 283
10,250,131
239, 034
England
299 028
21 8SO
354,322
23, 425
916, 678
46, 119
( anada. . . .
76
5
1,036
39
787
34
Japan
49 523
2 132
51,804
2,412
61, 745
2,643
A 11 other
567' 890
26, S53
5a3, 166
29,OiO
410,216
18,927
Total
16 710 49S
457 784
15,51S,434
408, 922
13,233,383
343, 805
191C
1917
,
191
8
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Oerinanv
212 393
>11 52H
r> soo
.*537
England
913 218
61 234
827,364
59,567
< anada
62}
52
852, 893
61,019
1,213,340
$109,673
677 422
23 643
18 008 666
799, 775
21,80'>,975
1,494,131
All other
663 381
27, 3,Hl
952, 170
52, t02
831,830
69,673
Total
2 467,038
123,838
20, 647. 893
973,530
23,852,145
1,673,477
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
17
Imports for consumption .
POTATO STARCH.
Fiscal year.
Rates
of
duty
(per
pound).
Quantities.
Value.
Duty
collected.
Actual
and com-
puted ad
valorem
rate.
1908....
Cent*.
H
Pounds.
4,544 .520
$113,807
$68 128
Per cent.
59 90
1909
l|
15,418,259
351,256
231,274
65.84
1910
li
9 812 905
255, 040
147 194
57 71
1911
U
7,724,912
202, 482
115,874
57.23
1912
11
14 010 532
405, 135
210, 158
51 87
1913
1J
14.176,119
375,514
212,642
56.63
1914'....
lj
1 922,422
49 200
28 836
58 61
1914
1
12 010,549
284,384
120,105
42.23
1915
10 940 419
253 823
109 404
43 10
1916
1
2 337,717
72, 738
23,377
32.14
1917
j
17 545 tiS9
797 327
175 457
22.01
1918
.
13, 195 079
902,499
131,951
14.62
ALL OTHER STARCHES.
1908 U 932 234
$31,227
$13,983
44.78
1909 1J 1,479,425
43,729
22, 191
50.75
1910 1^ 64 973
1,821
974
53 52
1910 1 740,564
33,843
7,405
21.88
1911 . 1 615,456
31,805
6,155
19.38
1912 1 631,435
35, 462
6,314
17.81
1913 1 677,785
40,645
6,778
16.68
1914 1 1 189,557
10,219
1,896
18.55
19142 . J 771,517
41 893
3,858
9 21
1915 952,934
52,537
4,764
9.07
1916 I 1 1,242,295
78,807
6,211
7.88
1917 888,345
62, 132
4,441
7.15
1918 i 557 100
63 604
2,785
4.38
i
1 July 1 to Oct. 3, 1913.
2 Oct. 4, 1913, to June 30, 1914.
EXPORTS.
Exports of starch from the United States from 1914-1918 have
averaged 102,848,429 pounds annually, valued at $3,913,104. Prac-
tically all of this is cornstarch. Prior to 1918 all exports of starch
were grouped under one head in the export statistics but in this
year 38,659,323 pounds of "cornstarch (except for table use)" were
shown. Over half of the exports go to England. Before the war the
Netherlands and Belgium also took large quantities.
Exports of starch, by countries.
[Fiscal years.]
1914
1915
1916
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value. Pounds.
Value.
1 Oil 900
$25 545
3 751 577
82 809
658 353
$14 380
Netherlands
3 571,199
85,334
13, 070, 665
392, 496 16, 639, 188
$439, 159
England
53, 020, 773
1,200,560
56,729,921
1,426,942 119,696,706
3,107,677
Canada
1,941,408
63, 625
1,379,346
50,959 2,235,901
70,928
Cuba
125 576
3 683
225, 484
6,585 411,844
12,385
Japan
1, 734, 160
77,988
731,417
26, 867 849, 849
27,020
14 328
347
2, 063, 856
61 809 3,822,921
119,825
All other
11,542,858
285,699
32,177,596
959, 435 66, 528, 783
1,799,920
Total
76, 713, 779
1,825,230
107 036 638
2,939,453 210,185,192
5,576,914
18
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
Exports of starch, by countries Continued.
Exported to
1917
19181
1918
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Austria
Belgium
Netherlands
1.762,200
96,498,389
2,943,034
2.383,028
443,596
7,304,465
35,089,110
$49,533
3,075,309
122, 551
73,652
15, 786
246, 848
1,137,844
England
16, 103, 199
1,066,258
1,291.265
129, 488
2,351,480
14,882,700
$1,023,009
68,613
90,780
8,656
134,053
956,904
21, 197, 974
2,032,440
3,635,212
1,298
2,305,346
9,487,053
$1, 177, 122
122,376
222,161
120
127,919
570, 679
Canada
Cuba
Japan
France ....
