davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13
The Nitrate Desert Of the Andes


cost millions of pesos and some of them
employ hundreds of men, Some have an
output OF half million pounds Of nitrate
per day, and there is one which markets in d
good season as much as 2OOOOOOOO pounds
per annum
The work of the big nitrate factory is sci
entihcally done. The rock is crushed just
so fine and boiled just so much and no more
The boiling tanks are usually situated in
building high above the ground Each is
big enough to form a bathtub for an ele-
plant. 1t is equipped with coils of steam
pipe that keep the temperature of the fluid
within at just the desired point. The ca
liche, or nitrate ore, is carried up an inclined
railway and dumped into the tank. Then
the water containing a certain portion OF
nitrate Of soda in solution is allowed to flow
from tank to tank so as to act to the best
advantage on the salts within Expert
ments have shown just how much water
and how much salts should be used, and
everything is done by the rules that expert
ence and science have proved best for the
reduction. 1t takes three or four hours of
boiling to make the liquid OF the required
density and when it is run off it looks for
all the world like pale maple molasses or
thick lemon srup 1t now goes into the
crystallizing tanks, where it lies for 10 or | s
days. During this time the soda all drops
to the bottom and the tank is half full of
what looks like pure white sugar or salt
The mother liquor, which floats on top, isl
now drawn off and returned to the boiling
tank to be used over again, and the salt is
shoveled out upon drying floors, where it re-
mains until the moisture has all disappeared.
1t is now fitted for export and is bagged up
and taken on the cars down to the seacoast.
In my talks with the nitrate experts of
Chile have learned much as to the present
extent OF the fields and their future. The
Antofagasta manager of the Nitrate Agen-
cies, Limited, estimates that there is enough
salt III sight to run the world for 80 years
more at the present rate of consumption,
and there are others who say that the nj
trate fields will last for more than century
There are three provinces whose deposits
are estimated at more than 5O0,OOO,OO0,O
pounds Others of the estimates are lower,
some claiming that here are now left only
about 200,000,0O0,00O pounds These esti-
mates do not take into account the new
fields which are sure to be found nor the
possibilities OF working over the dumps
about the ofhcinas, which still contain a
large percentage of nitrates
Indeed, one OF the great opportunities for
the inventors of the future lies right here in
these arid deserts of Chile. The caiche as
it is brought from the mines seldom aver
ages more than rs per cent of nitrate of
soda, and by the present methods OF reduc-
ton fully q per cent is left in the refuse
That means that 40 per cent of the nitrate
contents are still in these great dumps sur
rounding the ofhcinas and that if this can
be saved it will add to the world 40 per cent
of all the nitrate so far taken out of the
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13

in which they lie is seldom more than ten
miles in width 1t is therefore not hard to
get the stuff to the seaboard and the most
of the haul is down hill
The bed of nitrate is not regularly and
evenly distributed throughout Much of it
is in pockets There is one salt field in the
province of Tarapaca that covers an area of
more than 100 square miles, but there are
others where the beds Of good nitrate are
confined to a few hundred acres, and the
purity of the ore varies greatly.
AS a general thing the nitrate is close to
the surface. 1t crops out here and there,
and it seldom extends for more than 20 feet
below the surface of the desert
AS to whence these great fields of nitrate
come, there are many different theories.
One is that this part of Chile was once the
bed OF an inland sea, and that the nitrate
came from the decaying OF the heterogeneous
seaweed. Another theory is that the am
monia which arose from the vast beds of
guano in the islands of the west coast was
carried by the winds to the mainland, where
ii condensed and united with the other
chemicals of the soil to form the deposits
A third suppositon is that the nitrates came
from certain electrical discharges of the
Andes which combined with the air so as
to make nitric acid, the acid being deposited
in these beds in the form Of nitrate Of soda
None OF these theories is satisfactory, and
yet the scientists have little better to offer.
DR., Walter S. Tower of the Chicago univer-
sity says they have come from great la
COON which was formed in this region bv
the rising of the land in such way that it
formed the home of world Of bird life.
The lagoon was shallow and the birds wad-
ed through it and fed on its shores Their
droppings formed guano, and as evapora-
ton went on this combined with other
chemicals in the water and soil and the re-
suit was nitrate of soda. At any rate the
nitrates have been preserved by the dryness
of the desert, which has no moisture to
leach them out of the soil
wish could take you out into the coun-
try and show you how these great deposits
of valuable fertilizer are taken out of the
earth. Where the mining is done the land
looks as though it had been plowed up by
giants. The earth lies in mammoth clods
of all shapes and sizes, and beyond are moth
ing but bleak and bare sand There is no
sign of vegetation nor life of any kind. All
is sand and salt rock The rock is OF diff
ferent colors, in some places white and in
Others yellow, gray, lemon colcred or green.
The nitrate lies in beds or strata at some
distance under the surface; and the method
of getting it out is to bore a round hole
foot in diameter through the layers of sand
and rock above it and blow it out with blast
ing powder The powder is made on the
spot and that out of nitrate similar to that
which it is to blow up. The only things re-
olred in addition are charcoal aud e,,tob,r
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13

