Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-03-24

riculture makes the following state
ment regarding the fertilizer situa-
ton:
American farmers are confronted |
by serious situation in reference to |
fertilizer materials. AS result OF
the embargo placed by the German
government on the expectation OF pot
ash, the supply OF this substance has
been entirely cut off. Under normal
conditions sulphuric acid. which is re-
quired for making super-phosphates,
10 sold for S. or So ton. The In
creased demand for II since the break
ing out of the European war has
caused the price to rise to about $50
O ton. II Is impossible therefore for
farmers to secure -phosphates at
prices which they have been accus-
toned to pay. The nitrogen supply Is
not materially less than usual
In 1913, when conditions were nor
NAL, about $125, 280, 900 worth of com.
mercial fertilizers was used In the
United States. or this amount, the
farmers paid $48.830,000 for nitrogen
GUS substances, $56,OO0,O00 for phos
pilates, and S20.450,000 for potash
salts. Practically all the potash salts
we're imported from Germany and the
entire quantity OF nitrate of soda came
from Chile. Ammonium sulphate to
the value of s3,720.000 was received
from abroad. mainly from England.
The remainder Of the fertilizer mate
rails was derived from domestic
sources.
The Potash Situation.
There ia practically no potash In
this country at the present time for
fertilizer USE The small quantities
which were held over from former
years are now priced at from eight to
twelve times their normal value. The
Investigations of the department and
the geological survey have shown the
possibility of producing from Ameri-
can sources an ample supply OF potash
salts for domestic consumption. These
sources are: The giant kelp OF the
Pacific coast from lower California
to Alaska the alunite deposits, main
ly In the mountains of Utah; the field
spathic rocks of the eastern part Of
the United States. and the mud OF
Searles lake. in California.
The production of potash from field
spar Is commercially feasible II
salable by-product can be secured at
the same time.
The development Of Searles lake
as q source of potash presents num-
Der of unsolved technical problems.
Alunite. mineral which exists In
considerable quantities In Utah and
neighboring states. contains about IL
per cent Of potash. 1t Is decomposed
by roasting at temperature of about
200 degrees, with the evolution OF
exids 80 sulphur, and a residue con
sisting of alumina and potassium sui
plate remains. From this residue the
potash salt can be obtained readily
ny teaching and evaporation. The
proceeds ~ simple. The fumes liberat
cd can DO used to manufacture sui
phuric acid. Alumina resulting as 9
by-product will be suitable for the
manufacture Of metallic aluminium.
Giant kelp Beds.
An ample supply of potash for the
needs of farmers can be obtained
from the giant kelp beds, These beds
have been surveyed by the bureau o
soils and report, accompanied b!
maps showing In detail their extern
and location, recently has been issued
Harvesting Is accomplished easily, a.
sns kelp grows In open water ant
barges fitted with moving attach
ments can be used.
For utilizing the kelp several meth
DDS are feasible. II may be dried an,
ground. In this condition 1t contain
all the salts originally present. whic
are mainly potassium Chord and sc
dium chlorid This material has idea
mechanical properties for use In mike
fertilizers. When the pure potassium
Chord 10 desired It Is necessary I
separate the juice from the organi
: material and then to remove the 81
dunn Chord. The latter can be don
readily by disqualification; but tn
separation Of the Juice from the o
, ganIc material Is more difficult. fc
: Che reason that the kelp is nontibrou
: and In attempts to effect separatio
. by filtration the filters become clogge
I and unavoidable. The problems "
3 to be worked out commercially ar
the best methods OF drying the VIZ
kelp and of effecting the ready an
/ efficient separation of the plant juice
from the organic material. Invest
. CATION Of these questions has procee
I ed Tar enough to indicate that the
I solution should not be very Difficult
Q Output VIII Be Diverted.
{ Three large concerns have begu
operations for the manufacture OF pc
a ash from kelp. While potash is 1
n dispensable in the preparation OF fe
tilizers, 1t is also used for many 9TH
/. purposes, including the manufactul
d of matches. glass. liquid soap, al
munitions. The prices offered und'
p existing conditions by the manufa
Q turers OF such articles undoubted
will cause practically the entire on
n put of these concerns to be divert'
J. from the fertilizer industry. II seen
unlikely that normal conditions vi
| l. H., .aHt OF ftttt.