New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-21

couraged by the government to make
their large investment, and after the
mineral stimulation law IVES passed
had every reason to believe that they
would be insured against loss.
Taking the situation as whole
there Is involved not only private
losses, but the loss to the nation of
mineral production that would insure
its independence in any future war
and also commercial independence in
the trade war that is now beginning.
Now Plan to Import Potash
The case of potash is probably Of lore
general interest than that of any other
mineral in the special list. For all
nopoly of the production of this min
eral, which is indispensable as q fer
tiizer and is much used in certain
manufacturing industries, as we'll as in
the production of explosives.
Through the efforts of explorers,
prospectors, miners, the Portland &C.
ment and the steel industries and cap
italists encouraged by various govern
ment agencies, the output of potash in
this country was run up to about 10000
torn in 1918, or about one-siXth of the
prospects were that this year the Amer
lean product would be 33 1-3 per cent
of the normal demand, next year so
per cent and thereafter ample, and that
if the war terminated suddenly tariff
would be imposed under the act above
mentioned for period OF two years,
in which time the producers thought
they would be in a position to compete
with foreign potash.
Now, however, preparations are I'M
der way TO import $4,000 tons of pot
ash from the fields France has ac-
quired with the restoration of Alsace
and $4,000 tons from the Stassfurt
mines in Germany at $1.25 g K2o pure
potash unit. There is tremendous
demand from the cotton growers and
other agriculturists, who have had
none or only an insufficient supply of
potash fertilizer for four years, for
the immediate importation of immense
quantities, and there is no question
that there must be large importations
both this year and next. But the for
eign potash can be laid down here at
1925 a unit, whereas IS unit is the
best the new home industry can do
this year.
Want License for Imports
To meet this situation Senator Hem
derson, of Nevada, chairman of the
Senate Committee on Mines and Min
ing, has introduced a bill to tide over
the interval before American producers
will be able TO meet foreign competi-
ton, which is put at two years. The
committee will meet tomorrow to con-
slider the bill, and a favorable report
IS expected.
The bill provides that all potash i'm
portations must be under license and
the condition of the license will be
that such importers may purchase
abroad only such proportion of their
requirements as is represented by the
difference between the estimated home
production and the domestic consump-
ton.
According to present calculations
that would mean 10000 tons this year
and 10000 next year. Thereafter all
restrictions would be withdrawn, as the
domestic producers calculate that by
1922 they can protitably produce at 81
unit, which will put them on a. par
with foreign production.
1t is declared that if some such ac-
ton is not taken the American potash
producers, whose minimum will be 3
this year and 81 next year, will be
swamped and put out of business be-
fore they can get firmly on their feet
to face competition. 1t is estimated
that an industry that was indispen-
sable in war and is indispensable
in peace, unless we wish the fer
tility of our fields to be regulated by
Germany and France, has a $4,000, 900
investment in peril unless it be assist
ed by this plan of restricting impor-
tations for two years.