Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-24
POTASH PRICES PLEASE
FARMERS AND DEALERS
Sales to Them Increase

TIE long published statement regard.
ing the potash situations. signed by Mr.
Bradley and others. contains some neal
truths. much arg1ment and some opin-
ions Of attorneys. the Iateer being evil
1entiy influenced by their clients pres
entafion Of their troubles All of these
reed 70 Be considered in connection. with
khe Following facts:
NE. Robert Bradley did not sign ths
c1ntract July l. 1ecs. but according &c
nj. schmidtmann Il was signed by Mr.
Peter Bradley in New York August IS
The statement OF the Prussian min
1 fHttr OF commerce IN the German par
4 lament on July contained the fol
N Nninz.
Being man OF caution. have al.
IeS1yr- 1rs-n Up a prospective law
which naturally I have not yet placed
before the BundeSrat Now everybody
knows where be stands and can arrange
hik business accordingly. Whether the
j potash syndicate WI be formed is not
tnateriaL The question rxther is. wheth-
IT Il win he possible to counteract the
slFssQuences detrimental TO the general
HEfare-
Il + quite snconoeivable that Mr.. Brad
s l<f should not know OF this on August
Is when the contract providing that
Any export or import duties or other
~ Rdvernmental charges which may here
|after become effective within the life OF
1he contract shall also be paid by the
buyer. was signed
. Under the circumstances the signing
q Vas speculation which 50 far has not
been successful but he made bad
guess on what was going 10 happen and
Dir. schmidtmann outtraded him
The other sixty-eight buyers who see
81 70 cast their lot in with Mr.. Bradley
rad contracts with the Sollstedt mine,
uhich did not expire until 1917. These
ecntractz guaranteed the average price
paid BY the two greatest American fer
ilizer corporations. and had they not
pnsented 10 change them the mine
aiich lad been purchased by another
F1erican corporation. the International
kEricultural. OF which Mr. Schmidmann
4, president). would have been obliged
8 pay the tax
However. In September or October they
Aw NJ &c sign supplemental contracts
which they assumed AL taxes and
ther governmental charges. German or
merican- They. too. made bad guess
lrd were outwitted by Mr.. Schmidt
mann.
The trade lists show about 600 fertil-
1er manufacturers In the United States.
&c that only about one-tenth OF them
are represented in the present conten-
ion. Among those who are not ask
ana the government for help In trying
5 set an advantage over their compet-
ors Il the Yirginia-Carolins Chemical
n the largest fertilizer corporation in
nerica- On the contrary. the Ger
al mine ElnIgkeit. controlled by the
7ifginia-Carolina Co. recently Joined
HE potash syndicate.
Mr. Bradley's ideas on conservation
tem 10 consist mainly Of filler" The
zct that the law requires an increase
BIZ AZ least I'VE per cent yearly in the
alkntity mined proves that there is no
tfhntion OF limiting production. The
observation policy OF the law is that
~ mining shall be so regulated that
mes more favorably situated shall not
port their products at a price lower
an the average cost of mining and
ver than that for which the Germans
emselves can secure the same prod
ts
Ne have every reason to believe that
q German foreign minister did not
sure Ambassador Hill that lit would
y invaIldate or impair the American
nfracts." but that the assurance was
ven that provision would be made
that the American buyers need not
y more for their potash than had been
aid in previous years. This promise
- faithfully carried out and this pro-
sior stands I'm the law. but the buy
n have never asked for the liberal re-
iuctlons which IL permits-
M Bradley dramatically inquiries:
How. therefore. can Germany afford To
hart tariff war with the United
ztntexT' Germany has no such inten-
lnn A small but snoisy fraction Of the
American fertilizer manufacturers IS try
int 20 convince the American govern
n,ent that il ought 10 start a tariff war
4 order TO get them out OF a bad bar
gain
In the meantime. the potash business
gettins lots of effective advertising
Farmers and dealers are buying direct
n greatly increased amounts at reduced
srlces. and are quite satisfied with the
s)shation since IL permits them to mix
tsir Fertilizers at home at much less
~ than they can secure them I'm ready
xed form.
GERMAN KALI WORKS.
b II. a. Huston. Secretary.