The Washington times., 1904-12-04
Rapid Disappearance of Mankind's Supply
of Fertilizing Material Would Cause
Distress Were. No Substi-
tute Found.

THERE are two startling possibil-
tiles facing civilization TO which
pubic attention has not been
generally directed The FIRST and
less 10 be dreaded is the imminent ex-
haustion or the worlds supply OF ex-
plosive materials in which the swift de-
pietion OF the natural nitrate deposits OF
Chile is striking example. The second
and vastly more important problem is
the question OF repairing the fertility of
the soil which produces the worlds sup
ply OF food. The rapidly disappearing
guano deposits OF south America and
the limited amount OF phosphate beds
In the Southern States OF this country
point with an unerring finger 10 the
day when universal famine must result
unless large access can be had TO un-
limited supplies OF nitrogenous manures.
Mankind may possibly contemplate
with the utmost complacency a sItua-
ton that would put an end 10 modern
forms or warfare. The magnfdcent
nayies OF the world devoid Of gunpovder
or some reliable substitute for il would
become expensive toys as harmless as
The ocean liners. Nitroglveerin. gun
cotton, dynamite. smokeless powder and
all the necessities that have been devel-
oped by Improved methods OF land and
water fighting. depend on the same raw
material for their ability 10 convert
granite into a fourth dimension. When
the supplies Of that material once run
out. the nations must return TO bows
and arrows and fght as their remote
ancestors fought.
But when one contempIates the bor-
rors OF starvation that have from time
10 time held grim sway over India and
Russia. and considers the fact that
the supply OF wheat at present inst
meets the requirements OF the world .
that IN the course Of twenty-five 10
thirty years, more than 1900 000. 900 bush
els will have 10 be produced annually
90 feed the increased population: tbat
I,250. 600 tons Of fertilizer is used an
present 10 raise the crop and the !n-
creased demand VIII require an addi-
tional supply Of fertilizer OF not less
than 1900. 600 tons. II Is readily under
stood that the exhaustion Of the nat
ural supplies OF heterogeneous manure IS
an awful menace 20 the continuance OF
mans existence,
Starvation Approaching Mankind.
As long ago as 1885. Sir William
CrO0kes. IN an address before the Brit
ish Association, pointed out the serious
extent 10 which the worlds supply OF
wheat IL threatened by the falling fer
tility OF the available soil. He showed
that the low average OF less than thir-
teen bushels per acre means literal star
walton for the rapidly increasing nations
Of wheat eaters unless by liberal fer
tilizati0n the acreage can be largely
Increased. But the nitrates now IN
sight and available for this purpose are
estimated good for only fifty years az
che present low rate OF consumption
He concluded his address with the
statement that the only prospect OF re-
lief was the possibility that some way
might be devised Of extracting nitro
gen from the air. which contains an In.
exhaustible supply. He qualified his
statement with the proviso that power
capable OF performing this work should
be established al cost sufficiently low
20 put the product on the market at a
ngure within the means OF the wheat
growers.
The idea which he advanced was pro-
pheuc or what is now being done. The
natural power az Niagara is being used
20 generate electricity for a plant that,
following the ideas OF Tesla. forces eur
rents Of such high voltage through the