Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-05-11
AN IDEAL LOCATION
FOR NITRATE PLANT

Nitrogen is one of the great needs
OF country. 1t is impossible TO
carry on agriculture or war without
nitrogen. Ii seems that despotism
| will rule the world unless agricul-
ture and war, on our part, are effect
lively handled to sustain our much
priced independence.
The Pacific Northwest and especi-
ally the Inland Empire is fortunate
| in her soil fertility and her nitrate
manufacturing possibilities Nature
| has given us both with lavish
| hand. There is no finer soil than
volcanic ash and with the elevation
giving us diversity of climatic con-
! dtions, we are able to produce TO
| perfection, great variety Of fruits,
grains, grasses, and vegetables. Ag-
riculture and horticulture are only
in their infancy In the Inland En-
pire and it is impossible to develop
them only systematically. under the
present conditions.
What is necessary is to develop
all of our natural resources. so that
all may increase as nearly equally
as possible. giving solid basis for
all business.
At present. if agriculture should
be failure or even partial failure,
other business would be badly af-
fected Millions Of bushels of pota-
toes apples, plums, prunes, peaches,
and other fruits and vegetables have
rotted on the farms of the Inland
Empire for want of q market, and no
number of farm experts could have
saved them. At present, every thing
Is too high, except apples, not be-
cause the farmer did not produce a
normal crop but from the fact that
the foreign demand is abnormal.
The Inland Empire can procure
millions of bushels of potatoes and
larger amounts of peas, beans. corn.
and vegetables yearly on what is
usually summer fallowed, and con
tinue to raise practically as much
small grain as in the past. provided
the other natural resources are de-
veloped so that manufacturing in
dustries have cheap enough power to
be successfully operated. for they
will furnish a steady market for
farm products.
1t requires extra hired help ana
costs the farmer more to raise crops
cultivated by one horse and hoeing
than by cultivating his summer fall
low with six to eight horses. In the
past he has been handicapped in Sc
curing help to do his work as thor
oughly as he desires, even in the
present mode of cultivation. 1t is
up to the people of the entire Inland
Empire to use their best endeavor to
assist in making this change and
now is the time.
The Northwest is most fortunate
in being we'll supplied with water
power, which is the cheapest and
most stable of power In some
places large factories have been es-
tabllshed depending on natural gas,
which has given out The cost of
oil and coal may become too high
but water comes and goes on for
ever.
For government nitrate plant
of magnitude in keeping with II,
great future and it's necessities, far
away from any national boundary or
sea coast, so as to be immune from
foreign attack, in a splendid climate
where railroad and water transpor-
tatlon can be improved and the sur
plus electric current and nitrogen he
used to build up great farming
and manufacturing country, which
also possesses lime and materials for
the manufacturing of concrete to
build the dams and plants. also
having rich deposits of copper and
other materials, the Snake river Of
fers an ideal location.
The commercial clubs of the In
land Empire should examine the
conditions on some one of the
power sites and all pull together
with Oregon, Idaho and Washing
ton congressman to locate gov
eminent nitrate plant on the Snake
river.
j. NJ. REID