The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-13
Pillsbury- Washburn Co. Will.
Establish Power Plant
and Factory.
Product from Limestone Base
to Furnish Nitrogen for
Worn-Out Lands.

The Pillsbury- Washburn interests are
to establish new industry in Mime
apolis. For months they have been
working on electrical power Develop
ment on the lower end Of Hennepin
island, but the purpose of the develop
ment has been kept secret. The power
is to be used for the operation of a.
der a new process never before tried
in the United States. The base Of the
fertilizer will be pluverized limestone.
An electrical treatment is applied
which works change in the lime and
at the same time extracts nitrogen
from the air and combines it with the
limestone as vehicle. The product ID
said to make a powerful and valuable
land plaster. The process is in use in
and later brought to this country by
William de la Barre, chief engineer Of
the Pillsbury- Washburn company and
treasurer of the st. Anthony Falls
Water Power company which is de.
veloping the plant.
The First Move.
A little less than year ago the an.
nouncement was made by the Pillsbury-
Washburn interests that the Hennepin
island property, near the east bank Of
bridge, would be improved. It was an
nounced that from 5000 to 5000 horse.
power electrical energy would be SCI
cured and the current used for manu-
featuring purposes. The canal intake
| is in the east channel of the MISSISSIPPI
pi river adjoining the millsite Of tho
Minneapolis General Electric company.
| The powerhouse is near the old East
Side city pumping station. The work
| is now well Under 2wav.4g 81
: Many things combine to make Min-.
Eneapois an ideal location for the fers
stilizer project. There are ample lines
stone deposits under the city that can
be cheaply quarried. The character Of
the power development is particularly
adapted to the purpose. It is probable
that at certain stages Of the river a
greater power than is anticipated could
be developed, but at low stages it may
4 to maintain sufficient head for the
Ff1ourmills and other waterpower users,
particularly the Pillsbury A mill, which
i draws its water from the same pond.
The nature aof the fertilizer business
will allow shutdowns when necessary
without great loss Or inconvenience. It
is expected, however, that the operation
Of the upper reservoir system for the
benefit Of navigation will work to the
advantage OF WaCeIpOWeT users Ny Ceu0-
ing to maintain an even head Of water
the year round.
Valuable Discovery.
It is said that the process to be en-
1 ployed in: the manufacture Of the fer
tilizer is valuable scientific discov-
cry. Nitrogen is vital to vegetable
growth, and one great problem before
scientists has been the counteraction
of the exhaustion Of nitrogen from
1 lands long under cultivation. Disinte-
grated limestone in itself has valuable
1 properties. It is proposed to utilize il
as the basis .or vehicle Of the nitrogen
which Is taken from the air by The
process, and cimbined with it. Electri
city plays an important part in the
!process. electrical power will be used
I for operating the pulverizing machin,
cry as we'll sin the process itself.
The market for the product is world
wide. For all close cultivation, fertu
izing agencies are necessary. The pro
| moters Of the enterprise announce that
tests have shown the Minneapolis fer
tilizer powerful and valuable agency
That it will strengthen lands from which
the nitrogen has been almost exhaust-
I ed. has been proved, it is said, by ex-
/ tensive experiments.