Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-10-13
MILLIONS IN PHOSPHATE
IN DEPOSITS IN idaho
State Mine Inspector Bell Gives President Valu-
able Information on This Question Deposits
in this County are Inexhaustible.

ly retrograding in production by reason
of their exhaustion from the soil of this
important element. The principal diff
Guilty in reaching these markets from
the Idaho phosphate depoits is the high
cost OF railway transportation, which
should he neutral on this class OF freight,
for as matter of fact the central grain
fields of the United States are fully as
near the phosphate deposits of Idaho as
they are to the deposits Of Tennessee,
and four or five hundred miles nearer
than those OF Florida, from which the
principal supply is now derived The
Oregon Short Line runs through the
very heart and center with its main
line and branches of these rich idnho
phosphate deposits and its officiaswould
be well warranted in nursing this infant
industry, rs it promises traffic resource
in the future equal to their present
great coal traffic now enjoyed, amount-
ing to several million tons year
with reasonably low rate to Port
land and other coast points, aud tramp
steamer freights through the Panama
canal, Idaho phosphate ought to be sup-
piled to the markets of Europe at the
same price as from other sources, by
reason of the cheap source of acid for its
treatment and superior quality and
economy of mining, as the principal
beds are high grade and require no sort
ing, and are AS cheaply and easily min
ed as are coal beds, with the same tools
and system of extraction and while it
will doubtless take years to establish an
industry of this kind, now is the time to
occupy the trade route TO the world
from our extensive resource Of this val
liable mineral.
''On the other side Of the conserva-
tion question referred to by President
Taft, the Idaho phosphate deposits are
afflicted by too much conservation by
reason of their enormous extent. Alta
congressional hearing held in Washing
ton shortly subsequent to the discovery
OF these western phosphate deposits
few yerrs ago, to determine under what
laws such land should be entered and
patent issued, the Importance OF this
mineral to the agricultural interests of
the United sta es was brought out, and
the fact that the total known resources
at that time were within so years Of alb
solute exhaustion, il was suggested that
the constitutional prerOgative be invok-
ed to prevent private owners of sueh
deposits from shipping this mineral
abroad to The ultimate detriment of the
farmers of this country, and hen as the
western discoveries became better
known. they were INN ediatey with
drawn from public entry and still re-
main so awaiting decision as TO their
manner of disposal.
"As | have pointed ont, the resources
of this mineral in Idaho and adjacent
states are so enormous that they are
practically inexhaustible. The present
prospects are that in the FRI me of min
of conservation advocates the law Will
be devised leasing these deposits under
severe restrictions as have already been
outlined. The result of such law puts
the government conservation policy in
the light of favoring monopoly for the
reasons that there are hall a dozen tracts
of phosphate lands in Idaho and Wyonl-
ing from which title has already passed
10 private ownership under the placer
law and the abortive apex lode law
III -.
phosphate rock to supply the prospective
requirements of this country for the
next 100 years whose operation will he
free from the governments control, and
to equalize the matter and make The
industry attractive to other capitalists
it would seem only fair, in view of the
enormous extent of these deposits, that
every alternate township in the present
territory be restored to
public entry under the placer law, or
some equally benefcient statute with
out restriction.
This would give future generations
their necessary reservation, and also
put the industry on an eqnal basis for
new investors with the privately owned
lands now existing. The future of This
industry is not such rs to attract small
investors. The margin of profit ia like
ly to always be very moderate. as the
principal costs as in coal mining, will
necessarily have TO 60 TO mining. labor
and transportation charges, and the
profits to be made should be open TO free
and equal competition with the lands
already acquired, and to which title has
been passed by the government
Toledo, Oct, II, The federal
court today rendered decree in
favor of the government against the
General Electric company and s5
subsidiary corporations, ordering
the lisaalutif,n af tha National