All other
Total
146,423,822
4, 721, 533
35,223,390
2,282,015
38,659,323
2,220,377
Starch, all other.
2 Cornstarch (except for table use.)
PRICES.
Market prices are quoted for cornstarch, domestic and Japanese
potato starch, rice starch, and wheat starch. Cornstarch, which has
always been quoted at the lowest price, rose from about 2 cents per
pound in August, 1914, to about 6 cents in July, 1919. The price
of potato starch has increased from about 5 cents per pound in August,
1914, to about 10 cents hi July, 1919, and during most of this
period it has been quoted at slightly over 12 cents. The domestic
and imported potato starches bring about the same price, although
recently the imported product has been quoted at a fraction of a
cent more per pound. Hice and wheat starch are relatively unim-
portant and quotations have not always been shown. Wheat starch
sold for slightly less than potato starch in August, 1914, but in July,
1919, it was quoted at 9^ to 10 cents per pound.
Wholesale prices of starch at New York.
[Cents per pound, spot.]
Date.
Corn-
starch.
Potato
starch.
Rice
starch.
Wheat
starch.
January, 1910
2. 12 to 2. 28
5 to 51
6 to 7
5 to 5
April, 1910
1.97 to 2. 13
4J to 5
7 to 8
51 to 5}
Julv, 1910
1. 72 to 1. 88
3j to 5
7 to 8
5| to 5j
October, 1910
1. 60 to 1. 76
4 to 51
7 to 8
4| to 5J
January 1911
1.52 to 1. 68
4 to 5J
7 to 8
4* to 51
Vpril 1911
1.37 to 1 53
4 to 51
7 to 8
4| to 51
July, 1911
1. 70 to 1.86
41 to 4|
7 toS
4| to 5J
October 1911
2. 10 to 2. 26
4 to 41
7 to 8
4? to 51
January, 1912
1. *2 to 1. 96
5} to 5J
7 to 8
4J to 51
April, 1912
2. 07 to 2. 21
5! to oi
7 to 8
4? to 51
Julv, 1912
2. 55 to 2. 76
51 to 54
7 to 8
4$ to 5
Of totxr, 1912
January 1913
2. 25 to 2. 36
2. 00 to 2. 11
5J to 5i
51 to 5J
7 to 8
7 to 8
4tto5
4| to 5
April 1913
1. 65 to 1. 76
51 to 5i
4| to 5J
Jul v, 1913
1. 92 to 2. 03
51 to 5i
7 to 8
4 to 5
Octolxjr 1913
2. 34 to 2. 45
5} to 5*
7 to8
4| to 53
January 1914
2 34 to 2.46
51 to 5J
7 to 8
4| to 5
April 1914
1. 84 to 1. 95
51 to 5J
7 to 8
4i to 5J
July 1914 .. . .
1. 99 to 2. 10
5J to 5J
7 toS
4? to 51
October, 1914
2. 29 to 2. 40
51 to 5i
7 to 8
4jto5j
January 1915
1. 99 to 2. 10
51 to 5i
7 to 8
4J to 5J
Vpril 1915
2. 15 to 2. 26
5} to 5*
7 to 8
4| to 51
July 1915
2. 35 to 2. 46
5) to 5J
7 to 8
4} to 55
October 1915
2. 15 to 2. 26
5J to 5i
7 to 8
4J to 5J
January 1916
2. 05 to 2. 16
51 to 5i
7 to 8
41 to 5j
Ann]. 1910...
2. 25 to 2. 36
6 to 6i
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
Wholesale prices of starch at New York Continued.
19
Date.
Corn-
starch.
Potato
starch.
Rice
starch.
Wheat
starch.
July, 1916
2 25 to 2 31
6 to 64
October 1916
2 65 to 2 71
6 to M
January 1917
2 85 to 2 91
to 8i
April 1917 . .
3. 05 to 5. 11
12$ to 13
Julv 1917
5 05 to 5 18
12J to 13
October 1917
6 30 to 6 48
12J to 13
January 1918
6 30 to 6. 48
12J to 13
April 1918
6 30 to 6 48
12 to 154
July 1918 . .
5 50 to 7 00
12J to 13
October, 1918
6. 00 to 7. 00
12J to 13
January 1919
4 15 to 5 00
11J to 12J
April 1919
4 52 to
7J to 8
July 1919
5. 77 to 5. 99
9 to 9J
19 to..
