Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-30
AMMONIA GOING UP.
An Industry That is Producing For
tunes for a Favored Few.
UNPRECEDENTED DEMANDOFLATE,
The Advent of Ice Machines and the Manip-
llations of a Trust.
HOW THE CHEMICAL is PRODUCED

| IL Is not generally known that the am
monla producing industry of this country
IN Its present form is practically of st. Louis
origin, and that company formed in that
city seven years ago produces two-tbirds Of
the entire ammonia product of the limited
States. Such. however. is the case. The
| St. Louis Ammonia and Chemical Com
pany, organized in st. Louis in 1888. WAS
the parent of American ammonia-producine
institutions operated BY modern scientific
methods, and the 3. p. Clapp Ammonia
Company, the name under which it was re-
organized two years ago, is the largest pro-
ducer Of ammonia in the world.
This company was organized in 1883,
with George Nash as President, G. S.
Page, Vice President, and William New
man, Secretary. The company's plant was
put in operation for the first time on MAY
1, 1854, and for five years a profitable busi-
ness was done. Then it became apparent
that the concerns interest demanded re-
organization of its affairs upon broader
lines, and big combine was formed which
now holds kind OF monopoly on the busi-
ness The dividends of this companv
combine or trust, as you please, NAV be
family conceived when it is stated that its
stock is never quoted on the market; that
stockholder has rarely been known to offer
any part OF his holding for sale, and that
when ne has done so he has found an instant
and eager market among his fellow stock
holders.
A BY PRODUCT OF COAL GAS
The manufacture of ammonia previous to
the advent of the st. Louis Ammonia and
Chemical Company had been altogether
controlled by the manufacturers of coal gas.
1t can only be manufactured in cities which
use coal gas, the product being secured from
the distillation OF the water through which
the gas is passed in the last process of its
manufacture. The gas in passing through
this water yields up its ammonical eonstitu-
ent, which is retained in form called am
monlcal liquor. This liquor was formerly
thrown away by gas manufacturers. Now,
however, 1t is preserved and brings a high
price from the ammonia manufacturers
whose business consists solely in distilling
1t. In many parts OF the country this am
moniacal liquor is shipped long distances
for distillation, but in the case OF the st.
Louis mandatory this is unnecessary, the
gas works of the city supplying all the ma
terlal that the concern can use.
The ammonia produced by this COMPANY
is manufactured by an improved process.
and whether designed for the drug trade or
refrlgeratlng purposes IS chemically pure
The product therefore commands the readier
sale than that with which it enters into COM
petition, though there is practically DO con-
fiict of interests among those engaged IN the
trade. the field furnishing more than room
enough for all.
CONSUMPTION IN ICE MACHINES.
The manufacture of ammonia has largely
increased in the past six years, but the rate
OF increase in its consumption has been much
larger. a number of mild winters have led
to the establishment of ice plants in many
cities In which the supply of ice naturally
frozen was entirely depended upon The
great brewing associations have equipped
their cooling rooms with facilities for cool
ing by artificial means, and have also es-
tablished ice factories for the manufacture
of their own ice for shipment
In the South particularly ice factories
have been multiplying, and throughout the
land the demand Tor ammonia has been in
creaslng In manner which has created not
only an eager market, but also a constant
appreciation in the value OF the product.
During the month of August last the price
of ammonia advanced cents per pound, and
the indications are favorable for further
advance during the coming summer. The
National Ammonia Company holds 4 con-
tract for the entire product of the St. Louis
and Cincinnati manufactures until Decem-
Der 81, 1891, fact which in itself iustiies
the anticipation of an early rise in prices.