earth. Such product would be worth hun
dreds of millions of dollars. These fields
have been mined since 1880 and in 1890. at
the time of the Peruvian war, they were all
ready taking out millions of pounds every
year. In 1890 the output was more than
100000 tons, and in 1911 the exports were
more than 100000 tons and the value of
the output was something like $1OO,OOOOOO.
/ his work has been going on steadily at the
present rate for more than generation and
IN less degree for generation and more
before that. All this time only 90 per cent
of the product has been saved The other
40 per cent still lies in the dumps, and in this
rainless country there it will continue to lie
until the "open sesame" of some inventors
brain unlocks the robber cave of nitrate and
' '''' ''''"''-- -~' inc N0'''' s ssgs4.z&
And still the most careful study is taken
to get out the nitrate at the lowest possible
cost, and to save every cent in product and
labor. Said one of the great ofhcina man
ayers to me:
Our profits are question of small saw
ings. The difference of a cent in the cost Of
the reduction of each 100 pounds would
mean profit of at least $1,000 month. We
have to watch everything, and especially tho
matter of labor Our workmen have to
come from the outside, and their wages are
very high for this part of the world The
present average is about 81 per day, al
though boys are paid less than 81. There
are altogether about 10000 hands EMPLOYED
in the reduction of nitrate and some of the
larger works have from to 1000 apiece.
We have to provide houses for the men, and
also heat, light and water, although the cost
OF these are deducted from their wages"
The water for the nitrate works comes in
pipes for long distance over the desert and
all kinds of food must be imported Every
company has its own store, and it paws its
wages in blanks instead of in money Each
blank is the size of poker chip. 1t has its
value marked on it and it can be used at the
company stores. 1t represents so much
money, and the workmen can cash it at any
time. The stores are run at profit, and the
prices are high. Flour brings more than 81
a hundred, eggs 10 cents apiece, all cuts of
meat so cents pound and beans about So
bushel. Coal oil costs about 20 cents a gall
Ion and coal over l cent pound The coal
is used only for cooking. The most of it
comes from southern Chile, although some
is shipped in from England and Australia.
The larger ofhcinas have schools for their
men and there arc hospitals and physicians
accessible.
1
The nitrate business supports a number
OF towns along the coast. 1t is the back
bone of Iquique, the foundation OF Antofa-
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13

The nitrate beds arc found right out in
the desert. They lie at an altitude of sew
eral thousand feet above the sea, on the
western slope OF range of low hills that
run along the coast They are from 20 to
100 miles back from the coast, and the belt
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13

