Evening journal., 1912-04-05
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TUIHSH SUUkULS
UNDEVELOPEDHERE

At the last session Of Congress an
appropriation of $12,50O was made to
the Department of Agriculture for the
purpose OF investigating the fertilizer
resources Of this country. At the
same time $4,000 was given to the
geological survey, which is drilling at
Fallon, New. Tho report of Secretary
Wilson has Just been transmitted to
Congress by the President in special
message.
Both appropriations were the out
come of a desire on the part of Con-
gress at the last session to become. If
possible, independent of foreign
sources of supply The United States
possesses the largest phosphate fields
in the world and not only supplies
oil that is required for home consump-
tion, but also exports large quanti-
Ties to foreign countries. All Of the
potash, however, required for our
fertilizers is imported from Germany.
the annual importation being. about
$4,000, 900 Germany has shown a
disposition TO limit the amount sent to
this country, and as the use of ferti-
lizers is increasing rapidly the need
for home supply becomes every year
more apparent.
The present report shows that the
Department of Agriculture has been
successful in the search
A few difficulties of an engineering
character are still 10 be overcome, but
they are not of a serious nature. A
new industry will be established and
If the by-products are wisely used
many millions per annum should be
added to the wealth of this country.
The department experts have cover
cd a wide range in their investiga-
lions. some of the desert basins were
examined; brines and the other IL
quors from salt wells were tested and
experiments have been carried on
with the object of extracting potash
from silicate rocks and minerals. such
as alunite. which contain it. The
work is still under way and potash
in limited amounts undoubtedly will
be derived from some of these sources
Up to the present none of them gives
promise of satisfying the country
needs.
Giant kclD Groves.
But in the giant kelps of the Paci-
tic coast satisfactory source of pot
ash has been found The kelp groves
along less than one-fourth OF the
coast line have been mapped, and yet
these should yield from two to three
times as much potash as the present
impOrtatiOns These sea weeds are
able to extract by selective ahsorp.
tiOn the potash salts from the sea
water and on drying these salts are
very largely eXuded on the surface
The dried plants contain from 25 tC
35 per cent. of their weight of potas.
a1.f d. 1.t
readily be extracted. The kelps alsC
contain iodine and many other by
products can be obtained from them
II Is possible that these by-productl
= Will more than pay the manufacturing
expenses leaving the potassium chlor
ide free from cost. The japanese
have already shown considerable in
genuity in working up these by-pro
ducts Not only do they use soml
Df tho waste material for cattle food
hut the Japanese themselves use It a
a staple article OF diet Glue. shellac
PAPER and other useful products cal
also be made
Some of, the Pacific groves are fv
miles long and two miles wide. an
the growth IN these groves is *
Ceedingly dense The two princips
species that would be available ar
nereocystis luet keans in the mort
and macro cystis pyrifers in tn
south Both these plants reach
length of 100 feet or more and grow
i'm strong tideways or where they ar
exposed to- the full force of the opel
sea. All Of the groves are within
the three mile limit and should b
easily harvested. The heavies
groves are south Of Point Sur. bu
large ones extend as far north Is Sc
attle If properly harvested and pro
tected these groves will yield an an
nual harvest indefinitely: IT. is eve
possible that in the case Of macro
cystis two such harvests may he oh
tanned On a conservative basis ur
yard Of 100000 tons Of potassium
chloride. worth nearly $40 ,000, ,00t
should be obtained each year. n
estimate can be given at the presen
time of the value of the by-productl