9.J to 10
TARIFF HISTORY.
All starches and preparations fit for use as starch were dutiable at
L } cents per pound under the act of 1890. The rate was reduced to 1
cents in 1894. Starch made from potatoes was specifically provided
for in the act of 1883 at 2 cents per pound and in the act of 1909
at the rate of 1-^ cents. In the act of 1913 the rate for potato starch
was reduced to 1 cent and that for all other starches and prepara-
tions fit for use as starch was reduced to one-half cent per pound.
Rates of duty on starch.
Act of
graph" Tariff classification or description .
Rates of duty, specific
and ad valorem.
1883
269 Potato * * * starch
2 cent's per pound.
1890
1894
1897
323 Starch, including all preparations, from whatever substance
produced, fit for use as starch.
232 Starch, including all preparations, from whatever substance
produced, commonly used as starch.
2S5 Same as 1890 " . ... ....
2 cents per pound.
1\ cents per pound.
Do.
1909
296 Starch made from potatr.es
U, cents Tier pound.
1913
296 j All other starch, including all preparations, from whatever
substance produced, fit for use as starch.
I'cent per pound.
Do
2:54 All other starch, including all preparations, from whatever
substance produced, fri for use as starch.
i cent per pound.
DEXTRINE.
DESCRIPTION.
Dextrine is a gummy substance produced from starch by heating
either alone or with a dilute acid. It is sometimes considered to be
an intermediate product between starch and glucose. It is soluble in
water and has strong adhesive properties. Dextrine appeal's on the
market as potato dextrine, corn dextrine, tapioca dextrine, British
gum, and burnt starch. "British gum" and "burnt starch" are com-
mercial terms usually applied to the cruder product.
20 DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
USES.
Dextrine is used in over 70 different industries, but most exten-
sively in the dyeing, printing, and finishing of textile fabrics. Large
quantities are used for thickening mordants in dyeing and printing
and as sizing for cotton goods and paper. Another and very impor-
tant use is in the preparation of gummed labels, envelopes, and postage
stamps. Dcxtrines are emploved as substitutes for such natural gums
as gum arabic and tragacanth in preparing felt, in the manufacture of
ink, and in many other uses.
MANUFACTURE.
Dextrine is made by heating starch in an iron cylinder either by a
free flame or in an oil bath or steam jacket. It is also made by
moistening starch with dilute acid, drying in the ah- or by heating to
a low temperature, and finally placing the finely ground product in a
suitable oven, heated with superheated steam. The powder is con-
tinuously stirred to secure intimate mixture. When dextrine is made
with acid it is usually lighter in color but contains some sugar, and
therefore does not have as strong adhesive properties as when made
by heat alone. In the conversion of starch to dextrine there is a loss
of approximately 20 to 25 per cent; however, a part of this is com-
pensated by water absorbed by the dextrine.
The properties of the dextrine produced will depend upon the source
of the starch used. Potato starch produces the finest product with
the greatest adhesive power and is generally preferred in textile
trades. Tapioca or cassava starch produces dextrine very suitable
for gumming envelopes and postage stamps, and the United States
Bureau of Engraving and Printing formerly consumed about 250 tons
of tapioca dextrine each year. During the war, when imports of
tapioca were restricted, the change was made to a mixture of corn
and tapioca dextrine, and it is believed that the product has proved
satisfactory.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
The largest plants for the production of dextrine are now located in
the United States. Before the war little or no potato dextrine was
manufactured and the production was restricted almost entirely to
corn dextrine. Tapioca dextrine, which was formerly imported from
England, is now made in greater quantities here than abroad. The
starch from which it is manufactured is imported from Java. The
Census of Manufactures gives the following statistics for the domestic
production of dextrines:
Domestic production of dextrine.
1904
1909
1914
Dextrincs:'
6,651,731
16, 148,931
18,913,641
Value
$231,708
$610, 999
$705, 584
' Statistics for 1904 anil 1900 include "Gums, other than rosin."
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
21
FOREIGN PRODUCTION.
Before the war potato dextrine was made almost entirely in
Germany and Holland and tapioca dextrine largely in England.
The German production of potato dextrine for the fiscal year 1910-11
amounted to 49,310,288 pounds valued at $1,404,914. In Japan the
production of potato starch increased enormously during the war
period but up to the present time she has exported starch rather than
dextrine to the United States.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
Before the war the United States imported large quantities of
refined potato dextrine from Germany and Holland and considerable
quantities from England. The annual imports averaged over 5,000,-
000 pounds from 1910 to 1914 but dwindled to less than 100,000
pounds in 1918.
