Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-04-22
OWNERSHIP OF POTASH LAKE

According to Salt Lake and California papers
the potash lake discovered by government engi-
neers in the San Bernardino desert in southern
California Is not part of the public domain, but
is located on property owned by an English syn
diea-e. the Foreign Mines Development com
pany, which is a subsidiary of the British South
African Gold company The local manager Of the
company has announced that a million dollars
will be invested in reduction works and to pro-
vide means of transportation TO tidewater.
The story which comes from California Is that
Searles lake IS from eight TO twelev miles long
and tour miles wide at the widest part. Ii was
originally located by Dennis Searles who mined
ana freighted out boraX. He patented two thou
sand acres and operated as the San BernardinO
Borax company which IN turn was succeeded By
the California Trona company
This company borrowed large sums from the
English syndicate and began the manufacture OF
soda from the deposits found in the bed of the
lake plant erected and twenty-five tons
Of soda were turned out but never reached a
market. 1t is still sacked and in the old ware
house the lake. When the payments could
not be made the syndicate forecosed, and to pro-
tect claims which had been bought from the
ocators, the company placed in the hands Of
). ". Austin receiver.
The Salt Lake Tribune. "A violent opponent Of
the policy of Withdrawing mineral lands from
public entry, rejoces that il will not be tied up
even II the prOnts go To foreigners, OF which II
says
1t is unfortunate that the deposit is
owned by an English syndicate; STILL it is
better thus than to have it withdrawn from
public use, as the United States geological
survey, which has recently reported this
potash deposit a discovery, would
probably recommend We are in period
of conservation; we are treating ourselves
IN all these matters a miser treats him
self who with boards of pud n hrs
hiding places, staryes himself for lack of
food. 1t is fortunate. therefore, we say,
that these deposits have been filed upon
and title obtained prior to the government
officials waking up to the Importance of
the deposit As it is now. it is likely
that the potash will be brought into use,
| and that il will. to some extent, at least,
relieve our dependence on Germany from
whence we have been importing immense
quantities of this fertilizer
The English syndicate viii take the
j product to tidewater The San Francisco
Call states that this potash is in solution.
and it suggests that perhaps a pipe line
would provide the best means Of transpor.
tation to a reduction plant the coast.
! The land having been patented by Den
mis- SeareS stated in the above extract
the validity Of the English company title
would seem to be absolute and clear, and
it is not likely that the government would
session Of the deposit Clearly it is to the
advantage of the present generation that
the English syndicate has this deposit and
is preparing to put the potash on the
market. Otherwise. if it were in fact
discovery. as the geological survey has
intimated Cat least the potash part Of IT'D
4 there would be no opportunity for anybody
to get this potash during the present gen
Grafton. 1t is to be hoped that the English
company will hasten its preparations and
establish an economical and practical
method of getting this potash to the sea
for transportation and commercial use
/ Californians seem TO think the deposit is of al
most fabulous value and some estimate it TO b
worth S250000,O0O Still it would be unwise T.
! invest money in stock until more definite nforma
ton is forthcoming 1t looks promising but NJ
one can yet tell what it will cost to produce pot
ash there and lay il down at New Orleans o
Galveston. And besides the German Kali syndi
cate cannot be relied on to maintain prices If
finds its present monopoly in danger