The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-09

costs Sfu 10 SoU more, 50 IS out or the QueS- ton, and there are no known waterpower sites in this country capable of development for the production of electric power at so low q figure.
 The second method of making atmospher- ic nitrogen available for use is called the Haber process. By this method nitrogen from the air and hydrogen from water are combined by means of tremendous pres- sure to form ammonia. Germany is the home of this process, but the practical diff ficulties In manufacture are said to be so great that even Germany, with all her in- genuity had made comparatively small progress with the method up to the be- ginning of the war, though her operations with this method have been much extended since that time.
 The third method was an accidental dis covery by Prof Adolph Frank. of Char Iottenburg, Germany while Investigating plan for the manufacture of cyanides of sodium and potassium. The great develop ment of the process which has made it so valuable to every American is due. not to German. hut to American. and fac tories on both sides of the water nre has, tening to adopt the improvements brought out by Frank $. Washburn of Nashville. Tenn. at tbe plant of the American Cyanide company nt Niagara Falls.
 The principle of the process is simple enough. We are all familiar with calcium carbide and the brilliant acetylene gas which 1t produces when placed in water. We nlso are familiar with l'uuid air. nro- ducnd hv comnressirg ordinary air until 1t liouefies The part of the air most diff ficult to liruefv is the nitrogen. md this element is the first to return to gas when hnr'd air is slightly warmed.
 The method then. is simply to bring calcium carbide to a white heat in m eler- tric furnace. Liuuid air Is then slightly warmed and the rure nitrogen gas that is driven off is rumrad into drnm- -sharnd ovens. containing the white-hot carhide This hot material nhsorhs the nitrogen ) and the rroduct. cooled. ground and rroc- } essed with special machinery is called } cvnnnmd.
 This hIuish blach. odor1ess powered ma terial contains urwnrds of 20 ner cent of nitrogen in the form of ammonia. This ammonia may he ox'diynd to form nitric acid or with erna1 facility comhined hv means of sunerhented steam with rhos- rhoric acid from rhosnhate rock to forr, ? that well-known fertilizer. ammonium of rhosnhata
 This process is therefore. equally well adapted to the manufacture of nitric acid for producing military explosives. or of l ammonium phosphate for ferti,iying pur- 3 poses It requires hut sixth of the power that is needed for the Rirkeland- :. Evde process. and is commercially feasible with ectric power at SIS to so0 per annual horsepower.
 With these facts in mind 1t is most evil : dent that there is hut one process at all adapted to the requirements of Uncle Sam in bis search for method for producinc nitric acid in war time and fertilizer ir time of peace. and that method Is the man ufacture of nitrogen compounds from the air by the cyanamide process.
 Where Shall Uncle sam's
 Plant Be Located?
 To reach n conclusion as to the correc, location of this government plant. we must first notice the requirements that will bt demanded of the location.
 First and foremost. it must be safe Nc plant within range of possible foreign gun. would have any consideration, whatever advantages 1t might offer in certain ways
 Second, 1t must be placed where eco homie conditions are fundamentally sound In other words, the power must be cheap the situation central with respect to lanC Notifications and naval bases, and the plan located in that section of the country wher' fertilizers are most needed, and shipping distances for the cheap fertilizer are thu least possible.
 Third. 1t should be placed if possible
 where 1t will accomplish the greatest goot for navigation at the least expense.
 In general. the location beyond doub
 will be that which will contribute thu greatest advantages in safety. prospert, and economy to the greatest number O people.
 Where all of these requirements are con
 sidered, the number of American powe sites which can lay any claim to considers