The nitrate business supports number
of towns along the coast. 1t is the back
bone of Iquque, the foundation Of Antofa-
gasta and it also feeds Taltal, Majillones,
Pisagua, Chanaral and Tocopila, which are
towns of less size.
lquique depends entirely on nitrate Next
to Valparaiso and Antofagasta it is the most
thriving seaport of the county. 1t lies on
the edge of the sea under the bare ragged
hills. For a hundred miles back of it and
around it there is nothing but desert. The
country has not one blade of grass except
that fed by the fresh water brought to
Iquique in pipes, and the whole supply of
the city comes through an iron tube which
is more than IS miles in length. Neverthe-
less the city has 10000 inhabitants. 1t has
wide streets and an electric car line. 1t has
its newspapers, theater. moving picture
shows and good English club. 1t has good
stores and markets and, although it pro-
duces nothing but nitrate of soda and every-
thing must come from abroad, its people
live almost as we'll as those of any other
South American city
There is vast deal of money invested in
the nitrate fields and enormous fortunes
have been made out OF them You have all
heard of Colonel North, the nitrate king,
who cut a splurgc in England during the
latter part of his life. | visited him once at
his country place at Ethan, near London.
He had an enormous establishment and was
SO proud OF its gorgeousness that he had
Continued Page Eighth
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13
Copyright. 1914. by Frank c. Carpenter)
ANTOFAGASTA. Chile

:S2 URING the past two weeks
Nh | have been trav ing
N through one OF the richest
lN lands of the world. a land
.El that turns out more dollars
81 than the valleys of the Nile,
the Euphrates or the
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-13

CONTINUED on Page Eighth
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
GOT THE SLUGS TWIST
ED; is HIDING OUT

Here is an illustration OF what
the poor newspaperman otter runs
up against who labors diligently to
prevent typographical errors from
creeping into his columns. In
handling the slugs which make up
the lines in a newspaper, and in
separating the various items, the
makeup man sometimes gets the
lines mixed up and they naturally
read rather queer. Recently a mix
up OF this kind happened in the
Bangor, Maine News, when a print
er got wedding and an auction
sale conglomerated into one item,
with the following results:
William Jones. the only son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. Jones, and Miss
Lucy Anderson were disposed OF
at public auction at my farm one
mile east, in the presence of 70
guests, including two mules and II
head OF cattle. Rev. Jackson fled
the nuptial knot for the parties,
averaging 1850 pounds on the hoof.
The beautiful home of the bride
was decorated with one sulky rake.
one feed grinder, and two sets OF
work harness, nearly new, and just
before the ceremony was pronounc-
ed, the Mendal and Sons wedding
march was rendered by one cow,
five years old, one Jersey cow and
one sheep, who carrying a bunch
Of brides roses in her hand, was
very beautiful. She wore one light
spring wagon, two crates of apples,
three racks OF hay, one grindstone
of mouseline de sole and trimmings,
about one hundred bushels of spuds.
The bridal couple left yesterday for
an extended trip. Terms, spot cash."
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
EVANGELISTIC SER
VICES TO BEGIN
From FRIDAYS Daily

Another series of union evangelis-
tic church meetings are to be held
in Prescott. commencing Sunday,
November 18th. They will be con-
Quoted in the Odd Fellows build
ing, which will be seated to accom-
modate 500 people, and conducted
by the well known evangelists who
have been in Prescott before. Revs.
H. B. DeLaye and f. w. Pfaffen-
berger.
Already arrangements are on foot
by all the protestant churches OF
the city to make the meetings as
great a success as possible. The
Prescott public is acquainted. with
the methods OF these evangelists,
having had an opportunity to hear
Rev. DeLaye preach and Rev. Pfaf-
fenberger sing. Under the leader
ship of DR.. Southworth and others,
the Union Chorus is already be-
ing re-organizcd. and it was stated
yesterday that it would contain no
less than one hundred voices, in
GLIDING all the well known singers
who have so often appeared in uni
son in Prescott. and especially in
the various church choirs.
1t has been arranged for the ser
vices to continue three weeks, and
by the time this period shall have
expired it is possible further plans
for a longer time will have been
made, it all depending on the Sue
cess OF the first three weeks.
The two evangelists are noted
throughout the west and southwest
for their great drawing power. When
here before they were able to work
up great church enthusiasm in Pres
colt and surrounding country. Since
that time they have been continu-
ously in the harness in their chosen
profession, in some OF the larger
cities, and will return with new
themes. new songs and new enthusi-
asm, which will be employed here
toward forwarding the interests of
all the protestant churches OF the
city, according to statements of
those who have the coming meet
ings in charge.
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
WORK RESUMED IN
BUILDING BIG DAM

