[82] Figures estimated by the United States Geological Survey. [83] Less than half a ton. DEVELOPMENTS AND CHANGES IN KNOWN GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE NEAR FUTURE =Asia.=--The increase of output from eastern Asia has been marvelous. In 1913 it amounted to 2,497 tons and in 1918, as already stated, to 20,228 tons--more than 56 per cent. of the world’s production. As elsewhere, production must decrease until the accumulated stocks in the reducing centers are used, then production will again proceed. The alluvial deposits of _China_ are by no means exhausted, the veins are scarcely touched, the tungsten-bearing area is large and only partly prospected, and such prospecting as has been done has been almost wholly for placers; labor is cheap, and a large future output is sure. More liberal ideas of trade and government are slowly taking root in China and ultimately educated Chinese or trained foreigners will work the deposits; the output for a long time will be large, though it may never again be as large as it was in 1918. So far as can be learned, the easily worked placers and the upper parts of the veins in _Burma_ are becoming exhausted rather rapidly,[84] and recourse must therefore be had more and more to the mining of those parts of the veins below water level and in harder rock, and this will probably mean a diminution rather than an increase in output. _Siam_ seemingly should give an increased production, as the mines are comparatively new, and there still should be opportunity for discoveries. The _Federated Malay States_ and the unfederated states (_Johore_, _Kedah_ and _Trengganu_) should produce at least as much in the immediate future as in the past--given the demand and an equal price. [84] Burma Chamber of Commerce and Tavoy Chamber of Mines, “Memorial to Sir George Barnes,” _Mining Jour._, London, vol. 121, 1918, May 4, p. 261.