Exports of dextrine have never been shown in Commerce and Navi-
gation of the United States, but it is believed that they are insignifi-
cant.
Imports for consumption.
DEXTRINE, DEXTRINE SUBSTITUTES. SOLUBLE STARCH. CHEMICALLY TREATED
STARCH, BURNT STARCH, GUM SUBSTITUTES, OR BRITISH GUM.
1
Rates
Fiscal years. \^ 7
pound).
Quantities Values
(pounds;, (dollars).
Duties col-
lected (dol-
lars).
Value per
unit of
quantity.
Actual
and com-
puted ad
valorem
rate.
Cents.
1908 . . 2
3 958 925 122,870
79, 179 00
SO 031
Per cent.
64 44
1909 2
6 062 353 184 476
121 247 00
030
65 73
1910 2
45.5, .546 , 13,595
9,110.92
.030
67 00
1910 ... H
5 936,215 183 508
89,043 29
031
48 52
1911 1J
6,357,790 190,660
95,366 79
030
50 02
1912 U
5, 352, 277 188, 332
80,284.24
.035
42 63
1913 .... . 1*
5 096 891 ISO 296
76 453 40
035
42 40
1914 1J
986, 644 32, 433
14, 799. 70
.033
45 03
DEXTRINE MADE FROM POTATO STARCH OR POTATO FLOUR.
1914
1J
5,226,421
162,688
1915
H
4,590,437
154,087
1916
if
720,106 :
40, 552
1917
l|
210,948
17, 832
1918
li
99 228
9,116
65, 330. 27
57, 380. 00
9,001.00
2,636.00
1,240.00
$0.031
.034
.056
.084
.092
40.16
37.20
22.20
14.79
13.61
DEXTRINE N. S. P. F., DEXTRINE SUBSTITUTES, BURNT STARCH, OR BRITISH GUM.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
191S.
471,491
274,668
154, &s2
32, 773
505
IS, 180
12,028
10,049
2, 855
50
3,536.18
2,060.00
1,161.00
245. 00
3.00
SO. 039
.044
.066
.087 !
.099 ,
19.45
17.13
11.56
8.61
7.58
PRICES.
Potato dextrine is usually the highest priced of the dextrines, and
corn dextrine the cheapest. In August, 1914, imported potato dextrine
sold at 6 to 7 cents per pound, domestic potato dextrine at 54- to 7
cents, British gum at 3J to 3j cents, and corn dextrine at 3 to 3^
cents per pound. Since that time the prices have risen, until in the
latter part of 1918 domestic potato dextrine was quoted at 20 cents.
Corn dextrine during this period sold for 8 to S cents.
22
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
Wholesale prices of dextrine at New York.
[Cents per pound, spot.]
Date.
Imported
potato
dextrine.
Domestic
potato
dextrine.
Corn
dextrine.
British gum.
January, 1910
6 to 7
5 to 6J
2 79 to 2 95
3 14 to 3 30
April, 1910
6 to 7
5| to 6i
2 72 to 2 88
2 97 to 3 13
July, 1910
6 to 7
5f to 6J
2 47 to 2 63
2 72 to 2 88
October, 1910
Si to 7
5? to 6i
2 37 to 2 53
2 62 to 2 78
January, 1911
5J to 7
5J to 6|
2 32 to 2 48
2 52 to 2 68
April, 1911
5i to 7
54 to 7
2 12 to 2 28
2 37 to 2 53
Julv, 1911 ..
5i to 7
5 to 64
2 47 to 2 88
2 72 to 2 88
October, 1911
64 to 74
5-i to 7
2 87 to 3 03
3 07 to 3 23
January, 1912
6 to 7
Si to 7
2 82 to 2 %
April, 1912
6 to 7
54 to 7
3 07 to 3 21
Julv, 1912
6 to 7
54 to 7
3 55 to 3 66
October, 1912
6 to 7
54 to 7
3 25 to 3 36
January, 1913
6 to 7
Si to 7
3.00 to 3 11
April, 1913
6 to 7
Si to 7
2 67 to 2 76
July, 1913
6 to 7
5i to 7
2 95 to 3 06
October, 1913
6 to 7
5* to 7
3 27 to 3 38
January, 1914
6 to 7
54 to 7
317 to 3 28
April, 1914
6 to 7
5 to 7
2 73 to 2 78
Julv, 1914
6 to 7
Si to 7
3 02 to 3 13
October, 1914 .' .. ..
