The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-25
Scientists Worried Over Prob
lem of Sustaining Millions of
the Future
LOOK TO FERTILIZERS
TO SOLVE PROBLEM
Future Crop Increase Must Come
Through Medium of Inten-
sive Farming
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN.
Times Washington Bureau. No
MetronnHtnn Bank RRiIdin0.

Metropolitan Bank Building.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-The great
est problem OF today, according TO
many scientists OF the federal gov
eminent to keep the millions OF the
people OF the world from going
hungry. Ii was In 1898 that Sir
William Crookes sounded the first
note OF alarm as 10 the possibility
OF nourlshing the prospective millions
OF America and Europe I'm the coming
years. He based his calculations
chiefly on the profitable cultivation
OF cereals. He estimated that the
bread eaters In the world In that year
numbered 5l6,000,000 and that they
were increasing at the rate OF 5000
600 annually Taking the maximum
number OF acres possible in the world
for the growth of wheat, the per cap
tia consumption, the average yield
per acre OF wheat and the probable
Increase in the population, he figured
that the world would go hungry be-
fore 1910.
At that time, with bumper crops
that we're so great that we could ship
millions and millions OF dollars
worth TO Europe, the United States
paid but little heed TO the warning
OF the eminent English scientist, but
today, with the exports of foodstuffs
almost nil, and finding il difficult TO
supply our own needs with prices
continually soaring, this country is
beginning TO give some serious
thought to the problem.
Officials OF the Department OF Agri-
culture more than year ago made
the statement that the time for pio-
neer invasion OF virgin territory had
passed in the United States, and that
I'm broad way the country was now
settled. 1t further stated that any
great increase In crops, TO meet the
increasing demands OF growing pop
nlation, must come from the adoption
OF more modern and intensive agri-
cultural methods, and that one i'm
portant way to obtain these methods
was through the use OF fertilizers.
This has led TO careful survey OF
the fertilizer resources OF the coun-
try with some rather astounding re-
suits. In the first place, the United
States Is now spending each year
sl20,000,000 for fertilizers, so per cent
OF this being used in the south Allan
tic states. Agricultural experts say
that this expenditure must be in.
creased several fold within the next
few years, IL the crops are TO keep
pace with the population.
or the S120.000,000 being spent for
Fertilizers, more than $50. 900, 900 goes
abroad for the purchase or nitrogen
In its various combinations and over
half Of this sum Is expended for a
single item and goes TO single coun.
try--Chile. The realization that the
nitrate deposits OF Chile are not par.
ticularly extensive and are destined at
an early date to complete exhaustion
has been an additional incentive TO.
ward the search for fertilizer re.
sources In the United States.
The investigation has further shown
that the United States Is annually i'm
porting $4,000 worth OF ammonium
sulphate. one OF the important sources
OF heterogeneous fertilizers. Government
experts declare that this is entirely
unnecessary and is but another evi.
denee OF the great wastefulness OF the
American people. Ammonium sulphate
is a waste product from gas-making
plants and by-product coke ovens.
Great Britain and Germany, with coal
supplies and coal consumption insig-
nihcant when compared with that
OF the United States, save the ammon.
ium sulphate from every little village
gas plant. while in this country this
valuable product is carried away In
the waste water
In the making of coke In this coun.
try there is the same American spirit
off waste. The beehive type OF oven
Is generally used and the valuable
byfproducts, including the ammonia.
valued at millions OF dollars, are al.
lowed TO escape. Calculated from the
amount of coal used in these indus
tries In the United States. the annual
production or ammonium sulphate
should be approximately 100000 tons.
valued az s30,000.O00. Actually. S5..
900 tons, valued at $l,S4O,OOO. are be.
ing produced.
The federal experts who are inter.
ested In this great problem have learn.
ed recently that this economic crime
Is not TO be continued mush longer.
Word reached Washington the other
day that one OF the big Independent
steel companies Is about TO invest So.
100000 In by-product coke ovens and
that they are To place the ammonia
on the market for fertilizer purposes.
II Is also said that the United States
Steel Corporation. after sending its en-.
Etneers abroad more than year ago
10 Investigate coke making, has, as
q result, decided 10 gradually change
It's old-fashioned. wasteful beehive
coke ovens into by.product ovens and
save the by-products. This action. Il
r believed. viii force other coke
making concerns into the newer pro
cess. with the result that there viii
De suihciept ammonia TO not only sup
ply NIL needs for fertilizing the farms,
niii may also lower the cost OF Vgrtt.
, llxers
50 important is this problem OF fer
ihi1ers considered by the federal gov
efnment that Il sent a special agent
through Europe recently TO make a
fspcTt upon the utilization OF atmos-
pntric nitrogen from the air BY means
81 powerful electrical currents. The
report By Thomas ". Norton. issued
~ The Department OF Commerce. Is
txpepted to lead 10 The development OF
itrkf plants for the manufacture OF
n'roren, the need OF which. accord.
rs 70 ~. Norton. Is one OF the press
economic problems OF the TWEEN.
NHt century
~ not frna thaf nohod, loves a