Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-10-17
NITRATE SODA FOR FARMERS.
Government VIII Secure 1t and Sell
to Planters at Cost.
\ Washington dispatch says:

has for some time been giving care
full consideration to the problem of
securing nitrate Of soda for fertilizer
Congress there is available an appro-
priation of $10,00O,OOO to be used,
at the discretion Of the President, to
secure nitrate Of soda and 70 cnpply
it to farmers at cost for cash.
1t is proposed to coordinate all the
government purchases OF Chilean nj
purchasing committee Of the war in
dustries board, under the immediate
supervision Of Mr.. Baruch, so that
there will be no competitive bidding
for this material. This should very
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
increased within recent months with
out justification. Shipping rates
also have increased. The increase in
price is due in part to unfounded
statements regarding the demand for
Chilean nitrate for munitions pur-
poses and for fertilizer, especially in
connection with the $1O,OO0,000 re-
Gently appropriated by Congress to
purchase nitrate of soda. AS a mat
ter of fact, the demands of this
country for nitrate of soda will be
smaller than heretofore. The navy
already has placed contracts for this
material to satisfy it's needs for the
next twelve months. The War De-
partment announces that practically
all the sodium nitrate which 1t has
been planning to procure for grad
ual building up of the war reserve al
ready has been contracted for. The
quantity which may be purchased for
fertilizer use under the special ap-
preparation Of Congress will not be
an addition to the quantity 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 nitrate agencies. AS a
matter Of fact, unless satisfactory
prices can be secured. it is probable
that the farmer 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 by farmers for nitrate O fsoda.
In view Of all these facts, it is proba-
Ole mat the aggregate demand for
tlnq next iiro or six months viii be
yanlow the normM. IT is certain that
ri'eSs the market prices, which are
.h9M ~ The HoiGhborhood OF $500 a
ton, fall, the farmers demand for
nitrate will decrease.
AS has been stated, the purchasing
will be handled directly through the
war industries board The Depart
mcnt Of Agriculture will cooperate
with the purchasing committee in the
effort to procure nitrate OF soda. 1t
is authorized by law to secure facts
as to the demand for fertilizers, in
cluding nitrate Of soda, their supply.
consumption, costs, and prices, and
the basic facts relating to their own
ership. production, transportation,
manufacture, storage and distribu-
tion. This inquiry is now being pros
ecuted through the bureau Of mar
kets. In connection with this the
needs of farmers will be ascertained
and all amounts purchased for their
use, after the shipments reach the
ports, will be taken charge of by the
department and will be distributed
through the department to farmers
at cost for cash. The collections will
be made by the department and will
be turned into the treasury. To as
sist the department in its activities
in this direction the services of
Nell r. Wilkinson, of Atlanta, Ga,
have been secured. He will be given
such assistants as may be needed and
Will have available the services Of the
experts Of the bureau Of soils and the
bureau Of plant industry.
Authority has been given the Pres
ident. il necessary, to license the i'm
portation, manufacture, storage, and
distribution Of fertilizers, to require
the licensees to submit reports, and
TO permit entry and inspection Of
their places Of business. The Presi-
dent is further authorized, If he shall
flnd that any storage charge, com
mission. profit, or practice Of any IL
censee is unjust, or unreasonable, or
discriminatory and unfair. to cause
SMnh ~ a nlnlic iL,,,