10 to 12
8 to 10
3 32 to 3 43
January, 1915
10 to 12
8 to 10
4 to 5
3 00 to 3 125
April, 1915
10 to 12
8 to 10
3 125 to 3 25
Julv, 1915 ^
10 to 12
8 to 10
3 333 to 3 50
October, 1915
10 to 12
8 to 10
3. 125 to 3 25
January, 1916 '
10 to 12
8 to 10
5 to 7
3.00 to 3. 125
April, 1916
12 to 13
8 to 10
3 25 to 3 333
Julv, 1916
12 to 13
8 to 10
3 20 to 3 25
October, 1916
12 to 13
8 to 10
3 65 to 3 71
January, 1917
12 to 13
8 to 10
6 to 7
3 85 to 3. 91
April, 1917
12 to 13
12V to 16
5 20 to
July, 1917
12 to 13
12i to .
6 30 to 6 39
October 1917
12 to 13
12" to 12J
7 55 to 7 64
January, 1918
18 to
14 \ to
7 to 8
( l )
April, 1918
19 to . .
16 to lf>4
7i to 8J
w
July, 1918
(!)
194 to 20^
8 to 9
(1)
October, 191S
0)
20" to 20|
8 to 8$
(1)
January, 1919
(')
17J to 19
6 to 7$
6.00 to 7. 00
April, 1919
15 to 17
15 to 17
f>\ to 6
5. 50 to 6. 00
Julv, 1919
17 to 18
17 to 18
7 to 7}
7. 25 to 7. 50
1 Nominal.
TARIFF HISTORY.
Dextrine and British gum were first specifically mentioned in the
tariff act of 1883 and were given a duty of 1 cent per pound. This
rate was increased to H cents in 1890 and to 2 cents in 1897, but
restored to IV cents in 1909. In the act of 1913 dextrine made from
potato starch was dutiable at 1 cents per pound and all others,
including soluble or chemically treated starch, were dutiable at three-
fourths of 1 cent per pound. The rates and classifications since
1883 are shown in the following table:
Rates of duty.
Act of
Para-
graph.
TarilT classification or description.
Rates of duty.
1883
1X90
1H94
19
324
233
Dextrine, burnt starch, gum substitute or British gum
Dextrine, burnt starch, gum substitute or Hritish gum
do . ..
1 cent per pound,
li cents per pound.
Do.
1S!7
2Mi
do
2 cents per pound .
1900
1913
297
36
Dextrine, dextrine substitutes, soluble starch or chemically
treated starch, burnt starch, gum substitute or Hritish gum.
(turns: * * * dextrine, made from potato starch or po-
tato flour.
Dextrine, not otherwise provided for, burnt starch or British
gum, dextrine substitutes, and soluble or chemically
treated starch.
H cents per pound.
1} cents per pound.
2 cent per pound.
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES. 23
CUSTOMS DECISIONS.
Potato starch which has been chemically treated so that it is in
part soluble in hot water and which is known as soluble starch,
although a portion of it is insoluble in water, is dutiable under the
provision in paragraph 36 for "soluble or chemically treated starch,"
and not under paragraph 234 as "starch made from potatoes."
(G. A. 7633, T. D. 34906 of 1914.)
A starch product commercially known as white dextrine, which is
technically neither starch nor dextrine, was held dutiable under
paragraph 28G of the act of 1897 as "dextrine" and not under para-
graph 285 as "starch." (Morning star v. United States, 159 Fed.,
287 of 1907.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Bliieher, H., Auskunftabuch fur die Chemische Industrie, pages 1134-1137, Berlin,
1911.
Cathcart, W. II. Cornstareh in the Textile Industry (article), The Textile American,
December, 19LS, Boston.
Census of Manufactures, The Glucose and Starch Industry, Bureau of Census, Depart-
ment of Commerce, Washington, 191.4.
Gore, II. ('., The Utilization of the Potato, Bureau of Chemistry, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, Washington; also other unpublished reports.
Japan: Trade During the War, United States Tariff Commission, page 34, Washington,
1019.
Rolfe, G. W., Starch, Dextrin, and Gluten, Roger's Manual of Industrial Chemistry,
pages 7H5-783, New York. 1915.
Skinner. Robert P., Utilization of Potaotes in Europe. Special Consular Reports
No. 64, Department of Commerce, Washington, 1914.
Thorpe, E., A Dictionary of Applied Chemistry, V. 149-190, London, 1917.
Vierteljahrshefte zur Statitik des Deutschen Reichs, Berlin, 1914.
APPENDIX.
(Issued August 18, 1915.)
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE, BUREAU of CHEMISTRT.
SERVICE AND REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO. 14.