Construction of the big water
storage dam OF the Hassayampa
Alfalfa Farms Company, resumed
yesterday under orders of H. G.
Wells, OF Nancy Brothers, who
telegraphed from Boise, Idaho, TO
his chief engineer, R. s. Fessenden
of this city.
This important news sets at rest
future speculation as to the pur-
poses OF the company, and is in
accordance with a statement made
by General Manager Smith, in this
city when he and other stockholders
outlined their plans under the re-
organization effected when the Ari-
IONA Land and Irrigation Company,
retired from the undertaking and
was succeeded by the new syndi-
cate.
Mr.. Fessenden is familiar with
the work to be performed, and had
charge OF construction when sus-
pension took place a few months
ago. He will re-establish Camp
Wells today, situated near the dam
site The number OF employees in
arranging the property for an &C
tive campaign will be about twenty
FIVE. When under full swing it is
probable there will be fully $50 at
work.
1t is stated the terms of the con-
tract call for the dam to be COM
pleted by January l, next, and in
order to facilitate construction cleo
trio lighting will be introduced for
night work. The structural steel
for reinforcing the concrete is on
the ground while several carloads
OF cement are en- route from FL
Paso. Texas. The dam will be
built to a height of l02 feet as
originally outlined, and will be OF
the arched type.
Camp Wells is again being placed
in condition as headquarters for the
work.
Flowing an additional 1000 acres
and seeding the 1000 acres ready
for developing started yesterday,
also. The digging OF the big canal
to traverse the first unit of 1000
acres of land, as we'll as the many
miles OF lateral bitches will be
taken up for consideration imme-
diately. Mr.. Wells wired that he
will reach Prescott this week.
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
YAVAPAI WILL BE
IN SWIM NECK DEEE
(From Saturdays Daily

NFTOm SATURDAY DdllyJ
Malcolm Fraser, secretary of tn,
Prescott Chamber OF Commerce. lei
for Phoenix yesterday to be pres
cnt at the state fair until its close
Fraser will be in charge OF tn
exhibits from Yavapai county. and
assisted by helpers, will make it {;
point to show off this part of tn,
state in an agricultural. mineral
Horticultural and industrial manner
in the best possible form. Will
he is absent the Chamber of Com
merce here will be in charge OF Mr.
Fraser's very able assistant, Mis-.
Grace Sparks.
1t will take Mr.. Fraser and help
crs two or three days TO install tn
Yavapai exhibit. 1t is proposed thi
year to have the exhibit second t,
none in the state of Arizona. Tt
this end no pains will be spared witt
reference to Laboratories of dis
play. great latitude on this poin
having been delegated the local rep
rcscntative.
At the state fair last year Yava
pal would undoubtedly have captur
ed first place with reference TO ag
ricultural products had MaricOp,
not been a contestant. As it wa;
she took second place. This year
Maricopa has been eliminated fror
the agricultural and horticulture
contest. 1t was uneven when Mari
copa was interested from man,
standpoints. chief among which wa
the fact that Maricopa had her pro
ducts on the ground whereas othe-
counties had to ship their exhibit.
and stand all damage. etc, inciden
thereto, not mentioning the fac
that they could not make such elab
crate displays. This year there /.
little doubt that Yavapai will vii
the cup, although she will have {;
closc second in Yuma county. &C
cordinr to the way those who ar,
best posted have the situation size,
up.
In the mineral display Yavapa
has TIC best that can be produced il
the state. if the standing Phoenix ex
hibit is considered. and this will b.,
part OF the county exhibit at tn,
fair.
Taking all this into account, anC
aiding to it the great wild west ex-
hibition Yavapai county cowboy.
will pull off, and the fact that Pres
colt is the principal point on thu
great race course between Los An
geles and Phoenix, and the las
night control. this section of tn,
state is going to justly take a large
slice OF the odd Watermelon which
will be finally carved for distribu-
ton by the fathers OF the state fair.
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
VERDE COMPANY WILL
EXTEND THE ROAD
(From Fridays Daily.)

