Imperial Valley press., 1914-12-09

ash salts. Announcement has also
come of the discovery in Spain of pot
ash deposits similar to those of Ger
many. That the Spanish field is prom
ising seems well authenticated though
few details are known.
The most important question raised
by the effect of the war on the fer
tilizer is: Can the United States be
come independents as regards mineral
fertilizer materials?
AS with most problems in fertiilz
ing, this question finally resolves it
self into an inquiry as to the potash
supply. Other ingredients are inn
ported extensively, it is true, but
though this country imported in 1913
$21 100000 worth of sodium nitrate
iand only $15,0C0,000 worth of potash
salts, we have undevciopcd sources OF
combined nitrogen which can largely
replace imported nitrates, One domes
tic form of combined nitrogen i'll am
monium sulphate, by-prOduct Of gas
works and coke ovens. The output Of
this substance, ammonia and ammo
niacal liquor, was valued in 1912 a.
$9,519, PCS, and had increased in ten
years nearly 500 per cent. Experts
agree that if the old fashioned coke
ovens generally used were replaced by
modern ovens, this country could
produce more nitrogen compounds
than it could consume. Other sources
Of combined nitrogen are calcium
cyanamide and nitric acid formed by
electrically fixing the free nitrogen
Of the air The source is ineXhaust-
ible and production requires only the
harnessing of cheap water power. A
considerable quantity of American
made cyanamide now enters into the
domestic fertilizer industry.
When the potash question is faced
it is seen to be peculiar one.
Though the element potassium is one
of the most abundant in nature, oc-
curing in all felspars, which constl
tute more than so per cent Of the
earth's original crust, it is so tightly
locked up in most cases as to be un-
available. Only soluble potash is of
value as fertilizer and deposits Of
such salts in paying quantities are not
known in the United States. SO the
guest for a domestic potash supply
hes become largely a search for meth
ods of changing insoluble potash com
pounds into soluble forms. Many pat
ents have been taken out for the
treatment of felspar, and it is believed
that some of the processes are prac-
ticable. The patentees are seeking
capital and believe that with large
scale plants their product can under
sell German salts.
1t has also been discovered that
from alunite, d double sulphate OF po-
tassium and aluminium, soluble pot
ash can be formed by applying heat.
Alunite occurs extensively in Utah and
in smaller quantities elsewhere IN the
West. Though the known supply is
inaccessible, it could be utilized by
the investment of large capital. AT
Searle Lake in southe stern Califor-
MIA. a brine rich in potassium salts
has been discovered and members of
q company, which is investing heavily
in a plant, are confident that the salts
can be isolated in paying quantities
One of the most interesting searches
for a potash supply has been carried
on by the Department Of Agriculture
in the kelp fields of the Pacific coast.
Numerous varieties Of these sea
weeds have been found varying in
length from two to over 200 feet.
They have the property Of absorbing
the potash salts from sea water, and
when harvested and properly treated
readily yield them. Vast groves Of,
kclp have been mapped by the depart /
ment within the three mile limit frolnl
lower California to upper Alaska. Scv-l
eral companies are engaged IN eE-}
tracing the salts and the industry
promises ii rapid growth. Experts bel
lieve that in time considerable por-s
ton of the potash salts used domcs- J
tically can be produced from kelp
/ Unfortunately, all Of the possiblos
domestic sources of potash known,E
with the exception of felspar, are faE
from the area of greatest demand i
and the question arises whether wlt!5
high manufacturing and shipping ex
penses western potash should meet
German competition. Many Observers
think not If this be so, then it ap
pears that the Eastern states at least
will have to wait for the perfectinS
of an economical process for extract
ing soluble potash from felspar before
they can declare their potash indie
pendence from Europe.