The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-09

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TO be worked out commercially arc
the best methods Of drying the wet
kelp and Of effecting the ready and
efficient separation OF the plant juices
from the organic material. lnycstiga-
ton Of these questions has proceeded
far enough to indicate that their solu-
ton should not be very difficult.
\ Operations Begun.
\ Three large concerns have begun
\ operations for the manufacture Of pot
ash from kelp. While potash Is In
dlspenslble in the preparation Of fer
tllzers, 1t is also used for many other
purposes, including the manufacture
OF matches, glass, liquid soap and mu-
nitions. The prices offered under
existing conditions by the manufac-
turers Of such, articles undoubtedly
will cause practically the entire out
put Of these concerns to be diverted
from the fertilizer industry. It seems
\ unlikely that normal conditions will
be restored In the immediate future
and that potash can be secured from
foreign sources as heretofore in time
4 for the next crop planting season. 1t
also seems improbable that private en-
terprises will provide potash from do
nestle sources for agricultural pur-
poses in time. 1t would require nine
Z ty or more plants, costing approx
mately $4,000 and having an oper-
ating capital OF about $4,000 each,
to produce the quantity needed for ag-
riculture. This would involve the as
sumption that the commercial phases
OF the problem were satisfactorily
solved. Even If the requisite funds
were available, 1t is question wheth-
er operations could begin in time to
provide an adequate supply for the
coming year. The department is in
vestigatlng all aspects of the question
and is planning to send experts to
California to study the situation and
especially to consider possibilities of
production on n commercial scale.
One fact has operated in measure
to embarrass private enterprise in
this field. There is no legislation in
any OF the Pacific coast states, along
whose shores the kelp lies, providing
for the leasing OF the kelp beds. With
out leases private investors would
have no assurance that plants erect
ed by them would have the necessary
control over the kelp within their Vi
entity. The departments officers will
discuss this matter with the proper
authorities In the Pacific coast states
and will urge the necessity Of legisla-
ton regulating the use of the beds.
The Phosphate Situation.
Acid phosphate is the basis of nearly
all commercial mixed fertilizers. 1t
is made by the action Of sulphuric
acid upon phosphate rock. Our avail
able sources OF phosphate rock are
greater than those of any other ma
ton. The main supply for domestic
consumption and for expectation
comes from Tennessee, South Carolina
and Florida. The United States gov
eminent, however, owns vast deposits
of phosphate rock in Utah, Wyoming,
Montana and neighboring states. These
deposits have been withdrawn from
private use pending legislation for
their utilization and no supply has
yet been developed from this source.
In 1914, 2,7S4.OO0 tons of phosphate
rock were produced in this country.
Up to that year about one-half the
quantity mined was exported to Eu-
rope. The rock in its natural state Is
not readily absorbed as a plant food.
1t is made available for this purpose
by treatment with sulphuric acid.
about one ton of the acid being used
to ton of phosphate rock. When
thus treated, super-phosphate con-
tanning fourteen to eighteen per cent
Of water soluble phosphuric acid is
made. The bulk of the sulphuric acid
which enters into the manufacture Of
acid phosphate is made by fertilizer
companies. Practically every fertil-
izer establishment excepting the cot
tonseed meal factories) having an an
nual capaclt yof $4,000 tons or more
operates also sulphuric acid plant
The demand for the acid is so strong
at present that every effort is being
made to utilized old and abandoned es-
adjustments and to erect new plants.
The latter operation is slow and cost,
ly on account Of the large amounts OF
lead necessary for the construction
Of acid chambers. Difficulty also is
being experienced in securing an ade-
quate supply of pyrites, which is the
principal source of sulphur
The potential sources OF sulphuric
acid in the United States are ample
to produce more than double the pres
ent annual output. Few Of the lead,
zinc, or copper smelling companies
using sulphide ores have sulphuric
acid plants in connection with their
shelters. The fumes discharged into
the atmosphere by these smelters are
sufficient to produce many thousands
of tons OF sulphuric acid daily. In
der normal conditions. the limited
market for the acid and the long haul
necessary to reach the market have
made it commercially impractlcable
TO convert the fumes into sulphuric
acid. 1t is entirely feasible to erect
sulphuric acid plants in connection
with the copper, zinc and lead smell
tiers using sulphide ores. The concen-
trates of the ores may be roasted in
furnaces independent OF the smelling
plants or the fumes may be delivered
direct to the acid chambers.
Acid Plants.
The erection of acid plants OF suf- !
dcient capacity to convert the smelter
gases would involve an outlay of at
least several million dollars. Under
normal conditions it would take four
months to complete the plants. In the
present situation, at least six months
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