Thos. c. Snider, the we'll known
road contractor, was in Prescott
yesterday, and when asked as to
the progress OF the construction
work on the Jerome Clarkdale coun-
ty road, where he has large force
of men and teams at work, he said
it was good.
He also stated that w. A. Clark,
of San Francisco, president of the
United Verde Copper Company,
would be here next week to look
over some contemplated projects and
on business in general connected
with the company. 1t has already
been determined, by the Verde Com
pany, according to Mr.. Snider, to
pick up the road he is now con-
structing and extend it from where
the county leaves off to Clarkdale,
the object being to secure low
grade haul for their ore to Clark
dale. Mr.. .Snider intimated that
something big was on foot with ref
erence to developments in a road
way in that country, but would give
out none OF the details, saying that
they were not yet ready for the
public.
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
MAY TURN HILL
TO THE GOVERNOR
CFrom Fridays Daily.)

1t was learned yesterday that the
man Hill. the paroled convict who Is
alleged 20 have betrayed Nellie Hill
eran in Prescott recently, will not
be prosecuted. if Governor Hunt
cares to have him taken in charge
and returned TO the penitentiary
from which he was recently releas-
ed. He was arrested just previous
to election and the matter was held
over for disposition after further in
vestigation. both Hill and the girl
remaining in jail here.
1t is a rule with county attorneys
the state over to confer with the
governor in all cases where pa
rolled conviSts go astray, which is a
frequent occurrence in Arizona, and
in the case OF Hill no exception
will be made
So far as the girl is concerned
Rev. Cox, of the Baptist church
has taken it upon himself to look
into her case with the view OF Sc
curing her a home. She came here
4 perfect stranger. and it was neces
sary for those interested to take her
word for everything, and when Rev
Cox took up the case it was tn,
intention to do the best possible
for her under the circumstances. Sho
has comfortable quarters in the wo-
mans department OF the county jail
being held there not on account o
any crime she has committed bu
simply to await some investigation
with reference TO Hill, against whom
she may have to appear as wit
ness, for if the state authorities dc
not take care OF him it is probabl,
criminal complaint will be flee
against him by the county attorney
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
POPULAR ROAD IS
THE OLD TRAILS

NfrOm hurSday Daily.)
THE Old Trails highway in the
past few months has assumed much
popularity among auto tourists, and
on an average six cars are going
east and west, daily" said F. R.
Goodman, division state engineer.
Coconino, Yavapai and Mohave
counties have performed creditable
road building, and with Apache and
Navajo exerting themselves and pre-
pairing to build through their terri
tory, in few months the route
should be ready for the exposition
year rush. Goodman will award
another state contract in few days
for road work west OF Kingman.
He states that the new bridge across
Beaver dam in Apache county will
be ready in thirty days, while the
Canyon Diabolo bridge will require
ninety days to complete. These
structures will obviate traffic over
certain creek routes, and be a bene-
fit to travellers. Road enthusiasm
in the north. continues, and every
cent of public money available is
being readily APPLIED byeach county.
Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-11
CLOSE BIG DEAL
IN FARMING LANDS
(From Fridays Dailyl


Negotiations that have been pend
ing for the past month between the
Arizona Land and Irrigation Com
pany and the Hassayampa Alfalfa
Farms Company, for the purchase Of
a certain tract of 1000 acres of
land owned by the first named, were
closed in Terra Haute. Indiana, a
short time ago, and the deed was
recorded in this city yesterday.
This transaction follows as the
outcome OF an examination made
by several stockholders of the new
syndicate, of the lands in question,
situated in Lonesome valley, when
the creation of the company re-
suited. With the land bought, the
rights OF water storage on Granite
creek also were taken over.
As outlined at a meeting held in
this city plans were perfected for
beginning land development and wa
ter storage, both being under head
way at the present time. Camp
Wells was again established yes
terday at the dam site, while Camp
Carter is the scene OF land opera
tons, five miles to the north. Seed
ing and blowing started yesterday,
and quite a force is employed at
the dam in closing up preliminary
matters for dam construction to be-
gin next Monday morning. and the
storage rushed to completion with
out further delays.