The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-11
POTASH LANDS WITHDRAWN.
Famous Potash Deposits of Searles Lake
and Other Regions.

The president has recently approved
the withdrawal of three tracts of land
of the desert basin type in California
and Nevada that are believed, as the re-
suit of investigation by the United
States geological survey, to contain val
liable deposits of potassium salts and
brines. The aggregate area thus with
drawn is 1889 acres. The first of these
Withdrawals covered Columbus Marsh,
Nevada, and was approved on January
! 10, 1913. The second included the fla
nous Searles lake, California, and was
approved on February 81, 1913. The
third included lands in the Panamint
valley, California, the acreage affected be.
| ing 24.567 acres. Searles lake is the last
remaining pocket of a great ancient lake,
which has almost dried up, thus con-
centrating a vast amount of saline min
erals. Millions of tons of salt, soda, and
borax fill the bottom of the lake, and the
deposits of soda and borax have been
worked, but the development of the pot
ash in the lake deposits had not been
considered until recently.
The bitter disputes, amounting almost
to warfare that have resulted from tie
attempts to secure title to the potas-
SUM rich lands of Searles lake since the
discovery of potash there have not only
resulted in the postponement OF the high
ly desirable experimental work on the
deposits themselves but have shown the
utter inadequacy of the present laws for
the acquisition of lands of this type. The
bed of Searles lake is blanketed with
filings. the majority of which have been
made under the general placer law pro-
yiding that 100 acres may be entered as
an association placer, but there is danger
that the legality of these filings may he
destroyed by agreements, made prior to
patent. to combine a group OF plaeers
after patent is received, in order to OBJ
tain an area large enough to serve as
basis for a plant for extracting and re-
timing the salts.
In short, the whole situation is clouded
and perhaps legally irremediable under
the present statutes. 1t is in recognition
of this condition that the presidential
have been made. They are
in aid of legislation of type that VIII
give security and tenure and certainty N
operation to whoever may desire to un-
dertake development of these other
deposits. The Withdrawals are not de
structive OF any valid claims that may
now exist. In fact, in order that any
rights heretofore lawfully initiated may
be preserved the withdrawal order IT.
self has been made to include the fol-
owing phrase: This withdrawal is
made subject to all rights lawfully in
tiated under any valid mining locations
made upon such lands so long as such
lights are maintained in full compliance
With the law"
The constructive good faith OF the gov
,rnment in the Withdrawals of these
ands in aid of legislation is indicated by
he fact that concurrently with the with
travail the interior department has pre-
jared the draft of law intended to
elieve the present chaotic situation and
,rovide safe and sure legal basis for
he development of the deposits now
,nown and any that may be discovered
n the future. This draft has been sub
nitted to Congress for its consideration,
nd its enactment will be urged in order
hat American potash deposits may be
eveloped under conditions that are ia
orable TO the producer and will at the
ame time protect the consumer.