The Washington herald., 1909-05-09
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

The production Of potash is one indus
/ try in which the United States does not
excel OF even equal. its great CONNER
lcial rival. Germany. In fact, Germany
stands alone in that particular field
America. and practically al the rest OF
the world have to depenJ upon the
'-Fatherland'' for their supply Of potash
for use in chemistry and industry. agri.
culture and horticulture. This does no
mean that there is no potash in The
world outside Of Germany. for the soils
and rocks OF all countries contain more
or less potash. but it does mean that ex-
tensive potash deposits. so far as known
are confined 70 Germany.
Potash has been known TO man and
recognized as such for many generations;
but II was not until the last century
that potassium was discovered 70 be ar
element, OF which potash IS the common
est form The production Of potash on a
large scale dates back only 10 Is51, when
mining operations were begun in the
German potash deposits. These are To-
Gated near Stassfurt- Their discovery IS
alleged TO have resulted from somebody s
theory that numerous saline springs in
I the neighborhood must flow from a sub
/ terranesn deposit OF salt. Borings were
MADE and the richest known deposits OF
potash. besides salt and gypsum, were
found
Further Investigations have shown that
the bed OF potash at Stassfurt is from
: Gfty to I39 feet thick and extends over
a very large area. There are deposits
/ of salt and gypsum overlying the potash
to deprh Of many feet These deposits
OF mineral wealth have an interesting
natural history. Scientists say that in
some prehistoric age the region about
/ the present site Of Stassfurt was covered
/ oy the sea Then a volcanic convulsion
occurred and mountain ranges were
heaved up on either side. thus inclosfng
q vast lagoon or arm Of the sea.
The water Is supposed 20 have been
/ boiling az that time, as the temperature
/ OF the earth vas very nigh. Evaporation
was most rapid. and ss the water in the
lagoon turned 10 vapOr II was replaced
by more water from the sea. After a
time the lagoon became so intensely
saline IN character that the potash. salt.
and gypsum were deposited on its bed.
Later, the sea receded and the lagoon
completely dried up. leaving the existing
/ beds Of potash, &c, 70 be covered By the
vegetation and other formations Of sue
ceeding ages. Nobody has explained how
or why the sea was so fun OF potash IN
prehistoric times II certainly IS not
now so.
Ever since the enormous value OF the
German potash deposits became known 20
the world. people in America and other
countries have been seeking similar de-
p0sits IN every likely place Biologists
say there Is no reason they know OF why
potash should not exist IN large quantities
elsewhere than in Germany, but they
have not yet found IT, although Canada
and one or two other countries produce
small quantities Of the mineral There
are few things which are not found in the
United States. and large deposit OF pot
ash IS one OF them Some years ago a
number Of deep wells we're sunk in the
LOUISIANA salt district in the hope OF ind
ing a potash vein there, but the search
proved Unsuccessful
Il may seem natural that the German
monopoly in potash should lead to the
creation OF what IS perhaps the greatest
trust n the world. so far as absolute
control over a single product and absence
OF competition are concerned The pot
ash trust IS known as the Kali syndicate.
Organized in 1879. It controls practically
every concern that produces potash Last
year nine new mining companies we're
added 10 its membership. and this year
thirteen more new works viii go into
operation. The capital Of this combina-
ton is less than 5000 00o, 90. which is small
IN comparison with the capital OF some
great American corporations. It has :, coo
miners and other employees on its pay
roll
The annual sales OF potash aggregate
nearly S25.0o0ff0 IN value, and the potash
trust has agents al over the world ex-
plotting its product with a view 10 in
cTeasing sales. At this rate IL is esti-
mated that even in case no other potash
deposits are discovered. the German
mines viii be able to supply the world
for several centuries.
Following the approved habit OF trusts,
the Kali syndicate practices discrimina-
ton IN its business II extends favors
10 the German trade with the result that
Germany consumes nearly half Of the
potash produced America and other
countries take what is left. aid on the
terms OF the German syndicate Il Is not
surprising that the stock Of potash-pro-
ducing companies is popular among Ger
man spectators
Potash has many and varied uses. how /
ever. as for fertiiizing purposes The /
theory OF its effect upon vegetation Is |
not exactly understood. but K is n fact /
that land which is poor IN potash pro- 1
duces bad crops. while the same land. II /
thoroughly fertilized with potash. will /
grow excellent crops Of many things Il 4
IS said that the presence OF much potash 1
In soil IN some mysterious way protects l
plants growing therein from the ravages I
Of frost. It also affords drainage in wet 4
weather. retains moisture in dry seasons.
besides serving as a sort OF inseoticide
and fungicide.
Perhaps the explanation Of the fertlllz-
Ing effect Of potash is found in the fact
that II has recently been discovered 20 be
radioactive. Il Is said to throw out the
peculiar beta" rays with considerable