The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-11
POTASH FROM KELP.
CONGRESSMAN LEVER HEARS
FROM SECRETARY HOUSTON.
Deposits are Ample-Responsible
Makers OF Fertilizer are Invited 10
Dock Into New Sources.


II. Lever In I'm receipt OF letter
from ID. II. Houston. secretary of ag-
. riculture OF the United States. which
d In OF Importance to farmers. as 1t
deals with one OF the most interesting
and far-reaching questions confront
ing the farmers everywhere at this
particular time. Several years ago
Representative Lever. realizing the
dependence OF the United States up
on foreign countries for potash. OBJ
tained an appropriation in the agri-
cultural bill OF s25.000 to enable the
department TO ascertain any possible
sources OF potash in this country. The
discovery has been made that the giant
kelps OF the Pacific ocean within
American territory furnish an almost
tnexhaustlble supply OF this fertilizer
material. These kelp beds have been
mapped and the data regarding them
published.
&C. Some weeks ago Congressman Lever
wrote Secretary Houston. urging upon
him the esirability OF taking advan-
,tase OF these times to find some way
TO develop these sources OF potash.
With such development and the use
OF the Panama canal, In the opinion
Of Mr.. Lever. potash would become
very much cheaper I'm the South, even
than II Ia under normal world con-
ditiona
Secretary Houston has replied as
follows:
Hon. A. +. Lever. Lexington, g. C.
Dear Mr.. Lever: have just had
conference with the chief OF the
bureau OF soils regarding your letter
OF July is addressed to DR.. Cameron.
agree with you that this Is a time
when we should do everything possi-
BILE and reasonable to help develop
potash industry In this country. The
bureau OF soils has been very dlligent
and efficient In carrying out the pro-
visions OF law regarding the possible
fertilizer resources of the United
states. II has done good work In the
study of the utilization of our phos-
phnte deposits and has published d
number OF bulletins. II Is working on
the important question OF fixation OF
atmospheric nitrogen and the small
building that the committee au-
thorized last year TO be constructed
at Arlington is about completed and
the equipment Is practically installed
for the further Investigations on q
scale comparable with a small COM
mercial plant that will enable them
TO solve some OF the important ques-
tions OF making available the nitrogen
OF the air for the use of our farmers.
Tt has been very diligent I'm it's
explorations for possible sources OF
potash and has published several bull
letins giving the results OF it's ex-
piorations. The most promising and
the most complete of these investiga-
lions has been In connection with the
giant kelps OF the Pacific coast. You
have undoubtedly seen the recent
publication issued as Report No.
ioo.' which 1 feel presents In a COM
plete and satisfactory way the oppor-
tunities that are offered there for
commercial potash production. IT
has seemed To me with this presenta-
ton. which gives maps showing the
location OF the kelp beds, giving the
amount OF potash contained therein
and estimate OF the tonnage. show
ins the relation OF these beds 10 the
navigation data. that II is now fitting
that commercial interests should de-
velop at their own expense a CONNER
cial potash supply.
Under my instructions the bureau
has taken pains to bring these mat
ters before responsible financial inter-
ests or the country; but. as in all
such large enterprises. 1t Is exceeding
ly difficult To get capital and substan-
tial business men to develop new
lines. As Is not uncommonly the case
In a matter OF this kind. the first to
enter the business are IRRESPONSIBLE
and are not sufficiently In earnest in
their attempt to develop the industry.
but rather To make money out of the
idea. This IL not the kind of people
with whom the department wants to
deal. Ii substantial fertilizer firms.
such as The Virginia Carolina Chemi-
cal company OF Richmond. Va; The
Royster Guano company of Norfolk.
Va; The Richmond Guano company.
Richmond. Va; The York Chemical
work. York. Pa; Jarecki Chemical
company. Cincinnati. Ohio; The welch
Fertilizer company. Columbus, Ohio: