Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-07
FACTS ABOUT NITRATE.
Supply Tied Up Last Year on Account
of Army Requirements.

EHS y SoSSt .'
Supply Tied Up Last Year on Account
of Army Requirements.
Barnard NJ. Raruch, chairman of the
war industries board. has given out
the following:
Facts concerning the importation
and use Of nitrate during the war
period, hitherto suppressed for mill
tary reasons, are herewith made pub
lie by c. H. MacDowell director of the
chemicals division Of the war indus
tries board. for the purpose of clear
ing up certain MISUNDERSTANDING
which have existed.
In the fall of 1917 the congress ap-
propriated s10,O0O,000 to be used by the
AGRICULTURAL department in importing
nitrate of soda to be sold by them to
the farmers at cost. This was later
made a revolving fund. Under this
the war industries board procured Tor
the department Of agriculture some
los, 900 long tons of nitrate for ship
ment from Chile during the winter
and spring. Owing to disturbed ship
ping conditions in the early spring, II
was possible to bring in for February
March arrival the tonnage expected,
and with the needs developed by the
expected spring offensive of the Ger
mans, it became necessary to divert
to France a large tonnage of nitrate
for manufacture of explosives In that
country and for further increasing
production of explosives in this coun-
try for use in France. This immedi-
ate need made it impossible for the
department of agriculture to secure
boats sufficient to bring in the full lsO'-
600 tons SO that 66,77s tons was actu-
ally imported in time for use by the
farmers for spring planting.
Short Tonnage Explained.
Owinx to the military necessity,
publicity could not, Of course, be given
to the reason of the non arrival OF the
nitrate sold to the farmers, and this |
inability to deliver was the cause OF
feeling on the part OF
users Of nitrate Of soda. The military
necessity was the greatest one and
tho planters who were unable to get
the nitrate were in this way contribut-
ing to the supply Of explosives in
France, which later led to the winning |
Of the war.
The nitrate of soda situation In the
United States up until about the first
Of August was a serious one, although |
every explosive and chemical plant |
was kept supplied with sufficient MI
trate to maintain full operations at all
times. This was done by drawing |
from government arsenal reserves and
by transferring stocks from fertili- |
zer manufacturers and. other holders
to plants when stocks were about ex-
hausted. Owing to the shortage OF
nitrate, 1t was deemed wise to ask the
importer to discontinue sales OF nj
trate to fertilizer manufacturers other
than for the making Of sulphuric acid,
and after the first Of July all consign-
nents Of nitrate arriving in the coun-
try sold to such manufacturers were
commandeered by the ordnance de-
partment and turned over to NUM-
tions and chemical manufacturers.
These contracts thus handled were
made between the importers and the
fertilizer people in the fall Of 1917.
All Restrictions Removed.
Immediately on the signing Of the
armistice, all restrictions were taken
off of the importers as far as sales of
nitrate to fertilizer manufacturers and
agricultural users were concerned. so
that there will be no difficulty in sup
plying the entire needs Of the United
States for agricultural use for spring
planting.
Nitrate Of soda Is the foundation of
smokeless powder and high explosives
as well as for other needed chemicals
and the purchase and importation of
nitrate to the United States was con-
trolled by the United States govern
ment through the war industries
board in cooperation with the i'm
porters formerly handling this ma
terial, the importers buying in Chile |
cs in times past. The government re-
ceived their nitrate through the i'm
porters at cost and the profit charged |
by the importers to private users was
controlled by the government so that
uniform cost to all users was secured, |
this cost being based on the average |
cost in Chile, plus the freight
storage exchange. and other elements |
Of cost.
A committee known as the nitrate |
committee Of the United States was |
established with officers in New York
and New York representative Of the
war industries board represented that |
board in the offices Of this committee.
needs for nitrate were in
creasing rapidly and the 1919 require
ment would have been very large. |
During the entire period of the war
all needed nitrate wns secured and |