Document 3N9ZJw3m0R0ovp3e07M8VjM9E

./ 2 Hr, Shoemaker confirmed the above statementsi He felt that the best interests of the industry would be served by the development and maintenance of a balanced demand for all grades, as suoh a condition would yield the maximum returns over a long period.. Experience had shown definitely that the relative demand for the various grades fluctuates, end potential merkets for all grades should be explored. At the present time he thought the market for textile grades needed expansion, though the particular grade needing stimulation may vary from one produoer to enother. Experience had elso shown that there had been demands for asbestos which beoame vigorous for a time, without warning, and then as suddenly became weak and even disappeared. A more intimate knowledge of uses and their trends by the produoers would have in many lnstanoes been of ooncrete benefit. He felt that uses fot asbestos whioh are reflected in the purchase of asbestos products by a large number of small users (for example, domestic users) have a stabilizing effect not possessed by uses which are reflected only in purchases by large manufeoturers. lr. Shoemaker therefore suggested that a thorough ( survey be made of the industrial applications of all grades of asbestos fibre. This survey should be oonduoted with a long range point of view, for it was not to be taken for granted that the demand wauld always be heavy. In this survey all competing commodities should be noted and their nature studied with the object of determining what were thenacimml outlets for eaoh of these and for asbestos. The results of suoh a survey oould very well serve as e sound basis for future research. It would elso provide the industry with knowledge in advanoe as to likely directions in which new uses for asbestos could be developed if and when the present demand falls off. It was important not merely to ascertain the past and present uses of esbestos, but to disclose trends, showing the uses whioh are tending to grow end those which are tending to diminish. From the point of view of future the most important uses are presumably those oonnected with staple and growing industries, espeoially when asbestos, beceuse of its speolel qualities, is naturally in e strong position in comparison with competitive materials. As en aid to the conduct of the suggested survey it was recommended that a bibliography on asbestos, as complete as possible end kept up to dote, should be prepared.