The Washington herald., 1919-05-03

Yet a few years ago it was re-
source which was almost unex-
plotted and its value to American
agriculture was not fully recognized,
But, within the last ten years.
large capital has been secured for
in the exploitation OF
the very rich phosphate rock fields,
especially in Tennessee and in Flor
ida. as well as considerable
amount from like resources in Ten
nessee.
The corporation is now the larg-
est miner of the phosphate rock in
America and it is evident from Pres
ident Fleming's statement to the
stockholders that he forecasts
large Increase in its production and
in the marketing Of the product.
But if this corporation. which is
the largest. as far as production is
concerned. of its kind in the United
States. looks forward to greater
production and larger markets. 1t
is a reasonable inference that IL is
now preparing for that day of agri-
cultural and industry activity which
many believe is near at hand ana
which. if realized will far surpass
any prosperity the United States or
any other natioH in the world has in
the past enjoyed.
Other Nations In The Market.
There are good reasons for surmls-
Ing that other nations than Great
Britain and Denmark soon will ap-
proach the American market for the
purpose of securing adequate supplies
of this fertilizing commodity SO that
their agricultural interests may be
auickened and redeveloped to the
highest possible point Apparently
Europe Is quite as much concerned
about the restoration OF her agricul-
ture and the harvesting of adequate
crops as about rebuilding devastated
industries and perfecting transpor-
tation facilities. In fact. had it not
been for the inability of this corpora
tion to secure vessels. the export OF
American phosphates would have been
much larger in the year 1918. Pre-
sumably. however. in a short time. the
supply of vessels needed to transport
the phosphate fertilizers to other par,s
of the world will be secured.
This corporation is not the only one
which has been embarrassed and sub
jected to some loss. indirect loss az
though it be. on account OF the in
ability to secure ships. The petroleum.
oil companies of the United States
would have been able to export n
much larger amount OF oil and its
refined products such as gasoline and
lubricants. than they did export, If
they could have obtained ships in
sufficient numbers to meet the for
eign demand for oil
Other Large OIL Demand.
As it is with President F1eming's
corporation so also IT is with the oil
industry of the United States. The
leaders in this industry arc confident
that Immediately there will come a
very large demand for American oil.
Already one of the Standard Oil COM
panies has invested some S75. .OOO. .Oc0 in
establishing facilities in the Far East
for the marketing OF OIL The officers
of that corporation believe there is. to
he large increase in the export of
American oil.
Here then are two strong industries
in the United States. both now occu-
pied in exploiting natural resources.
one of which has only recently been
recognized and utilized and the other
highly developed during the last thirty
years.
The oil exports will facilitate indus
try of all kinds in the Far East; the
phosphate fertilizing industry win
make possible a great Increase i'm ag-
ricultural production both in the Unit
ed States and also in other lands.
HOLLAND.