New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-26
The Sinews of War
Alkal Lakes in Nebraska Supply Fertilizer Formerly Ex
ported from Germany - Brine Believed Useless OF
Prime Importance in America Battle to Feed World
By THEODORE M. KNAPPEN

LLIANCE, Neb July 25-Ou of the sandhil desert issues
II fertility Holland answers Sassfurt
The German submarine DESTROYS food Lack of German
potash prevents Bocade Germany has been revenged
urtaed crops the world There have been prophets who
oretod that the lasted long enough barren world would
have surrender to a starved Germany.
Practically when the began Germany had in the great
potash Stasurt monopoly OF the supply OF this es
sentia fertilizer thousands OF farms and gardens
in America have already felt the lack of kanitehe form in
which German potash used agrultura Now comes the
akali lakes OF the Nebraska sandhls to the rescue
America used import kainte from Germany at the rate OF
tons day The depised alka lakes otorer times and
some other sources yielding daily approximately ~ per
cent as much Of corresponding product The story OF this
amazing by-product OF the more OF the thousand
nnse interesting romances myradaspect universal
You can't start anything this complex modern world without
unexpected and perhaps, dsmayng results Germany seeks u
snslave France-and emancpates America
curious grass capeted ands that such feature OF the
physical geography OF Northwestern Nebraska These hills are
dotted with little aka lakes In their and the be-
meath is the potash Jess Lake Holland station is the one
that has so far produced the most 1900
and Carl Z MODESTO became interested in the possibilities OF Jess
AXE 1910 They patiently investigated and experimental and
in 1912 mineral claims and erected an evaporatng tower Tor
concentrating the Of the lake. and definitely Sceraed a
the dsates had high value fertilizers Progress was slow
until the isolated Germany and the lean fields OF GER
tain parts the United States began to suffer for lack OF potash
things speeded I'D and presently the boys found them
selves the head of of the most important and profitable
businesses in the country. 49,,
oovment to some two News Of their success got
abroad and potash struck the andhs with the result ha
the American Potash Company dt [1HtONI
Products Company Lakeside, now also producing on
profitable commercial basis r
The process simple though involves the expenditure OF
large capital for plants OF great capacity and mlch money mas
lost in pioneer experimentation The alkaline brine pumped
through sand points driven deep the ooze at the bottom OF the
lakes to an evaporang and drying plant which hnay produces
substance that looks unlike coal cnker which IS then GROUND
70 nowder and sacked for shipment The magnitude OF the industry
indicated bv the that the railway called upon TO
sixty cars day for its incoming and outgoing require
mentS. :. ,.. - ..r.1,... o,d
these are of additional benefit the soils on which potash oro
narv used The potash compounds represent about per cent
NJ the total as against about cent IN the German kante
With The result that not so much of the American product re-
d the so as the potassium supaes and carbonas OF
latter are more potent than the murates OF the German article
prts are measured by daily as compared
with dav output but supply OF brine is limited any one
I,e Most Of them worth while commercially ana the re-
not grudged to who without government assistance
subsidy have developed enterprise OF supreme Importance
N the nation Before the kalnlte sold at few dollars ton
lots The Nebraska product now worth somewhere
around Sl0O ..,, . 1000 ... r. INC;
" the end the automatically put you OUT OF ous
asked Manager Show OF the Potash Products company
WeI make fight anyway, was his answer but you can
for me- that the lasts two years more the american
between what are dong here and what
done elsewhere will make the United States independent
of German potash for all time , ,
I'll. .ndls are American Marine IN the struggle Tor IN.
lo rdeoendnce which has been necessary coolary OF
tho struggle for democratic freedom
day. Many merica q