The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-20
Tuesday, November 20, 1911
A SUPPLY OF POTASH.

cultural purposes. In some sectlohs
Of Abbeville County the lands will
not yield cotton in paying qualities
without potash, and the cotton IN all
sections of the county has suffered
this year because the commercial
fertilizers contained no potash. IL
has been stated that there is no
supply to be had except by impor-
taeion from Germany, and as a
consequence it is impossible to be
had except at prohibitive prices.
The following taken from the Lit
erary Digest, in view Of the pre-
vailing belief on the subject, will be
of interest to farmers and people
generally. The article is taken from
the issue of November 18th, and IS
as follows:
"At the annual meeting of the
American Chemical Society, on Sep
tember II, D. Nichols, of the Ma
tional Research Council, said that
"the greatest known deposit of pot
ash in the world, estimated to be
worth more than one billion dollars,
is awaiting development" lmme-
date utilization of this potash, he
added, depended upon Congress-
The deposit is in Searles Lake. Call
fornia, whose waters, it is estl-
mated by the Geological Survey
hold in solution 2O,OO0,OOO tons of
this mineral. Says the writer OF
an editorial in the New York Times:
"'Before the war our supplies of
potash came from Germany. I'M
ports were $4,000 tons in 1913,
but only 10000 last year, and the
old price has been multiplied by
ten. We are producing small guam
titles from feldspar, alunnite, ce-
ment waste, and sea-weed, but very
much more is needed.
development of the lake de-
posits depends upon Congress, be-
cause the lake and surrounding
land were withdrawn some time ago
by the Government from the opera
ton of mining and land settlement
laws. A bill to permit and pro-
mote utilization of this potash was
passed in the Senate on August 10.
It provides for leases, if satisfac-
tory terms concerning rentals and
royalties can be made. The potash
should be taken out by private
companies or the Government. Two
companies have accessible reduction
plants which could begin the work
at once, but it would be necessary
for the Government to expend ST.
100000 in preparation. We suggest
that the American Chemical Society
by resolution ask Congress to take
final action upon the bill without
delay. It has the support of the
Council of National Defense. In
committee hearings and the Senate
debate reference was made to the
remark of DR.. Wilhelm Ostwald,
German Privy Councillor, that 'Am-
erica went into the war like man
with a rope around his neck, rope
which is in enemy hands, because
Germany, having "a world monopoly
of potash, can dictate which of the
nations shall have plenty of food
and which shall starve.' Even if
we can get no potash fertilizers for
the farms, we shall not starve, but
in Searles Lake there is an ample
supply for many years to come"
Potash is necessary . for proper
yields of other crops than cotton,
especially food crops. If food is
to win the war, it is of the first i'm
portance that the supply of potash
in this country be developed, if in
deed there is a supply which may
be economically developed. The
matter should engage the attention
of congress in serious way.