Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-13

tank to tank, so as to act to the best ad-
vantage on the salts within. Experiments
have shown just how much water and how
much salts should be used, and everything
is done by the rules that experience 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 II is run off 1t looks for all the
world like a pale maple molasses or thick
lemon syrup. 1t now goes into the cry
stallzing tanks, where it lies for ten or
fifteen days. During this time the soda
all drops to the bottom and the tank Is
half fun of what looks like pure white
sugar or salt The mother liquor. which
floats on top, is now drawn off and re
turned TO the boiling tank to be used
over again, and the salt is shoveled out
upon drying floors, where 1t remains until
the moisture has all disappeared. 1t is
now fitted for export and is bagged up
and taken on the cars down to the sea-
coast.
Future OF Nitrate.
In my talks with the nitrate experts OF
Chile l have learned much as to the
present extent of the fields and their fu-
ture. The Antofagasta manager OF the
Nitrate Agencies limited, estimates that
there is enough salt in sight to run the
world for eighty years more at the pres
ent rate of consumption. and there are
others who say that the nitrate fields will
last for more than a century. There are
three privinces whose deposits are esti-
mated at more than 10000 900, 900 pounds
Others of the estimates are lower, some
n n
about 100000 100000 pounds. These esti-
mates do not take into account the new
fields which are sure to he found nor
the possibilities of working over the
dumps about the officinas, which will
contain 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
caliche as it is brought from the mines
seldom averages more than % per cent OF
nitrate OF soda, and by the present meth
DDS of reduction fully per cent is left in
the refuse. That means that 10 per cent
of the nitrate contents are still I'm these
great dumps surrounding the officinas,
and that If this can he saved il will add TO
the world 10 per cent of all the nitrate so
far taken out of the earth. Such a prod
uct would be worth hundreds OF millions
of dollars. These fields have been mined
since 1880, and in 1880 at the time of the
Peruvian war. they were already taking
out millions Of pounds every year In 1890
the output was more than 10000 tons
and in 1911 the exports were more than
2,5AOO tons, and the value OF the output
was something like 500, 10000. This work
has been going on steadily at the present
rate for more than a generation and in a
less degree for a generation and more be-
fore that. All this time only 80 per cent OF
the product has be, saved. The other 20
per cent still lies in the dumps. and in
this rainess country there il will continue
to lie until the open sesame" of some in
ventor's brain unlocks the robber cave Of
nitrate and thus enriches himself and the
world.
To Get at Low Cost.
And still the most careful study is
taken 10 get out the nitrate at the lowest
possible cost. and TO save every cent in
product and labor. said one of the great
officina managers to me:
our profits are a question OF small
savings. The difference Of a cent in the
cost Of the reduction Of each 100 pounds
would mean a profit of at least s. 90 a
month. We have 70 watch everything
and especially the matter of labor. Om
"ofkmen have 10 come from the outside
ana their wages are very high for this
part OF the world The present avers Re
Is ABOUT " per day, although boys are
paid less than ST. There are altogether
ABOUT 5000 hands employed in the re. !
duction of nitrate and some ~ tbo Ia,..- ]
works have from 500 to Loo apiece We
nave TO provide houses Tor the men. and |
also neat hght and water although the /
cost Of these are deducted from their
wages"
FRANK q. CARPENTER