Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-19
FERTILIZER FROM THE AIR.
Great Falls Plant is Now Almost
Ready,


Ready.
With the arrival from Europe the
lotter part Of the present month Of
the immense blower" that will be
installed in the fertilizer-from-the-ai
plant of the Southern Electro-Chemi-
cal company at Nitrolee s. c., every
thing will then be in readiness for the
coupling up Of the machinery and
the turning on Of the power for in
itial operations in furtherance Of the
atmosphere. This blower, like the ma
terial utilized in the construction Of
the plant itself, had to be ordered and
manufactured abroad. for the reason
that there are no establishments In
this country capable Of turning out
the articles desired. Even the brick
used in the building Of the absorption
towers had to be shipped over from
Europe. This was for the reason that
none could be obtained in this coun-
try sufficient to withstand the vitriolic
effects Of the warlike nitric acid.
AS has been explained before, the
system to be followed at Nitrolee in
the production Of fertilizer in the form
Of nitrate Of lime, from the atmos-
phere centers about the employment
Of large quantities Of energy in the
electric arc. The power will be deriv-
ed from the two mammoth stations
Of the Southern Power company at
Great Falls and Rocky creek, only a
few miles distant, which are capable
Of generating approximately $4,000
horsepower electricity. The fertilizer
plant that Is now nearing completion
will utilize only about 1000 horse
power, and will produce about five
tons OF nitric acid every twenty-four
hours, which will give about eight
tons Of nitrate Of lime. The limestone
used will be taken from the nearby
hills, which are made up largely Of
the rock. Summarizing. the river will
supply the current and the hills the
limestone and the Southern Electro
Chemical company the necessary
equipment, apparatus and brains to
keep the machinery going.
The initial plant at Nitrolee is
largely for experimental purposes.
The patent rights Of DR.. Albert Paul
ing. a noted continental scientist, were
acquired several years ago for large
sum, and the Southern Electro-Chem-
ical company was organized In New
York, with Mr.. A. H. Burroughs, pres
ident, and R. B. Arlington secretary
and treasurer, for the purpose Of de-
veloping and exploiting the plan.
Work has started on the plant at. the
confluence of Fishing creek and the
Catawba, with the view to erecting a
much larger one should the scheme
| prove a success. This second plant
will utilize about 10000 horsepower.
or more, according to the success of
the first effort now about to be real
lied. or course. great difficulties were
encountered with the undertaking by
reason Of the fact that 1t was almost
altogether new, and consequently pio-
| neer work had to be done all along
the line Then, too, the local plant
being the first in America, all the ma
terial, labor. etc. had to be imported
from abroad. which not only required
time and money but vast care as we'll.
The goal now, however, Is In sight,
and before another month has passed
something definite in the line OF Gre
ative or constructive effort will have
been accomplished.
AS to the effect Of the success OF the
undertaking 1t Is hard to forecast
That 1t will be a great step forward
| in human achievement goes without
saying, for 1t will open up vast fields
for future development, direct, as well
as indirect. The present supply OF
nitrogen, one Of the essential COM
pounds in commercial fertilizers, Is
| limited. and no new sources have been
discovered. 1t has been estimated
that the Chill saltpeter beds will be
exhausted in twenty years. They are
the present great sources of supply.
Nitrogen is one Of the principal in
gradients Of plant food. The soil diff
fers in it's supply Of nitrogen as 1t
differs in other essentials. Where the
soil Is to be cultivated and special
forms Of plant life are to be grown,
it is ofttimes necessary to supply the
deficit of one Of these principal in
gradients. Just here enters the use
of commercial fertilizers. If one soil
needs more nitrogen, then a fertilizer
Of higher percentage Of nitrogenous
compounds Is purchased. This ele-
ment Of nitrogen is very expensive and
augments greatly the cost Of the fer
tilizer AS the air Is composed Of
four-fifths nitrogen and one-fifth oxy-
gen, 1t is manifest that II some process
could be discovered whereby the nj
trogen could be taken from the air
and fixed and then converted into
commercial service that a great
achievement would be effected. This
is what the new Pauling process does,
| t,1o he