Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-25
A Nitrate Plant for Georgia.

A peculiarly important provision of the mill
tary preparedness bill recently enacted by Con-
gress is that which empowers the Government to
establish one or more plants for the production OF
nitrates When this is done the United States no
longer will depend on foreign sources for its sup
ply of an element which is indispensable in the
manufacture of both ammunition and fertilizers
That means a vast deal to the nations security
and progress. 1t will safeguard the army and
navy against a shortage of munitions, and will
benefit farming interests immeasurably by afford
ing an abundant supply of nitrates for fertilizers
at prices much lower than those now prevailing
In the latter respect, the location of the Govern
ment plants is of particular concern to the South
1t is conjectured that one of the plants will be
located some where in the East, another in the
West and still another in the South-the idea be-
ing that, on strategic grounds, there Will be at
least three such plants; and the Southern plant
probably will be the most important of all. From
a standpoint of military we'll agricultural
needs Georgia offers prominent advantages as a
location for the plant which will serve the South
The Augusta Chronicle cogently argues in this con-
nection that nitrate plant should be established
in this territory "for the purpose. first of manu-
featuring ammunition at some point well adapted
for its distribution to South Atlantic and Gulf
ports and to Southern aTsehals; but more parucu-
larly in times of peace-and this is where its
ton States with nitrates for fertilizer"
Georgia and South Carolina alone use
every year nearly as much commercial fertiliz-
ers as is used by all the other Southern States
combined, with the exception of North Caro-
lima With North Carolina added, they use
nearly as much all the balance of the un-
ion; 325O,OO0 tons, as against total of
about 5000, 900 tons. Again, fully so per
cent of the nitrate fertilizers" used in the
United States are used in Georgia, South Car
olina Alabama and Florida-and nitrate
plant on the Savannah River would be the
very heart and center of this nitrate con-
sumption.
On the we'll warranted assumption that hydro
electric power will be employed for the Govern
ment nitrate plants the Chronicle contends that the
Savannah River affords excellent site for this
purpose:
It may be stated for a certainty-for the
most careful Investigations have been made
and authoritative reports secured-that the
Savannah River can supply not only the mini
mum amount 100000 horsepower required
by the government for one nitrate plant, but
can easily supply the entire 100000 horse
power, if necessary. Moreover the chances
are that this enormous power be devel-
oped on the Savannah River-by a series of
dams, If necessary-at less COST in the aggre-
gate than would be required for a similar de-
velopment at Mussels Shoals, or elsewhere.
For not only is the Savannah one of the few
great power river'-being almost contin|
dred miles or more, above Augusta, it is a
great power irver'-being almost contin-
uous succession of shoals and falls through
out that distance. At point alone, for in
stance the most eminent engineers are agreed
that $4,000 primary horsepower can be Sc
cured through a most economical development,
while 20, 900 horsepower may be added by
connecting-up another nearby power. And
there still others
The Georgia delegation at Washington should
interest itself in this peculiarly important matter
and as far as is proper and advisable exert its in
fuence toward securing the establishment of nj
trate plant on some Georgia stream. The ultimate
choice of location will be determined largely, of
course by the report of Government engineers and
scientists If the Savannah or the Chattahoochee
is not suitable expert investigation will settle the
matter But If either is suitable, Georgia has an
exceptionally strong claim for one of the plants.
1t is to be hoped, therefore. that our Congress
men and Senators will lend their assistance to the
interests that already working in Georgia's be-
half.