The Washington times., 1911-11-04
POTASH IS ALIEN \
TO REGION NEARBY,
SCIENTIST AYERS
Sucker Branch" Might Be
Good Explanation for
'l Mine Discovery"

!, Up In tho neighborhood of Hollowf,eld,
Nd, there Ia a little stream that curls
through the hills and woods of a rough
countrywide. 1t is big enough to get it's
narpe on the topographic maps made by
the theological Survey. and today II
came into fame.
This region" explained a Govern-
f3ent scientist who was discussing the
alleged find of vast potash deposits in
the Hollowfield section, lis about as un-
promising Cor potash Development as
could be found The schists and ene!sses
OF the region would make 4 big potash
: hnd what might be called a.-a--'
"A geological iniressibility?
well, certainly geological anomaly;
yes. about what you would refer to as
4 q geological impossibiljty."
The scientist ran his index finger over
the terograI'hic map and stopped when
1t pointed 10 the little hitt strcain al
ready mentioned. The inquirer bent
over IL and read the name:
Sucker branch"
The official smiled and declined to
commit himself further than to the gen.
efal impression that Sucker branch
might prove az good an explanation Of
the recent discovery of patash mines
In a region where potash would have to
be imported in cars, as any other now
available.
Have No Information.
1t develops that neither the Geological
Survey nor the Department of Agricul-
ture,, has been consulted by anybody
: connected with the reported find of
potash. The presentation Of the find
in connection with stories of Pittsburg
syndicate that already has placed all
it's stocks-though of course some Of the
millionaire insiders might loosen up a
little OF their good thing to favored
! friends-developed that nobody among
y the authorities who wouIr be expected
to know about such a subject, has any
Information at all.
Tho Geological Survey. has 10000
ana 9Re hSaau TOT OF sSs sGsfn has % TSS
are working in cooperation. At pres
ent the gypsum deposits of Michigan.
Iowa. Kansas. and other States are
getting some attention. because potash
: and gypsum occur together in the Ger
man fields, and the best theories of the
geological origin of the potash beds JUS
tfy the expectation that they would be
associated elsewhere.
( Study Desert Basins.
But we are now studying particularly
the desert basins of the country" said
an OFFICIAL, with the view of possibly
locating some commercial deposits" II
was explained that the biologists think
potash was precipitated from sea water
through the process of evaporation from
4 large bodies of this water which be-
came, cut off from the main ocean
through upheavals Of the land; then as
the evaporation went on, the potash
was 9recipitated. BY this process. the
originated: the geologists calculate that
II took about 10000 years to form them
At Fallon, Nev.. the Government IL
singing 1O-inch bore in the hope OF
finding potash at the bottom of per.
haps an 0-foot bore II it isn't found
there, then Death valley, which is be.
low, the sea level and was once filled
with sea water that has latterly evap-
GRATED, will be tested in like manner
Other desert basins will be given the
chance to show what they contain.
Wells Are Watched.
"A year or two ago, Oklahoma made
appropriations for the construction OF
a number of very deep wells, with the
view to study of water. supply posi-.
bilitfes In the semi-arid areas. The
Government is having careful study
made OF. everything brought up from
these holes, with potash always ir
view.
Other sources from which the Gov,
ernment hopes potash may be producer
on a commercial scale, are salt brines
salt wells, extract. from woll. plants
shd sfaeS seaweeds; WEE ,,c Al these are beine
.
spars of the Appalachian GRANTEES there
Is perhaps per cent of potash, and
various inventors have patented pro.
cesses of extracting 1t. None has done
It thus far save at a>cast which Is com.
mercially prohibitive. II such q pro.
cess Is ever found, 1t will smash the
German potash trust forever. for ir
these formations. al. over Ine wort /
there is potash enough for all time
provided 1t can be got at.
~, Suspicion Of Officials.
The green sands of New. Jersey are
quite rich In potash, and in like fash.
ion "a process that would extract =
from these would be of great value
but 1t has not been found
At any rate, the Government scien.
fists, who have been on the trail OF
: potash for years, never heard of potash
in the Hollowfield, Nd, region. Theil
scientific data is awfully crooked II
there Is potash there. Their suspicion
which they of course don't express of,
ficially, 10 that somebody is capitaliz
Ing the incredulity of prospective in,
Veafhrs a1nnR SIIcIxar