Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-19
POTASH SUPPLY At HAND
FOR NATION TO UTILIZE
Question That l. Interesting To- To-
bacco Growers All Over the
State of Virginia.
COMBINATION MEETS DEMAND
California. Utah, North Carolina and
Old Virginia Seem to he Able tn
Cope With the Situntion-Nohody
Will Suffer in the End.


Will Suffer in the End.
: The potash situation. since the out
break OF the big war now on in En-.
rope, continues TO aCitate the tobacco
growers OF Virginia and the Caroiinas :.
Eat the tobacco growers need not be
, badly alarmed. I, is true that there is
, some ground for their previous apprc-
cisions. FOR there is practically no
potash supply In this country. but we
have ~ way in this; country nf providing
against emergencies. however serious
they may at first appear.
In this connect ion. and for the com :
fort of the tobacco farmers and other
Fir@inianS interested. il may bc well
|" state that the United states Depart
n"nt Of Agriculture and it's division Of
Geological Survey have been right busy
of lat, scrking supply OF potnsh or
Il substitute for II. The investigations
so far have shown the possibility or
producing from America sources an
ample quantity Of potassium salts for
domestic consumption. During the year
no new sources have been discovered
hut the conditions surrounding the de-
vclopmc!,t at known sources have been
clarified considerably. There are four
possible domestic sources OF potash
The giant !:clr Of The Pacific Coast
from Lower California! to Alaska: the
Hiunitc deposits. mainly in the noun.
iAinS Of Utah; the fcldspa;hic rocks of
the Eastern part OF the U,t,"d states,
"nd the nuG If Scnrl"S Lake. i'm Gal
Ifornu.
A. nm EApcrt secs 1t All.
IN expert, who has investigated at
government expense. of course. reports
thht 'undonbtcdlN large supply OF
potash salts could be obtained from the
Giant kclp. The kelp beds have been
surrc, cd and report. accompanied
by maps showing in detail their extent
t,nf, Ia,
In" is accomplished easily. as tho keip
grows IL orcn water and barges fitted
WIN 'noNih" attachments can be used"
Tor utilizing IL" kclp several me tn
"dS are feasible IT may ne dried and
.T"uni. In dis condition il contains
al tn" salts originally present. which
are mainly potassium chlCrid and So
iium ChioriU. This material has ideal
mechanical properties for use in mixed
l"rtiii|ers When the pure potassium
cht"ri" - desired II IL necessary TO sep
'ra:c the juice from the organic ma
t"r;al ana then to remove the sodium
chlorij. The latter can he done readily
by rccryStailization: but the separation
OF :hc juiCs from the orvsniC material
Is more diflr"ult, Tor the reason that the
E"iU is noutihrDl:s and in attempts TO
eh"rt separa:ior by ltrntion the Alters
hScom" cloygcd and unworkable. The
ironirniS Vet TO lie worked out com
'n"'ci;illN are tx. 1es' methods OF dr,-
inS In: wet Keep and of C;ieCting tht.
ready ara Efficient STARVATION of tE,
plant juices from tho organic material
investigation of these questions has
proceeded f"r enough to indicate that
: their solution should not he very dit.
. iiCult
And Yet There Il Not All Hone
Eut the development Of a supply of
potash from tho kelp beds is sill re-
: mote. There are several reasons for
TINS. No on" knows how long the Flu
. r"peau war may last or how soon no, :
ash from the former usual sources may
b" available Tho American fertilizer
companies heretofore have depended
largely on The mining of phosphate
, rock ana the manufacture of sulphuric
> acid for sUpcrphoSphatcS In these
lines they arc deeply Interested hnan-
ciaily. There is, furthermore. an Gle
went OF DOUBT As 10 the Coutro! OF
TIA, kclp beds. Just what Jurisdiction
the Federal government has over then.
does not appear, aud the Pacific Coas,
states have not !eg!siat-G concerning
nose lying opposite their shores. !,
Us unlikely, cvcu IL INC .ycut II AIN
e*rlr peace. tina. ther. Immediately
Will b. great supply q: potash salts
. :. pG"-t'o' no." long u "oHid take
i'~ former agencies - resume ta-i-
4--a! operations. IN. experts OF the
a"r-r'ment ere o: n. oninion that un-
".I n'ih .gnaltIons J.. The Panayna.
''. y -t.'%"r potash from the ke!r
~ ~. racine Coast can l.. sold
't- Ia; Hrcc- :ree competition
go 20 m E..p Inc massive d!unitcs
'af H's; possibilities rs
''sS'- ms Aa'eiih: Il df-
rsarr ~ casting "ith the cvo!H-
ON o. oNide Of sulphur, aud residue
q ma ana potassium
,..s.,' - ~ fio'" 'h's rescue
""n - aPoFa'i"h'
80. q" ~
s--,.-.rfr .3F 80. 80 .. ~ ~, -. V
, "'S S"".'''"'it!
49, 3" No. .eHahd III the To-
,.,lz..l , ~ u!sPpsa' o.
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