Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-05
OUR POVERTY IN POTASH
United States Can Produce Material Without Paying
Tribute for 1t Abroad-Heavy Losses
Result From Scarcity

Probably very few realize the great i'm
portance which potash plays in the life of
n nation. The history of the world proves
| that the efficiency of any government
| depends upon its conservation and its right
| Interpretation and proper employment of
those natural resources which nature has
placed in the universe for the good of
| humanity.
| Unfortunately, this country, while pros
| porous in so many natural resources, has
| been derelict in taking advantage of
| large number Of the very best The fault
| lies somewhere. We at a point in our
! national life that II is time for men of
| affairs, captains of industry. those in
authority to stop and consider why We as
a nation, are dependent upon other nations
| for those very things which are most
| essential, not only for our financial interests,
but for the very life. vitality and safety
| Of our country. The only patriotism, the
| only true love of our country depends not
upon the words of sentimentalism, but upon
being ready. prepared to meet any and all
emergencies that may arise within the
nation or come from without.
We are a great nation we are a won
derful nation; our growth, our prosperity
has no parallel. We are the envy of the
world, and at the present time there are
few nations that do not entertain for us
subtle malice. We also have within our
gates many so-called citizens who. upon
the first opportunity, would subordinate,
jeopardize and expose that freedom that
independence and that well-being which
they never dreamed of until they reached
our shores with this state of affairs 1t
behooves us not only to be fit, but ready
to meet these serious conditions, which are
a menace TO our national life and TO our
very existence.
The present war, with all its horrors and
frightfulness, should excite our most in
tense feelings against that dependency upon
diplomacy which has proved so impotent
in preventing the most cruel and barbarous
war in the history of the world. While 1t
Is a lack of patriotism disloyalty to the
Government and a crime, treason deserving
the greatest condemnation and punishment,
this failure OF those in power to adequately
guard our safety by sufficient army and
navy, yet there is just as much fault with
capital and the captains Of industry who
fail to take advantage of our natural re-
sources to produce such conditions and pro-
visions as would, in the event of war. large
ly add to our efficiency and be good,
strong right arm in our preparedness. as
we'll as a protection from any trouble which
might arise.
In no other one important necessity for
our very existence efficiency and prepared
ness will we stand condemned as much as
in our failure to develop the potash in
dustry, which is so vital and OF such I'M
portance as to be second to none other,
especially when we have at our very doors
those natural resources which, if utilized,
would at once solve this, one of the most
momentous questions which confronts us as
a nation
The failure Immediately and promptly to
grasp the opportunity of producing within
our own borders the salts of potash will
be a national crime. The hardest blow
falls upon the farmers of our country, for
every intelligent farmer knows the loss
or shrinkage in his crops will be this year
at least from 20 or 80 per cent. At the
same time he viii perform the same amount
of labor pay the same taxes, or the same
rental all because he cannot procure
fertilizer containing potash.
our industries require a large amount OF
potash salts, the wonderful glass industry
is suffering greatly for want OF potash No
supplies are available for the glass blowers,
nor for the manufacturers of gunpowder.
nor for the tanning Of certain feathers, nor
for the soap boilers, nor for the makers of
yellow prussiate or bichromate nor for
match manufacturers nor for the scores of
varied Industries preparing therapeutic andS
Photographic and similar products in which
potash is an absolutely essential compo-
nent The uses OF the various salts Of potas-
stun, the chlorate, the bromide, the cyanide.
the iodide, the permanganate, and numer-
Gus others, are encountered in large group
OF industries,
In ali Of these highly developed phases
OF human activity the lack OF potash COM
pounds means as much OF a dislocation as
would the elimination OF the butcher or
baker from the life Of a village. People
would not necessarily die. but II would
involve endless readjustments to unex-
pected conditions. Depending as we do
upon a single source-the mines Of StaEs-
furt, in Germany-foT the entire quantity
OF potash necessary for America places
US in such bondage and tyranny today that
we are suffering from a potash famine.
which is entailing untold hardships, and
In many Instances actual suffering through
out our country. The monetary loss from
the scarcity Of potash Ia America since the
war started cannot be estimated ia dollars
ana cents SO great has been the disturb
ance IN many branches OF Industry that
whole communities have suffered untold
losses, and from an agricultural standpoint
alone the loss % our nation Is overwhelfn-
Considering me great hnportanes Or this