Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-27
POTASH PRICES PLEASE
FARMERS AND DEALERS
Sales to Them Increase

The long published statement regard
ing the potash situation. signed by Mr.
Bradley and others. contains some near
truths. much argument and some opin-
Ions OF attorneys. the lateer being evil
IDENTIFY influenced BY their clients pres
entation Of their troubles. All Of these
need TO be considered in connection with
the following facts:
Mr. Robert Bradley did not sign the
contract July /. ISes but according TO
Afr. Schmidtmann IL was signed by Mr..
Peter Bradley in New York August IS.
Tie statement OF the Prussian min
lister OF commerce in the German par
lament on July I contained the fol-
lowing.
Being a man OF caution. 1 have al
Fe<s9 drawn up prospective law.
which naturally 1 have not yet placed
before the Bundesrat. Now everybody
knows where he stands and can arrange
his business accordingly. Whether the
potash syndicate VIII be formed is not
material The question rather Is. wheth-
er II will be possible to counterfeit the
consequences detrimental 10 the general
welfare"
II Is quite Inconceivable that Mr.. Brad
ley should not know OF this on August
IS when the contract providing that
ara export or import duties OF other
after become effective within the life Of
the contract shall also be paid by the
buyer" was signed.
{. Under the circumstances the signing
Was a speculation which so far has not
been successful but he made a bad
guess on what was going 70 happen and
Mr.. SchmIdtmann outtraded him
The other sixty-eight buyers who see
1T to cast their lot in with Mr.. Bradley
which did not expire until 1sl7. These
contracts guaranteed the average price
paid BY the two greatest American fer
tilizer corporations. and had they not
consented to change them the mine
(which had been purchased by another
American corporation. the International
Agricultural Of which Mr. schmidtmann
Is president). would have been Obliged
10 pay the tax
However. IN September or October they
saw ht to sign supplemental contracts
IN which they assumed all taxes and
other governmental charges. German or
American They. too. made q bad guess
and were outwitted BY ar. Schmidt
mann A
The trade lists show about go -fertfl-
fzer manufacturers in the United States.
so that only about one-tenth OF them
are represented in the present conten-
ton Among those. who are not ask
ing the government for help In trying
20 get an advantage over their eompet-
itors Is the Virginia Carolina Chemical
Co, the largest fertilizer corporation in
America On the contrary. the Ger
man mine Einigkeit. controlled by the
Virginia Carolina Co. recently joined
the potash syndicate.
AFR BradIey's ideas on conservation
seem TO consist mainly OF filler" The
fact that the Law requires an increase
OF az least five per cent yearly in the
quantity mined proves that there Is no
intention Of limiting production The
conservation pelicy OF the law is that
the mining shall be so regulated that
mines more favorably situated shall not
export their products at a price lower
than the average cost OF mining and
lower than that for which the Germans
themselves can secure the same prod
ucts.
We have every reason 20 believe that
the German foreign minister did not
assure Ambassador Hill that 1T would
not invaHdate or impair the American
contracts" but that the assurance was
given that a provision would be made
20 that the American buyers need not
paw more for their potash than had been
paid In previous years. This promise
was faithfully carried out and this pro-
vision stands IN the law. but the buy
ers have never asked for the liberal re-
auctions which Il permits
Mr.. Bradley dramatically inquiries:
How. therefore. can Germany afford 10
start a tariff war with the United
StatesT' Germany has no such inten-
700 "A small but noisy fraction or the
American fertilizer manufacturers Is try
nx 10 convince me American govern
rent that II ought 20 start a tariff war
IN order TO get them out OF bad bar
gain.
- the meantime. the potash business
h getting lots OF effective advertising
Farmers and dealers are buying direct
in greatly increased amounts al reduced
prices. and are quite satisfied with the
situation since II permits them to mix
their fertilizers at home at much less
cost than they can secure them in ready
mixed form
GERMAN KALI WORKS.
BY II. A. Huston. Secretary.