The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-25
NEW INDEPENDENCE
 FOR UNITED STATES
Fly HOLLAND

New York. January A.-(Special. )-The dyestuffs industry Is not the only one wh!ch the United States can permanently secure being thereby hereafter indepen- dent of Germany. but in all probability, if certain contingencies are fully met, we may also be independent of Ger many with respect to the highly impor- tant commodity, potash
 It has once or twice happened that by reason of unexpected developments which have been made possible through the work of men of research and inven- tive capacity, the United States has, of a sudden found itself independent of the rest of the world, so far as commodities were concerned, which always before science and invention had come to the rescue. We were compelled to import That is true of sulphur, for now we not only secure sulphur enough for our own use but are able to export some. 1t is also true in great measure of rice and of certain fruits.
 There Is, however, a romantic inter- est associated with the new relatio of the United States to the potash in- dustry which supplements the impor- tant industrial and commercial interest uosoSldtCd WitH OuI use Ol tIlS of the mines. For it has been stated and presumably authoritatively stated that Professor Ostwold. one of the great men of science of Germany, said at the beginning of the war that Germany's ability through her control of the only known large deposits of potash salts would be sufficient to dominate other na- ticns, and that this would be, in due time, fully recognized.
 There were grave apprehensions in the United States that this might be true as far as this country was con cerned. These apprehensons were spe- cially prevalent among the farmers, for more and more the great agricultural sections of the country are dependent upon fertilizers in which potash is an important element if the farmers are to be successful in harvesting large crops.
 WHEN THE WAR BEGAN
 When the war began the American importers of potash from Germany were in posses ssion of fairly large surplus, but within a few months 1t became ap- parent that as there were no new sup piles. they must with the utmost care, even as though restricted by the com mand of the government, deal out smaller proportions of the potash to the manu- lecturers of fertilizers and other chem tSti PAVodGtS. At last HOne was lelL.
 Instantly the men of science aided by men of capital. undertook to discover if there did exist in the United States natu- ral resources which, under proper treat ment which the men of science were to discover if possible, could be made to yield fairly good supplies of potash Fur thermore. the hope was expressed that science and capital would discover a way whereby the predication of the Germans that they would be triumphant ultimately because they controlled the only known large deposits of potash salts, would be negatived and Germany would be confounded For it was not inconceivable that the United States. be- ing driven to it. might find that there were abundant natural resources in this country, which, after having been subjected to proper treatment would produce a sufficient supply of potash. Should that hope become a reality then as Is already the case with the dye on account of the war, have become in- dependent of Germany for his highly important commodity
 Richard K. Mead. who is a high au- thority. recently stated that he knew of some millions of dollars which would be Invested in establishing the potash in- dustry in the United States if the men or capital could be sure of one thing to us- the precise words of Professor Mead The thing that keeps this money out of an investment of this kind is the fear. not that we won't have potash from Germany as heretofore. but that we will have too much. and that the German producers will be so glad to get Yankee dollars to pay their war debts that they will offer us potash on the same old $40 basis.
 ASSURANCE NEEDED
 This man of science. and others now after thorough research work in Amer