South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-09
PLANS To SECURE
NITRATE Of SODA
FOR FERTILIZER
Government Trying to Solve
Problem of Vital Import
anCe to Increasing u. S.
Food Production.

According to Sec'y Houston's
statement today that the department
of agriculture has for. some time
been giving careful consideration TO
the problem of securing nitrate of
soda Tor fertilizer use. Under a re-
cent authorization of congress there
is available an appropriation OF $40,
100000 10 be used. at the discre-
ton Of the president, 10 secure nj
trate of soda and TO supply il TO
farmers at cost for cash.
IL is proposed 10 coordinate all the
government purchases of Chilean nj
trate for this country through the
purchasing committee Of the war
industries board, under the i'm
mediate supervision of Mr.. Baruch,
so that there will be no competi-
tive bidding for this material. This
should very much simplify the prob
lem and make il feasible To secure
the best possible terms. The price
of Chilean nitrate on board ship in
Chile has greatly increased within
lGAElhN AlAOllAAln NAAAAOAAA INtTAAlANcAA AOAt
Shipping rates also have increased.
The increase in price is due in part
10 unfounded statements regarding
the demand for Chilean nitrate for
munitions purposes and for fertili-
ger, especially in connection with the
$4,000, 900 recently appropriated by
congress to purchase nitrate of soda.
Demand ON Decrease.
As matter Of fact. the demands
will be smaller than heretofore. The
navy already has placed contracts
for this material 20 satisfy its needs
for the next L months. The war
department announces that practic-
ally all the sodium nitrate which it
has been planned 10 procure for the
gradual building up of the war re-
serve already has been contracted
for The quantity which may he pur-
chased for fertilizer use under the
special appropriation of congress
will not be an addition 10 the guam
tity normally used.
Any quantity purchased by the
government and sold To farmers
will simply take the place in part
of quantities heretofore supplied to
them through private agencies As
a matter of fact. unless satisfactory
prices can be secured, il is probable
that the farmers will not seek as
large "a quantity OF this material as
has been used in the last year or
two. Some contracts already have
been made 10y farmers for nitrate of
soda. I'm view of ali these facts, il
is probable that the aggregate de-
mand for the next FIVE or six months
will he below the normal. II is Ger
tain that unless the market prices.
which are aow I'm the neighborhOod
Of 500 a ton. fall. the farmers de
mand for nitrate will decrease.
War Board In Charge.
As has been stated. the purchas-
ing will he handled directly through
the war industries board. The de-
partment of agriculture viii cooper
ate with the purchasing committee
i'm the effort 10 procure nitrate OF
soda. IL il authorized 10y law TO Sc
cure facts as 20 the demand for fer
tilizers. including nitrate OF soda.
their supply. consumption. costs
and prices. and the basic facts re-
lating 90 their ownership. prOduc-
ton. transportation. manufacture,
storage. and distribution. This i'm
quiry il now being prosecuted
through the bureau of markets.
I'm connection with this the needs
Of farmers will be ascerJalned and
an amounts purchased for their use.
after the shipments reach the ports.
will be taken charge of by the de-
partment and viii bee distributed
through the department 20 farmers
at cost for cash. The collections Will
be made 10y the department and viii
be turned into the treasury. To as
sist the department in is activities
ina this direction the services of
Nell T.. Wilkinson of Atlanta Ca
have been secured. Tie win De- given
sucn assistants as may be needed
and viii have available ina fefvices