The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-04-12
CONGRESSMAN DRANE
DECLARES If FULL IS
FURNISHED, PHOSPHATE
MINES CAN SOLVE THE
FERTILIZER PROBLEM

South Florida phosphate mines ar
capable Of producing as many hun
dreG thousand tons as may be needle,
to rleet the domestic fertilizer short
age. with plenty to spare, for all tn,
demands that may come from the al
lied nations. This comforting assur
ance Is being impressed upon William
Wallace Mein, the recently-appointed
federal fertilizer administrator, and
his advisory committee Of experts who
are co-ordinating the fertilizer inter.
ests of the various branches Of the
government service.
As was printed in the Tampa Times
on March rs, members Of this fertili-
yer board, giving snap judgment, stat
ed that during the next few months
the chances are that the south Florida
phosphate mines will not be allowed
to export in quantities. That this
statement was made without a thor
cugh investigation of the possible pro-
friction from the South Florida mines
now seems certain since data has
been placed before the federal author
tiles showing that the South Florida
mines are capable and ready to deliv-
er az much raw phosphate as may be
needed to meet all demands, domestic
or for export. Any inability to meet
demands will be entirely due TO the
failure OF the federal authorities to
allow fuel oil to be delivered for OBJ
Grafton Of the mines and to provide
transportation facilities for shipping
the mined product.
Drane Gets Opinion Of Expert
congressman Herbert J. Drane, of
Lakeland, Fla, who represents the
largest phosphate mining district in
the United States, has taken IN this
matter not only with the federal Off
cfals but with leaders In the industry
rs a result of his prompt action, Con-
gresham Dranc has been able to pre-
sent to the government fertilizer adj, u
Illustrator and his advisory commit :
lee every assurance that they can de. :
pend to the utmost on the supply of i,
phosphate from the South Florida ;
mines and that there will be plenty /
or the allies, as well, to stimulate =
God production.
congressman Drane has secured for i.
he government fertilizer experts an y
opinion on an authority on mining OF =
'hosphate, a man whose expert g
on the subject is recog- q
'lzed both in this country and abroad. G.
'rlefly stated the matter Is as fol- 1"
ows:
Can Produce Big Surplus Y
The output capacity of the Florida r
hosphate mines is so per cent In ex-
ess OF the requirements of the do n,
'estic fertilizer market, and the n,
lines consequently are thoroughly te
apaple or taking care of the domes-
G situation and all possible demand
" export which of necessity, owing sh
difficulty in securing vessels and "
censes for the same is extremely so
cl!ted. 81
Further, the class of phosphato de
at is exported is usually OF high err
'ade, which is not used In this coun-. ia.
y In the manufacture Of fertilizer. an
ID 1t would be serious step, as far IT,
the Florida phosphate industry is
ncerned, to refuse permission to ex- res
rt their product. be,
1t Is of the highest Importance
al our allies and friendly neutral
uhtries should be supplied with
osphate to the limit of transporta-
n facilities. IIIll
Worth Many Times Its Weight Hill
One ton Of phosphate when man lIl|
lctured into fertilizer Is capable of WIFI
'ducing six or seven times It's own III|II
light In wheat or other food prod. lIIlll
g, and the shipment of phosphate l|I|II
our allies or neutral countries II|l|I
refore, represents food sent to Hill
m in a latent and concentrated Hill
m. Hill
cannot comprehend how the idea Hill
uld prevail in Washington that II Hill
I'D be advantageous from any Hill
ndpoint to prohibit the export OF IlII
sphate to our allies or neutral llI|I
2tries. AS matter Of fact, ex- IIIIl
Is should he encouraged and aid INlI
In every way noaaihIa" IlIlli