The Detroit times., 1910-11-09

.OOO. 900 farmers In this country are
interested directly as consumers OF
potash and that the United States Is
practically dependent upon Germany
for It's supply, buying over one-hali
OF the empires total production, II Is
realized that the German Reichstag.
In imposing an export tax upon this
commodity which makes IL impossible
for American firms TO handle IL UNI
der the present contract price, has
cut directly into the welfare OF the
American farmer.
The farmer has taken quick notice
OF this state of Affairs with the result
that every diplomatic pressure is be-
ing brought TO bear by the state de-
partment TO effect an amieable set
1 Element OF the difficulty. Ambassador
4 Hin aided by a representative OF the
I bureau OF trade relations. II. II. Davis.
| Is directly in touch with the German
foreign Office II Germany fails TO
accede TO the demand OF the Ameri'
can diplomats, il is highly probable
+ that the maximum tariff will be i'm
posed upon every German importa-
ton into this country in retaliation
I FOR the action.
The export tax upon potash which
was passed by the German Reich
stag on May 10 last. increases the
price OF potash In this country about
seventy per cent This tax was I'M
posed after American buyers. taking
advantage of a peculiar situation in
l the German market had entered into
contracts for vast quantities OF potash
at very favorable price.
1 For several years the production
and sale OF potash in Germany was
controlled by a syndicate which prac-
/ tically dictated the output and con-
sequently. the price OF potash. This
I syndicate expired in June, 1909. Eric
/ ton between the heads of the various
subsidiary firms of the syndicate
made IL Impossible them TO agree
upon terms for a re-establishment OF
/ the syndicate. This open competition
J between the companies naturally
/ forced potash down TO very low
! figure. Foreseeing that a future agree
ment might again place them at the
mercy OF the German syndicate,
/ American buyers made large con-
/ tracts with the several companies.
Most OF these contracts were for two
years with the privilege OF renewal
for Ave years at the expiration OF that
| time
| Just exactly what the American
buyers anticipated did happen. The
German producers smothered their
differences and the old syndicate was
re-established. American manufac-
turers found themselves on top with
longtime contracts to protect them.
! 20 ft,fn
ed their attention 10 squirming out
of the American contracts The law
| failed and they turned 10 the Reich.
stag. Several bills TO force up the
price and limit the production of
potash were introduced. each one
aiming at the American contracts.
Finally in June. 1909. a bill was
passed imposing the heavy export tax.
The American manufacturers had al
ready made contracts for the sale OF
their products at prices based upon
the figures OF their German contracts.
Large applications for burnt timber
are being received ut the forest ser.
vice Offices here and requests from
lumbermen and contract loggers FOR
Information in regard TO good logging
chances are being received daily. In
northern Idaho. and western Montana,
the forest service Is refusing TO make
sales of green timber. except where
such action will work hardshtna ON
the mill men. This course is beine
tnken on the theory that every stick
OF fre-killed timber utilized. means
a stick OF green timber for future
use.
The forest service is now announc.
ing the largest sale of fire-damaged
stock on record. The opportunities
offered by the service to the lumber.
men include practically all kinds OF
logging chances-from operations In
yolving large capital which can
handle a hundred million feet OF
more-down 20 the small saw.mill
men or the tie-makers, who desire >
hundred thousand feet or less. The
pulp men are also given bargain
prices.