The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-10
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
IN WORM A TON
Blu RE NJ
Washington, D. C.
NEGLECTED. WEALTH IN
MINERALS.
' Washington, D. C.

Washington, D. c., May 7.-Do you
know what vanadium is? Did you
realize that without this rare mineral
the Germans could never have manu-
featured the great cannons with which
they have been Smelling Paris, because
vanadium must be employed in the
manufacture of any steel subject to
intense and repeated strains? Had
you ever heard that in the summer of
1916 the German merchant submar-
inc Deutschland loaded fifteen tons of
metallic vanadium aboard their craft
at Baltimore and were decorated by.
the Kaiser on their arrival at Bremen
because they had brought to Germany
supply of mineral essential to war,
of which not a trace is to be found in
any of the central powers?
The fifteen tons of vanadium which
were carried from this country in the
hold of a single submarine consti-
tuted three per cent of the present
total annual production of the mineral
in the United States Our entire ma
tive production of $50 tons. in 1917
could have been shipped abroad on a
5000 ton freighter. Until the scarcity
of ships made it impracticable. we
were importing about 5000 metric
tons of vanadium a year from Peru,
where the, richest known deposits are
found. Nevertheless this metal is
present in large undeveloped sources
in San Miguel county. Colorado, where
the ore was mined in 1910 for forty to
fifty cents pound. Since 1912 these
deposits have been allowed to lie idle
Notwithstanding the fact that vana-
dunn now fetches four dollars and more
a pound, and is in tremendous demand.
Vanadium is but one of a hundred
minor minerals necessary for war pur-
poses which are present in large guam
titles in the United States but have
hitherto been largely imported from
other countries. On the last day of
April the house of representatives
passed a bill providing for the devel-
opment of these resources under gov
eminent control, and carrying an APP
preparation of ten million dollars for
this purpose. 1t is the expectation Of
Secretary of the Interior Lane that
with the working out of this measure,
America will become Independent of
importation for practically every i'm
portant mineral except tin, of which
hardly trace is to be found anywhere
in the United States. Moreover. Off
GERS of the shipping board estimate,
! if the vessels now employed in bring
ing to this country from Africa, South
America and Asia minerals which are
already present here in large quanti-
ties are set free, upwards of 400, 600
tons of shipping will be saved for
| transporting men and supplies to
France. For these reasons the min
eral bill has been stamped essential
war legislation by President Wilson,
and has gone to the senate with this
endorsement.
Under the terms of the legislation
every encouragement will be given by
the government to the development of
the deposits of these minerals in
America. In the words of Secretary
Lane, Uncle Sam wishes to be able to
say to the small miner and the captain
of industry alike, Gentlemen. at the
present time we cannot build a battle
ship or turn out a field piece without
| importing materials necessary to their
manufacture. If you will dig in to
our mineral wealth and bring out for
| the nation what we have hidden away