, 1901-12-17
GREEN RIVER SODA
NATTER ABLY HANDLED AT CON.
VENTION BY ROBERT
MORRIS.
Some of the Leading Facts Relating to
Soda Manufacture Outlined-Pro-
qress Of the Work as Carried On
at the Soda Wells in Sweetwater
County-Local Conditions Exist
ing There.

ing There.
The following very interesting pa
per was read by Mr.. Robert c. Morris
at the recent Industrial convention:
Among the most important discover
les made in Wyoming during recent
years. have been the soda wells, at
Green River. containing in solution
natural sodium of carbonate, or what
is more commonly known as the sal
soda of commerce. Unfortunately,
this discovery, which was mad in
1895. did not fall into competent hands;
but as soon as capital is enlisted in the
intelligent development of the soda IN
dustry at Green River. it will prove
one of the most valuable products of
the state. Already prominent capital
lists in Colorado have secured some Of
the best soda lands in that locality
and it is probable that the coming sea
son will witness the construction of
an extensive soda plant in Green Riv
er.
The purpose of this paper is to out
line some leading facts relating to so
da manufacture in the United States,
and the possibilities in this direction
at Green River, Wyoming. Before.
however. referring to local conditions,
your attention is called to a review OF
the general production and market
for soda taken from the annual report
of Mineral Industry" for the year
1900.
The production of soda in its vari-
GUS forms. as ash. %caustic, bicarbon'
ate and crystals, reduced to a basis of
So per cent, is estimated to have foot
ed up in the United States for 1900,
390, 900 metric tons. valued at over
seven million OF dollars. OF this
amount there was produced as soda
ash 264. 900 metric tons, as caustic So
da $4,000 metric tons, as sodium bi.
carbonate 90, 900 metric tons, and as
crystals 33. 900 metric tons.
The works producing soda products
in 1900 were as follows: Michigan
Alkali Co, at Wyandotte, Mica. pro.
duced soda ash, b~icarbonate. caustic
soda and crystals; The Mathieson AL,
kali Co., at Saltville, produced soda
ash and bicarbonate and at Niagara
Falls. caustic soda; The Solvay Co,
produced at its Syracuse Works, soda
ash. caustic soda, ~bicarbonate and
crystals. and at Detroit soda ash. The
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co,
produced caustic soda, b~icarbonate
and crystals. The Columbia Chemical
Co. at Barberton, Ohio. went into op'
Grafton near the close of the year, pro
ducing soda ash. The Acker Process
Co began operations at its new works
at Niagara Falls and is producing n
per cent caustic soda by e~lectrolyzing
fused brine. The American Alkali Co.
is erecting works at Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich. and has acquired from the Com.
mercial Development Co., of Great
Britain. the American rights to he
Rhodin electrolytic patents.
The year 1900 opened with great &C
tivity in the trade. The disturbing
conditions. however. which affected all
classes of business during the summer
and fall were equally against the soda
industry. The year ended. however
with a resumption of activity and with
promise Of a continuance of good bust
ness conditions. The feature of the
present state of the soda manufactur.
ing industry in the United States is the
fact that the capacity to produce soda
in it's various forms has outgrown the
ability to consume. A resulting fea'
ture of this growth of production. has
been the gradual reduction OF imports
IlIOlh HlthL bllldlh, Which, " eSIduOW .
their complete cessation in the near
future. The maximum capacity of the
various works mentioned above. with
the natural soda output in the west,
is estimated at upwards of 6OO.O 900 met,
ric tons of soda. as against a consum'
ing capacity of 425.O00 metric tons,
Showing the marked decline in imports
of soda ash. including sal soda, 1t is
stated that in 1896, there was import,
ed 1~91.7S0.537 pounds soda ash valued
at S1.444.417; n in 1900, 73,S15.425
pounds valued at ~$613.379. The aver
age monthly price of domestic So per
cent ash per 100 pounds in lots of so
tons or more f. o. b. works, is given as
follows: 1898, 54.35; 1899. 69.45;
1900. s. 43.
i, Domestic soda ash in bags sold IN
New York at So to csc. per 100 pounds
in March 1900, and GA to roc in Octo.
Der, owing to free selling by second
hands. Large contracts for 1901 and
1902 delivery were taken at 70 to soc.
per 100 f. o. b. Foreign soda ash sold
at soc. to SLIPS per 100 lbs. in New
York. Advancing ocean freight rates
limited imports and caused prices to
rise.
Domestic caustic sold at $2.375 per
100 lb. f. o. b. works in March and
$1.70 in October. Contracts for 1901
and 1902 were large at $1.7O to $2.1O
[. o. b. works. These prices compare
with s1.55 to $1.S5 at which 1000 con.
tracts were taken in the previous year.
Foreign high test caustic soda sold
in New York at $3.50 to $3.50 per 100
Id.
Domestic sal soda sold in January at
so to roc per 100lb. f. o. b. works, &C.
cording to package. In February to
middle of October tile price was 70 to
soc. and thereafter receded to so to
zoe. Concentrated sal soda held at
s1.125 to s1.75 per 100 lb works.
The prices of domestic bicarbonate
of soda fluctuated little ordinary
grades selling at $1.375 per 100 lib. (. o.
b. works, and extra grades at $3.25
to $3.50 per 100 lib. f. o. b. works less
the usual discounts.
Prices of domestic bleaching pow
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