The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-08-21

pending, which will make possible the
Utilization OF the great unused water
powers OF the western states.
The southern states have for wears
largely supplied the world with phos-
phates, but because of the distribution
system, large part of this supply
mas gone to Europe, and much of the
phosphates used in the western states
nave been imported across the Paci.
nc. We have some 100000 acres OF
phosphate lands in the west living
near the smelters from which is proe
ouceo the sulphuric acid necessary to
convert these phosphates into form
available Tor plant food, and still there
is no law by which these phosphate
deposits can be made commercially
available, although bill which would
allow of their immediate development
has been favorably reported by the
Public Lands Committee of the House
OF Representatives, and is awaiting
the approval of the House and SEN
ate"
VIII these resources be developed
II these laws are passed." the Secre-
tary was asked.
"Of course they will" he replied.
GU can depend upon American en-
teIrprise and ambition to make good
when it is given an opportunity. At
present these deposits and resurces
are locked up out of use. To open
them to use when the supply from
other countries is cut off means to
make American industries using these
materials independent of the rest of
the world, and business men viii not
neglect the opportunity to make our
industries safe from the Interruptions
of war we are now experiencing"
What other industries are there
now dependent upon the products of
other countries, which can be made
independent" Mr.. Lane was asked.
The steel industry, for one he
replied. Manganese is of large i'm
portance to this industry, and the
largest supply of ore comes from
Russia and other countries with which
commerce is now paralyzed. There
are large deposits in South America
which have not been developed, but
it is not necessary even to go so far
away as that. We have great stores
of manganese in this country which
has been largely untouched because
Il is somewhat inferior in quality. To
bring this home supply into use means
ne' ely adoption Of methods for its
2d ification, which arc known and
can be successfully used, and then we
can continue making manganese steel
without regard to foreign wars or
sources of material. There are other
contributions, though, in
the steel industry We have depend
ed largely upon the Island of Ceylon
for the graphite used in the manufac.
ture of the curcihlcs n which crucible
steel for edge tools and small fire
arms are made. Or to take another
metal, European smelters, using IN
part Chinese and Mexican ores, have
in late years furnished much of the
worlds supply of anthony, which is
used in the manufacture of type me-
tai, and also incidentally. War has
paralyZed the production of antimony
in England Cat Newcastle), and prices
have gone up. Anthony, however,
is easily extracted from many low
grade ores which we have in great
quantities in at least seven states, and
there is no reason why we should not
make this extraction and be indepen-
dent of other countries. both as to
supply and prices. Similar conditions
hold in the case of arsnic.
"a large tonnage of ferromangan-
csc alloys comes from Germany and
1t is only in the last ten
years that we have freed ourselves
from Sicily's monopolistic control Of
the sulphur supply. Flint pebbles are
common and the supply large enough
in the United States, but for such an
unimportnat product as
these, used in the fine grinding of
cement and ores, we have been de-
pending upon the chalk cliffs of En-
gland, Denmark and France. Ores
and mineral freight depend almost
wholly upon the tramp steamer, car
rer of foreign pafentage. Now the
tramp steamer has taken to cover,
and all kinds of ocean freight, espec-
tally low grade freight, will be held