Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-05

benefit 10 the United States from the
European war will be it's effect in
making the people OF this country
realize to greater extent the value
Of its mineral resources" said Frank
: lin X. Lane, Secretary OF the Interior
in an interview here. 1T Is entirely
possible to so utilize these resources
and expand our industries that the
label, MADE in America" will become
familiar in our own and foreign mar
kets." -. -.
"Of an importance second only to
that OF the food supply" said Mr.. Lane
lis the supply OF mineral products
necessary to meet the requirements
of the twentieth century civilization.
One Of the first effects OF the war has
been TO make US realize the interde-
pendence OF nations In matters OF food
supply. Most OF the countries now at
war are dependent upon importation OF
foodstuffs, and we have cause for self
congratulation in the United States
that we are able to feed ourselves.
What we possibly have not fully real
ized is that we are nearly as indepen-
dent In the possession of essential
mineral resources, and that the inter
ference with manufacturing caused by
interruption OF the fow or importa-
tions of many necessary raw mater
falls, may be overcome almost wholly
by development OF neglected resources
in our own country"
do you mean" Mr.. Lane was asked,
that the United States can make
itself independent of the rest of the
t. &C.. 90 ok.aro
Very largely" asserted the secre-
tary. "The main difficulties to be
overcome are in the rearrangement
OF the distribution system necessary to
establishing this independence. Bust
ness is established along certain we'll
marked channels and usually follows
the line Of least resistance. II has
been easier, and perhaps cheaper, TO
import mineral products and materials
from other countries than to go to the
trouble and expense of developing our
own resources of the same nature.
Forced TO the natter course by snspen-
sion of commerce with other countries,
/ believe that American enterprise and
energy will almost at once turn to the
DEVELOPMENT of native resources,
rather than permit production to lag
and supply to be diminished in any in
dustry.
For the maintenance of agriculture.
for instance, we rely more and more
largely upon mineral fertilizers. The
three essential plant foods are potash,
nitrogen and phosphorus, the latter
used greatly in the form OF phosphates.
We have depended with the rest Of the
world, very largely upon the mines of
Germany for our supply of potash salts
and war has cut off this supply, but
we have large deposits OF potash In a
California reserve which can be i'm
mediately opened and developed If a
bill now pending before Congress to
make these supplies available is enact
ed. Chill holds a practical world
monopoly OF the most readily available
nitrogen IN its great nitrate beds. and
not only the manufacture of agricul-
tural fertilizers but also OF many kinds
Of high grade explosives, have been
made dependent upon the Chilean sup
ply OF nitrates. II this supply should
be cut on. q new supply would have
to be found or manufactures and agri-
culture would suffer. Fortunately this
new supply Is at hand. We can draw
nitrogen from the air and fix 1t with
lime by use OF large and cheap cleo
trical development, as Is done at
Niagara Falls and in Norway, and all
that Is necessary to pave the way to
this electrical development is the pas
sage by Congress of the Ferris bill
now pending. which will make possible
the utilization OF the great unused
water powers of the western states.
The southern states have for years
largely supplied the world with phos-
pilates, but because Of the distribution
system, q large part OF this supply has
gone TO Europe, and much Of the phos-
pilates used In the western states
have been imported across the Pacific.
We have some 100000 acres of -phos-
pate lands IN the west lying near the
smelters from which Is produced the
sulphuric acid necessary to convert
these phosphates into form available
for plant food. and still there is no
laws by which these phosphate de-.
posits can be made commercially
available. though bill which would
allow 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 Sem
ate"
''will these resources be developed
II these laws are passed." the Sore
tary was asked.
"of course they will he replied
you can depend upon American en-
terprise and ambition make good
when given an opportunity. At
present these deposits and resources
are locked up out OF use. To open
them to use when the. supply from
other countries is cut on, means to
make American industries using these
materials independent of the rest of
the world. and business men win not