The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11
FEDERAL CHEMISTS FIND
WAY TO POTASH SUPPLY
DR. r. G. Cottrell's Invention Leads
Investigation Into Rich Fields.

Washington. D. c.. June 10.-That
an attempt to abate serious nuisance.
which was menacing the orange
groves of California. may result IN
giving the country an adequate sup
ply of potash for fertilizing purposes
and thus free the United States from
its absolute dependence upon Germany
for this much commodity, Is
the belief of many chemical experts
and while the United States Govern
ment chemists say It Is too early to
make a sweeping prediction, they too
are optimistic and are conducting their
investigations along these lines.
In the past the United States has
paid tribute to Germany to the ex-
tent of s20.000,000 a year for potash.
so necessary for enriching the soil, es-
pecially in the cotton-growing districts
Of the South. The European war. how
ever, stopped these importations. and,
necessity being the stern mother OF
invention. the Federal chemists and
others accelerated their efforts to-
ward finding a potash supply in this
country. The latest discoveries, which
promise to free the United States
from the dominance of Germany in
regard to this valuable product. came
about accidentally as have many
other important discoveries. A great
cement mill In the orange-growing
regions of California was sending tons
of dust daily into the air. the winds
carrying the dust and depositing 1t
on the orange groves, much to their
detriment. When the owners pro-
tested, the cement mill men began
buying In the nearest groves at $1,000
an acre. but finally had to give this
up as being too expensive. quits are
filed and injunctions asked. About
this. time the attention OF the cement
mill owners was attracted to an In
vention OF DR.. r. G. Cottrell for the
preparation Of dusts from smelters
fumes DR.. Cottrell, who later became
the chief metallurgtst OF the United
States Bureau OF Mines, worked out
this process while . professor at the
University Of California several years
ago. The cement mill men decided
ITO experiment with the new invention.
ana the Cottrsli process was installed.
The surprising result was that the new
process not only eliminated the dust
fumes, but gave the cement people a
product that contained a great amount
Of potash. The results are said to
have been 20 satisfactory that 1t was
might prove to be tho main product
of some cement mills. with the manu-
facture Of cement only . by-product
This has not exactly come about, but
the cement company last year. with
potash at wartime prices, sold $780,
600 worth. and 1t 10 said that the
profit was $4,000.
Thu result Of this has been that the
cement companies generally are now
taking notice. Another company near
Hagerstown, Ma. which from its To-
cation did not have to bother about
the dust nuisance. II voluntarily put
ting In the Cottrsll process in order
to save potash. which II estimates to
amount to four tons = day. Some
cement mill men declare that the pres
emit mills In this country, properly
equipped. are capable Of turning out
100000 tons Of potash yearly. which
10 about ons-fourth Of sthe amount
imported from Germany in normal
times. It 10 further declared that
there will be sufficient incentive to ss-
tAhiish now mills located near de-
pon1ts that are rich in potash. and
0nGtn tha future NO cement mill will
hafe Aaphasard location. Il = even
- - thAe nillq yaay ~ ereeto4