The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-03
NITRATE OF SODA.
OF AGRICULTURE
HOUSTON MAKES STATEMENT
AS TO PURCHASES.
flans are We'll Under Way 20 Use
$lo,OOO,OO0 Appropriation TO Boy
Soda for Sale to Farmers at Cost.

washington, Sept. 26.-SecretaTy
houston stated today that the De-
partment of Agriculture has for some
time been giving careful considera-
tion to the problem of securing nj.
trate Of soda for fertilizer use. I'M
der recent authorization of CONGRESS
there is available an appropriation Of
9lo'ooO,oo to be used, at the discre-
ton Of the president, to secure nj
trate of soda and to supply it to
farmers at cost for cash.
1t is proposed to coordinate all the !
government purchases of Chilean nj |
trate for this country through the
purchasing committee of the War In
dustries Board, under the immedIat.
supervision Of Mr.. Earuch, so that
there will be no competitive bidding
for this material. This should YER
much simplify the problem and MAKE
it feasible to secure the best possible
terms. The price of Chilean nitrate
on board ship in Chile has greatly in-
justification. Shipping rates also
have increased. The increase IN
price is due in part to unfounded
statements regarding the demand foI
Chilean nitrate for munitions pur-
poses and for fertilizer, especially in
connection with the $1O,O0O,O0O re-
irn
purchase nitrate Of soda. AS mat
ter of fact, the demands OF this coun~
try for nitrate of soda will be smaller
| than heretofore. The navy already y
! has placed contracts for this material
to satisfy its needs for the next twclvv
months. The war department az
nounces that practically all the So
dunn nitrate which it has been plar-
ned to procure for the gradual build
ing up of the war reserve already has
, been contracted for The quantity
/ which may be purchased for fer
tilizer use under the special appro.
5 priation of congress will not be an
; addition to the quantity normal:
} used. Any quantity purchased by the
government and sold to farmers viii
? simply take the place in part Of
! suantities heretofore supplied to then
5 through private agencies. as mat
ter of fact, unless satisfactory prices
) can be secured, it is probable that the.
, farmers will not seek as large q uuan-
tlty OF this material as has been used
In the last year or two. Some con-
tracts already have been made by
farmers for nitrate of soda In view
OF all these facts, it is probable that
the aggregate demand for the mex;
i've or six months will be below tn,
normal. 1t is certain that unless the
, market prices, which are now in th
neighborhood of 500 a ton. fall. the
farmers demand for nitrate will de-
+. crease.
AS has been stated, the purchas-
ing Will be handled directly through
the War Industries Board. The De-
partment of Agriculture will cooper
ate with the purchasing committee in
the effort to procure nitrate of soda
II Is authorized by law to secure facts
al. to the demand for fertilizers in
Guiding nitrate of soda, thei, supply
consumption, costs and nrices anG
'he paslc 1acts relating to their own
) ershlp, production, transportation.
manufacture, storage, and distribu-
ton. This inquiry is now being pros
ecuted through the Bureau of Mar
Kets. In connection with this the
needs OF farmers will be ascertaincG
anu dii amounts purchased for their
use, after the shipments reach the
ports, Will be taken charge of by the
department and will be distributed
'iiroush the department to farmers at
cost for cash. The collections will be
made by the department and will be
turned in to the treasury. To assist
the department in its activities i'm
THIS direction the services of Mr..
Nell Il. Wilkinson, of Atlanta. Ga.
nave been secured. He will be given
such assistants as may be needed and
VIII have available the services of the
experts of the Bureau OF Soils and
the Bureau of Plant Industry.
Authority has been given by the
president, if necessary. to license the
importation, manufacture. storaEs
and distribution OF fertilizers, TO re- ,
ouire the licensees To submit reports
and to permit entry and inspection o.
their places of business. The p,vSi-
dent is further authorized if he shall
/ ma that any storage charge. COM
mission, profit or practice Of any
1 lpGpnGnn iS L.