Evening star., 1915-06-06
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

careful study Of conditions and phe-
nomeua in the danger zone. This
work was taken up during the spring
and summer Of 1914, but has been
broadened until now there are three
scientists at work in the northern
Of standards, the bureau Of fisheries
and the weather bureau.
Among them they are supplementing
the ice observations Of the cutters
force and are carefully collecting data
as to temperature, currents, the physf-
water. winds. barometrical conditions.
fog formation and ocean life. This
year the latest addition to the group,
the representative of the weather bu-
at high attitudes over the ocean by
means of kites.
Even before the scientists were taken
on the patrollinE cruises a large
amount Of valuable data bearing on
the ice problems had been collected
Few Of the semi monthly reports Of
the commanders Of the cutters fail to
bring out interesting new facts about
the behavior OF the floating ice blocks
ana conditions in their neighborhood.
One interesting point is that the huge
towering several hundred feet above
water. that are reported now and then,
seem from the observations to be
somewhat in class with the sea SER
pents Of more element climes. At least
the cutter captains, after three years
OF nosirig out all kinds and shapes
and sizes Of floating ice. have failed
to find any Of such a prodigious size.
The greatest distance that the OBJ
servers Of the patrolling parties have
been able to see ice is eighteen miles
on a clear day. In dense fog the great
est distance was 200 yards. Various
experiments have been made with
searchlights. and the most effective
methods Of using them have been de-
termined. Among. the matters be-
being studied are the kinds and drift
Of floating ice. temperatures near ice,
the kinds Of birds that are found in
the neighborhood Of bergs. echoes
melting. breaking and life Of icebergs
under varying conditions. and safe
methods Of navigation.
The ice patrol was established as an
emergency measure Immediately after
the sinking Of the Titanic. April a.
1912. and was conducted by two scout
cruisers Of the navy for the rest Of the
season. The following season the work
was turned over to the Seneca and the
Miami. then revenue cutters, now OF
the coast guard. In January. 1914. the
international conference for safety OF
life at sea. held In London. decided to
support an international Ice patrol, and
the United States was asked to man
age 1t, the expense to be shared. The
work which Uncle Sam started alone.
in a time Of emergency, has therefore
now taken on an International charac-
ter.
The general plan for the patrol at
first adopted has been followed since
Preliminary observation Of Ice con-
ditions is begun each February. and
the patrol proper is started about
April /, continuing for approximately
three months. At the end Of tnat
period floating ice usually has either
been melted by the warm gulf stream
or has been carried north by current
changes. Each vessel is on duty mr. nf-
teen days, and fs then relleVeo py 'he
other from Halifax.
Every evening at 6 o'clock the cutter
on duty sends broadcast the omclai ice
news, repeating the message at o:lo.
At o'clock every morning the saine !
hydroeraphic Office in New York But
these formal stated notices are not tne
ones Of greatest moment. All curing
the. day and night the radio lns!Iu-
ments Of the little cutter are crackIie
to hurry calls for informa'iDh ION. Una. q.
the insistent questions Of the great
ships. many Of them carrying nuhoIeus
~ nassenRers, that are rushing into
the danger zone from east and west
can notash salts be "denatured"?
This question as to our most important
imported fertilizer ingredient
p.+..h has great significance just
40'"s" nou to American farmers, and
Salts. the various branches OF the
1overnment are awaiting an answer
with interest.
The question is likely to gain in sig
nifcance the longer the European war
lasts. Potash. 1t happens, has two very
dissimilar functions, and the need TOT
the exercise of both is at its greatest
these days. AS a fertilizer 1t is es-
sential to plant life, and as an lngredi-
emf in the manufacture of fuse mix
lures and other war munitions 1t IS
essential to the wholesale taking OF
human life. Germany has long sup
piled the greater part of the needs Of
the world for potash from her almost
,nexha ustible beds of soluble potash
salts. But since the war began the
German government, fearful that the
substance would find its way to her
enemies by capture on the high seas or
BY reshipment from neutral countries,
has placed an embargo on all potash
exports
II there were some way of treating
the salts so that their value as fer
tilizer would not be impaired. but they
would be made at the same time use
less as an ingredient for ammunition.
Germany would be willing to have her
big potash trade renewed. She has the
material to spare notwithstanding her
own great demands for fertilizer and
munitions and Would not be averse to
receiving again the income that was
cut off by the embargo. With this idea
the German potash syndicate recently
appointed committee of scientists. it
has been reported through the United
States consular service, to study the
possibilities OF denaturization.
Experts OF the Department of Agri-
culture are not expecting a great deal
from the German experiments. how
ever They point out that the manu-
facturers of ammunition can afford to
go to almost any expense to isolate
needed materials and that "denaturiz-
alton" Of a substance like potash whose
ties is a wholly different matter from
making food product unfit to eat.
They are awaiting the report, none tho
less. with considerable interest.
The war resulted in the fertilizer in
dustry Of the United States getting for
Of the usual supply Of potash. accord
ing to estimates Of the government
fertilizer experts. The lack of the ele-
ment will undoubtedly affect crop
Yields adversely, they say, though ia
vorable weather conditions may do
much to onset the loss. II the Ger
man embargo lasts through another
growing season. 1t is pointed out. there
wiil be no potash stocks on hand. as
mere were this season. and the i'll ef-
reGts on crops will be more marked.
IN tne meantime the situation as to
t.