The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-30
TO the Southern plant of the Armour

This telegram from Mr. MacDowell
Is of particular interest in view of the
announcement just made by the De-
partment of the Interior bearing on
the same subject. Referring to this
situation. the report of the Depart
mont of the Interior says:
THE potash is found in u vein of
mineral known as alunito, which is
the sulphate of aluminium and pot
assium. The vein found is some 10
feet wide, and has been traced for
some 5000 feet. Its depth is not yet
known. The aluite when removed is
subjected to very simple process of
heating, dissolving i'm water, filtering
and evaporating, and the potassium
sulphate resulting is almost pure.
some 200 tons of alunite has been put
through the mill and two tons of 80
per cent pure potash has been pro-
duced. and there is still in solution
nearly 100000 gallons containin, large
amounts of potash salts which has not
yet been evaporated."
The discovery that this mineral
yields potash in commercial quantities
Is regarded by Secretary Lane as one
Of the most important discoveries
made recently with reference to our
natural resources. as it assures us OF
| q domestic supply of potash for our
national needs in the manufacture OF
explosives. at least.
Alunite is known to exist in the
States of Colorado, Utah, Nevada,
California and Arizona. In further
discussing the subject the report of
the Department of the Interior says:
1T resembles in appearance disin-
tegrated limestone. The technical
description given by the Geological
Survey Of alunite is that 1t is q fine
grained. compact rock, breaking with
conchoidal fractures, and having q por-
celain-like appearance but containing
also considerable masses with q dis
tinctly crystalline structure
Heretofore the United States has
been dependent upon the potash sup
ply of Germany. where it is found in
strata chiefly at n great depth. Our
imports for 1913 Of potassium salts
were SIS. 100000. The world has been
dependent upon this German supply
as an ingredient in modern fertilizer
and In the manufacture of explosives.
Potash is known 70 exist In the Unit
ed States in some of the salt lakes OF
the interior. but has not been produc-
cd her .toforc in any commercial guam
tity. Some potash has also been pro-
duced on the Pacific coast from the
kelp of the seacoast, which takes the
potash from the salt water.
The Interior Department Is also
drilling ut various points l., the Unit
ed States I'm search for potash de-
posts similar to those of Germany.
Should alunite deposits of a similar
character be found in large quantities
in other States. it's significance to the
agriculture of this country can hardly
be overestimated, as it is an essential
soil food and will re-establish from
year to year the draught made upon
the potash in the soil by the crops
produced"
Investigation should be made
throughout the South to see if alunite
cannot be discovered in this section in
sufficient quantity to justify develop
ment.
1t is, however, important to utter a
word of caution, for reports are be-
ing circulated that efforts are being
made to sell stock to small investors
based on reported discoveries of alu-
mite. Indeed, Mr.. MacDoweI wires us
that not enough progress has yet been
made to warrant small investors to
come in, and that lots Of wildcat
ting" is now going on in the search Of
alunite.