The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14

back to the boiling tanks and is loaded
with ore nitrate by being flowed over the
fresh rock I shall not describe the tech
meal details of the process. which is COM
plicated in the extreme. They were ex-
planned to me by Mr.. James t. Humber
stone, the manager Of the Aqua Santa
oficina, the man who is perhaps of all the
nitrate managers the best posted upon such
matters. 1 will only say that the greatest
care is taken to get every atom of nitrate
out of the rock at the lowest possible cost.
and that was again and again surprised
at the careful study which has been taken
to save every cent in product and labor
throughout the works. 1t was indeed
lesson in economy, and when referred TO
it Mr. Thunderstorm said: 1.-THE nitrate
profits of to-day are a question OF small
savings. We make so much that the diff
ference of cent in the cost of a quintal,
or 100 pounds is an important item. 1t
would in fact mean to us a saving OF at
least 81, 200 a month" Mr.. Thunderstorm
also showed me how the iodine of com
merce is made from this nitrate liquor. 1t
is an element separate and apart from the
nitrate of soda and it forms another valua-
BILE product of the nitrate fields. 1t is pre-
cipitated in tanks by means of bisulphite
of soda, and is drawn off in the shape of
dirty black powder. The powder is washed
and filtered and is then put into iron re-
torts and heated. 1t soon turns to vapor,
which is conducted into pipes of fireclay,
in which as it cools it changes into crystals
of a beautiful violet color. These are packed
up and shipped to our country and to Eu-
rope. The sale of iodine is a monopoly in
the hands of Anthony Gibbs & Co.. of Lon
don The different companies have formed
a trust which controls the product of the
world and dictates just how much each fac
tory may make every year. The price is
now, am told, pence per ounce.
COST OF MAKING NITRATE.
People who think that money is easily
made in nitrate are much mistaken The
business requires large capital and the most
careful management. The prices of nitrate
lands have steadily risen of late years, and
to-day the only properties to be got out
side of those in the hands of the seventy
nine factories which now in existence
are from the Chilean government, which
only sells at auctions, which are periodically
held. The last auction was held in 1894,
when 1900 acres were appraised at $3,5OO,O0O
and sold l believe for more than their APP
praisement. Another property was APP
praised at $9,50O,OOO of our money. There is
a limited demand for nitrate of soda, and
while it is believed that the amount in sight
will last the world at the present rate for
fifty years and more, the Chilean govern
ment is anxious not to ruin the business
out of which it gets so great revenue by
throwing more lands just now on the mar
kets. Even after the land is bought it costs
foI1l Itch itysof
factory Take that of Aqua Santa. 1t has
a capital of 100000 in gold and it pays
a dividend of 10 per cent, or 100000 year.
The factory alone cost $685., 600, and in addi-
ton there has been put in Westinghouse
electric plant at a cost of $4,000 more. 1t
has buildings which cost $4,000, and it's
water supply cost $51, 600. 1t is now employ
ing 800 hands, who receive $4,000 a month,
and i. supports about the works a colony
of more than 5000 souls 1t owns a rail-
road to the seaport of Caleta Buena, which
port also belongs to it, and from which it
ships it's nitrate. Like all of the factories,
it has large store connected with the
works and a great part of the wages Of the
men are spent upon the ground
CITIES IN THE DESERT
This is only one of the great establish
ments which the nitrate rock has built in
a desert 1t has built numerous other fac
tories and it is now keeping tens of thou
sands of men at work. All along the nitrate
railroad there are towns containing houses
Of corrugated iron, with hotels and stores,
and at the seacoast, which is, If anything,
more barren and desert-like than the nitrate
fields themselves. there are number of
thriving cities, all Of which depend entirely
upon these nitrate deposits. Take Iquique,
for instance. 1t lies on the edge of the
sea, right under the ragged hills which
fringe the coast. There is not a blade of
grass about it, and not drop of water,
save that which is brought here in ships
in the iron pipe line, seventy-five miles long,
with which it has been connected with the
springs of Plea, in the interior. Still,
Iquique has 10000 people, and, next to Val
paraiso, it is the most thriving seaport in
Chile. 1t has wide streets, telephones and
electric lights, and a Street-car line, with
Chilean maidens as conductors. 1t has
newspapers, a theater and as good an En-
glish club as you will find along the west
coast Of South America. 1t has good stores
and markets, and though it produces al
most nothing but nitrate of soda, it has ev-
erything from the outside, and you can live
as we'll here and have as great a variety
of eating as any place in South America
Antofagasta, though not as large as
Iquique, is almost equally well favored, and
the desert which are nourished by the bust
ness of making and shipping nitrate of Soda
FRANK G. CARPENTER.