130. USE OF THE TERMS " POTATO FLOUR," " RlCE FLOUR," ''CASSAVA FLOUR," AND
"TAPIOCA FLOUR."
It has come to the attention of this bureau that such products as potato starch,
rice starch, and cassava starch are often designated hy the terms "potato flour,
"rice flour," and "cassava flour" or "tapioca flour." In the opinion of this bureau
the term "flour" when applied to potato or rice or cassava products has the same
meaning as when applied to other products, that is, a finely divided or powdered
product containing proieids, fat, fiber, and ash constituents from the edible portions
of the potato, rice or cassava, and not such a product containing the starch alone.
DECISIONS OF TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF GENERAL AP-
PRAISERS, AND COURT OF CUSTOMS APPEALS.
POTATO STARCH.
(T. D. 16955 G. A. 3383.)
Before the United States General Appraisers at New York, February 4, 1896.
In the matter of the protests, 25843b-11913 and 25959b-11932, of M. L. Barrett, against the decision of the
collector of customs at Chicago, 111. .as to the rate and amount of duties chargeable on certain potato
starch, imported per Venecia and Dania, and entered on December 13, 1894, and January 4, 1895,
respectively.
Opinion by LUNT, General Appraiser.
We find-
Cr) That Mr. M. L. Barrett imported into the port of Chicago, 111., December 13,
]894, and January 4, 1895, certain merchandise from Germany invoiced as potato
flour upon which duty was assessed at the rate of l.\ cents per pound under the pro-
visions of paragraph 232, act of August 28, 1894, and which is claimed to be dutiable
at 20 per cent ad valorem under section 3 of said act as a nonenumerated manufactured
article.
(2) The said merchandise is potato starch, powdered, and known in the trade as
potato Hour. It is the same article that was passed upon in the case of The Union
National Bank of Chicago c. Seeberger (30 Fed. Hep., 429 1.
Potato starch is very extensively manufactured in the United States and is sold
upon the market in the form of granules of considerable size and also ground and
bolted. In the latter condition it is called potato flour. Probably 90 per cent or
more of this kind of starch is consumed in the manufacture and finishing of textile
fabrics, it having a peculiar quality of penetrating fabrics and .giving the requisite
stiffness without showing upon the surface, while cornsturch and wheat starch are
more particularly adapted to giving a surface finish to fabrics. In proportion to the
entire quantity of starch produced only a small percentage is used for laundry purposes.
Powdered potato siarch. or potato flour, is used in considerable quantities by con-
fectioners.
In the manufacture of potato starch in Germany, the starch, after having been
separated from the potato pomace, is generallv dried in centrifugal machines, and
consequently all this product exported from (iermany is in the form of potato Hour,
while in those iactories in this country vhere centrifugals are not used the starch is
generally put upon the market in the form of laru-e granule? and is afterwards powdered
if so required.
The protests are overruled and the decision of the collector affirmed in each case.
25
26 DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
POTATO FLOUR.
(T. D. 34236.)
Potato flour obtained by reducing entire potatoes to the state of flour by desiccating and grinding, dutiable
as a nonenumerated manufactured article at the rate of 15 per cent ad valorem, under paragraph 385,
tariff act of 1913.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March 5, 1914.
SIR: I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo, relative to the
classification of potato flour obtained by reducing entire potatoes, sometimes with
and sometimes without the skins, to the state of flour, by desiccating and grinding,
the process involving the application of sufficient heat to materially modify the starch
granules.
You cite the decision of the board, Abstract 23912 (T. D. 30901), wherein it was
held that similar merchandise imported under the tariff act of 1909 was properly
dutiable as a nonenumerated manufactured article under paragraph 480 of the said
act, and was not dutiable as "vegetables, prepared."
The board, in the decision referred to by you, cited its previous decision, G. A.
5534 (T. D. 24904), wherein it was held that certain bean flour, which had been
assessed with duty as a substance fit for use as starch, was properly dutiable as a non-
enumerated manufactured article under section 6 of the act of 1897. In this decision
the board cites its previous decision, G. A. 5361 (T. D. 24513), holding that the pro-
vision for prepared vegetables does not include an article in which the manufac-
turing process has advanced so far that the identity of the vegetable is practically
lost.
Following the decisions cited, the department is of the opinion that the provision
in paragraph 581 for potatoes, dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared should be
limited to potatoes which have not lost their identity as such. You are accordingly
directed to assess duty upon potato flour of the character under consideration at the
rate of 15 per cent ad valorem as a nonenumerated manufactured article under para-
graph 385 of the tariff act.
Respectfully, CHARLES S. HAMLIN,
(100269.) Assistant Secretary.
COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, Neiv York,
DESICCATED POTATOES.
(6 Ct. Gust. Appls., 154, T. D. 35397.)
Stein, Hirsch & Co. et al. v. United States (No. 1503).
POTATO GROUND MEAL OR FLOUR. This article is produced from potatoes only and contains the entire
and chamically unaltered elements of which the constituent potatoes themselves were composed.
It has not acquired a new name, use, or character, and serves such culinary purposes as potatoes them-
selves. It is potatoes, prepared, and falls within the provisions of paragraph 581, tariff act of 1913.
UNITED STATES COURT OF CUSTOMS APPEALS, MAY 3, 1915.
Appeal from Board of United States General Appraisers, Abstract 37090 (T. IX 35020).
(Reversed.)
Before Montgomery, Smith, Barber, De Vries, and Martin, Judges.
MARTIX, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court:
The present merchandise was imported under the tariff act of 1913. It was invoiced
as "kartoffelwalzmehl," which is said by counsel to be a German word meaning
"potato ground meal."
The appraiser reported that the article in question consisted of potato flour obtained
by reducing entire potatoes, with or without the skin, to the state of flour by des-
iccating and grinding, the process involving the application of sufficient heat to mate-
rially modify the starch granules. The article was returned for duty as a nonenu-
merated manufactured article, at 15 per cent ad valorem, under paragraph 385, tariff
act of 1913, in accordance with the department's instructions contained in T. D.
3423ii. Dutv was assessed accordinelv.
DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES. 27
The importers protested against the assessment, claiming that the merchandise was
entitled to free entry as desiccated or prepared potatoes under paragraph 581, act of
1913, or if dutiable at all that it was only dutiable at 10 per cent ad valorem under
the retaliatory proviso of that paragraph. The protest also claimed a rebate of 5 per
cent on any duties which should be assessed upon the merchandise by virtue of
subsection 7 of paragraph J of section 4 of the tariff act of 1913. This latter claim,
however, was not sustained by any proofs at the trial before the board, and therefore
may be regarded as abandoned for the present case.
The protest was tried upon evidence before the Board of General Appraisers and
was overruled, from which decision the importers now appeal.
The question therefore is whether the present merchandise is desiccated potatoes
or potatoes otherwise prepared, governed by paragraph 581, tariff act of 1913, or is a
nonenumerated manufactured article, governed by paragraph 385 of that act.
The following is a copy of the two competing paragraphs thus cited:
581. Potatoes, and potatoes dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared, not specially provided for in this
section: Provided, That any of the foregoing specified articles shall be subject to a duty of 10 per cent ad
valorem when imported directly or indirectly from a country, dependency, or other subdivision of govern -
ment which imposes a duty on such articles imported from the United States.
385. That there shall be levied, collected, and paid on the importation of all raw or unmanufactured
articles not enumerated or provided for in this section a duty of 10 per cent ad valorem, and on all articles
manufactured, in whole or in part, not provided for in this" section, a duty of 15 per cent ad valorem.
The testimony discloses that the present article is produced from potatoes. The
potatoes are cut into pieces about the size of ordinary potato chips, which are processed
until they are thoroughly desiccated. These desiccated chips are used for culinary
purposes in the place of potatoes. A certain part of this product, however, is ground
into meal of several degrees of fineness, one kind resembling corn meal in appearance,
the other being as fine as common wheat flour. The present merchandise belongs to
the class last described and is especially useful for making bread, either alone or in
combination with other materials. It is also useful for other culinary purposes, of
which the making of soup may be named as an instance. The appraiser reports that
the process above described has the effect of materially modifying the starch granules
of the constituent potatoes. This statement seems to be contradicted by the testimony
of the witness Goldfrank, but both the statement and the testimony are somewhat
indefinite. The court, however, does not understand that any chemical change in
the substance of the potatoes is effected by the drying and grinding processes to which
they are subjected.
The three products above described, namely, the dessicated chips, the coarser
meal, and the finely ground flour, are all subjects of importation into this country,
but the fine flour is the form which is most frequently imported. The present question
is whether that product is free of duty as potatoes "desiccated, or otherwise prepared, "
under paragraph 581, above copied. As is stated above, the appraiser in his official
report named or described the article as "potato flour."
The record contains the testimony of two witnesses only. One of these testified
that the present article is "desiccated potatoes"; the other witness stated that the
article is "ground potato or potato flour." Neither statement is in the nature of
commercial testimony tending to prove a peculiar trade usage of the statutory terms
in question; those terms therefore must be accepted in this case according to their
common or ordinary signification.
