The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-05
Edward Atkinson Suggests New
Resources In Kansas.
Believes There Are Large De.
p0sits of Potash.
WRITES TO GOVERNOR.
Makes Suggestions About Pros
pecting For the Mineral.
Such q Mine More Valuable
Than Silver or Gold.

Edward Atkinson of Boston, the chief
of the anti-Imperialists, has turned his
artillery upon a prospecting scheme
and wants Governor Stanley to go into
partnership with him to hunt for potash
in Kansas.
Mr.. Atkinson wants the governor td
Join him in grub-staking some one or
a company to engage at once in this
search for the mineral which he believes
exists in large quantities in the state.
In letter which he has sent to var
ious western men, a copy of which cana
TO Governor Stanley, Mr.. Atkinson says:
Some years ago when the writer was
investigating the nutrition of the soil,
plant, beast and man, he was asked
what should be the next great discovery
most important to the welfare of man
KIND, to which he replied: A source OF
nitrogen at low cost. That problem is
in process of solution by way of saving
the VaporS from coke ovens. iron fur
naces and through the action of bac-
terra upon leguminouS plants. An ade-
quate supply of phoSphateS is assured
for all time from Tennessee, North Car
olina and Florida. The one element OF
soil nutrition which is In some measure
deficient and expensive is potash
we are very large importers or
potash from StasSfurt, SaxOny. If am
rightly informed the mine from which
it comes was originally worked as a salt
mine. The salt on the first level giving
out, borings were undertaken to find
lower stratum. The boringS passed
through an intermediate stratum strik-
ing salt The bori1.gs of the intermed-
late stratum were thrown aside but af-
ter being investigated by a chemist
proved to be potash. The mine has
proved such an adequate source of sup
ply at low cost with enormous profit to
the owners as to have practically STOP
ped supplies from many other sources
'As this deposit of potash exists in
combinations with salt may it not be
judicious to investigate the condition
of your salt and the alkah deposits of
Kansas with the specific purpose and
intention of discovering a, potash mine?
ITO this end the suggestion will be
made to the consular representatives OF
the United States in Germany to report
upon the Stassfurt product and upon
the geologic conditions and surround
ingS of that mine accompanying sHch
report with samples of what suppose
may be called the different Ores The
suggestion will also be made to the
Philadelphia museum to make an in
vestigation Of the sources of potash
1.-THE suggestion is now made to the
persons to whom this miSsive is sent
to take this matter up and perhaps en-
ter upon a grub stake with a prospec-
tor in order to find potash mine. Such
a discovery will add much more to the
wealth and welfare of this country than
any discovery in gold or silver mining
could possibly add"
Mr.. Atkinson then suggests that he is
the proper person to lead this move
ment and asks for complete information.
reports or documents pertaining to
potash in Kansas. He closes his letter
by saying:
'All OF this is respectfully submitted
for whatever it may be worth with th6
| caveat on the part of the writer that he
is entitled to make this suggestion by
what he doesn't know but wants to
know"
Governor Stanley says If salt and
alkaH are sign of potash Kansas
should be able to furnish several mines
of that mineral which Mr.. Atkinson
says the world is in such positive need
of. However, the governor will not at
this time enter into a partnership with
Atkinson.
'That would be funny deal, wouIdn't
it?" said Mr.. Stanley.