Cork insulation; a complete illustrated textbook on cork insulation ...

EXTENT OF CORK INDUSTRY 43
Thus the basic essential requirements for cork <strong>insulation</strong> by
the industries of the world must be somewhat comparable to
shfting sands—constantly moving about but added to but
slowly. On the other hand, there is a growing demand for
cork <strong>insulation</strong> for use wherever moisture is encountered, such
as for the <strong>insulation</strong> of industrial roofs, which field is enormous
in scope, and if the demand for corkboard for roofs continues
at the pace it has already set for itself, then no one
dare predict the ultimate requirements for cork <strong>insulation</strong>,
andvin turn, for cork waste and corkwood.
Of course, if the ultimate cost were low enough, cork,
because it combines within itself so many unusual and useful
qualities, would be utilized in many more ways and to a much
greater extent than it is at present employed. Cost, how-
ever, is usually the final determining factor in the industries
of the world ; and, should the demand exceed the supply,
additional cork will be made available or the price of cork will
advance to a point sufficient to discourage further increase in
its use and consumption. In such event, possibly substitutes
will be found for enough of the miscellaneous uses to which
cork is put to release sufficient material for all the essential
cork products, such as cork <strong>insulation</strong>, that wr)uld be required.
30.—Tables of U. S. Imports (1892-1924).—In order that
the reader may form a comprehensive idea of the cork indus-
try, past and present, a number of tables of cork imports into
the United States from various countries are given here.
Fiscal Year
IMPORTS OF MERCHANDISE