It therefore appears that the present article is produced from potatoes only, and
that it contains the entire and chemically unaltered elements of which the constitu-
ent potatoes themselves were composed. ' It, also appears that the article is used like
potatoes for culinary purposes, and apparently possesses the same food values as
potatoes. It is truo that it is chiefly, and indeed almost exclusively, used for making
bread, but it may also be used in making soup and other dishes. The fact that the
article is used in making bread does not imply that it has ceased to be prepared pota-
toes, since bread is also made from potatoes which are not first desiccated like the
present product. The following quotations relate to this subject.
Century Dictionary:
P'tfuto brrad. A broad madp of potatoes which have been boiled, pressed till they are dry, beaten up,
kneaded with wheat Hour, aniseed, and yeast, and then baked.
Standard Dictionary:
Potato bread. \ bread made of boiled sweet (sometimes white) potatoes mixed with wheat flour and
yeast.
It. therefore appears to be within common knowledge that potatoes are used in
making bread and that this is done at times by first boiling the potatoes and then
mashing them, so that they may be kneaded with wheat flour and baked into bread.
The use of the present article in making bread does not differ essentially from the one
28 DOMESTIC POTATO-PRODUCT INDUSTRIES.
just above described as a commonly known use of potatoes. It may also be noted
that wherever the present article is named or described in the record the term "potato "
appears as part of its title. The article is therein called potato ground meal, potato
flour, ground potato, or desiccated potatoes. The court therefore concludes that
after all the present article has not acquired a new name, use, or character, but still
retains the name and essential characteristics of potatoes, and serves such culinary
purposes as potatoes themselves serve. The article differs from potatoes in their
original form only because it is prepared for the uses to which potatoes as such are
applied. It is, consequently, "potatoes, prepared," rather than a new manufacture
from potatoes. Vitelli & Son v. United States (4 Ct. Gust. Appls., 75; T. D. 33313).
An additional consideration may be suggested in support of this conclusion. The
tariff act of 1909 laid a duty of 40 per cent ad valorem upon "vegetables, prepared in
any way" (par. 252), and also a duty of 25 cents per bushel upon "potatoes" (par.
263). There was no specific provision in the act for "potatoes, dried, desiccated, or
otherwise prepared," such as nosv appears in the act of 1913.
When merchandise like the present article was imported under the tariff act of
1909, the Government assessed the same with duty at 40 per cent ad valorem as pre-
pared vegetables under paragraph 252. The importers protested, claiming assessment
of the merchandise as a nonenumerated manufactured article. The board sustained
such protests, holding that the article was not a prepared vegetable under paragraph
252 or the act, but was an unenumerated manufactured article. The potato para-
graph of the act of 1909 did not apply to the case at all, since it only included potatoes
which were to be assessed by the bushel. The following board decisions under the
act of 1909 severally held the present article to be dutiable as a nonenumerated manu-
factured article rather than a prepared vegetable: Abstract 23912 (T. D. 30901),
Abstract 24033 (T. D. 30969), Abstract 24537 (T. D. 31207), Abstract 25573 (T. D.
31589), Abstract 24918 (T. D. 31335), Abstract 26347 (T. D. 31832), Abstract 26277
(T. D. 31813), Abstract 27204 (T. D. 32031), Abstract 27464 (T. D. 32126), Abstract
28784 (T. D. 32618), Abstract 28184 (T. D. 32424).
These decisions were all published prior to the tariff revision of 1913, and in each
decision as published the merchandise itself was named or described by the board as
"ground desiccated potatoes."
In the light of the foregoing decisions, holding that "ground desiccated potatoes"
were unenumerated in the tariff act of 1909, Congress enacted paragraph 581 of the
tariff revision of 1913, and provided therein for the free entry of "potatoes, and pota-
toes dried, desiccated, or otherwise prepared." The fact that "desiccated potatoes"
were thus enumerated eo nomine in the act of 1913, following the foregoing decisions
dealing with the present article under that name, tends strongly to the conclusion
that this identical merchandise was within the contemplation of Congress at the
enactment of the latter paragraph. This conclusion is strengthened by the appearance
of the phrase "or otherwise prepared " in the same provision.
In this view of the case the decision of the board is re versed, and the case is remanded
in order that the collector may assess the retaliatory duty of 10 per cent ad valorem
provided for by paragraph 581, supra, in case it be found that the present merchandise
is "imported directly or indirectly from a country, dependency, or other subdivision
of government which imposes a duty on such articles imported from the United
States."
It may be added that counsel have cited numerous decisions in support of their
respective contentions. These have been examined, but need not now be discussed.
Reversed.
o
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