The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-04
POTASH BONANZA.
Nebraska Boom Prices End With the
War

The bottom has dropped out of Ne
braska potash fields, and fortunes which !
were climbing into the millions at a
tremendous rate have come to n sudden
standstill; but it was great stuff whiled
it lasted It beat the golden days of
California all hollow
Potash was made in the sand hills of
Nebraska at from $40 to $I2 per ton
and sold at from 800 TO $3.50 per ton
Before the war all potash used in Amer
lea came from Germany and SOLD on this
side of the Atlantic for from S27 to $40
per ton. The war shut off the supply
from Europe and American fertilzing
manufacturers suddenly found them
selves without the chief ingredient of
fertilizers. Southern cotton fields were
suffering. All eastern and southern
farmers were threatened. Munition
factories were unable TO make smoke
less powder
Now that the war is over there is no
more sale for the Nebraska product, at
| least not at old prices. Nebraska POI
fash men have complained to congress
! that the fertilizer manufacturers are in
q combine 10 force down prices or TO
| await the placing of imported potash on
| the market. Between $3.000000 and So.
100000 worth of Nebraska potash is
stored in eastern and southern cities
awaiting sale.
The Nebraska Potash industry is less
than three years old. but mGnv million
dollars have been made from it, II was
a poor mar $ prospgct--like the IA
nous "'oe diggings' OF South Africa,
IThere barefcotcd men dug up gold mug
Ise;s with their toes.
Three years ago Earl Modisett. a
kyonng Omaha chemist, was working at
1.-THE Cudahv Packing Company plant
IN South Omaha for $l25 a month
Now he is millionaire. He is 2s years
old Clark Denny of Omaha, who lent
Modisett $500 with which to start his
Epotash work, is said to have drawn $50
Loco last year in dividends on the stock
IissHed him fer that +90o.
+ John II. krauSe, a :" c0wman - living
lin the sandhills, has been drawing ST.
1000 day royalty for leases on a part
lof his property. He expected to make
another lease by which he viii draw
$4,000 day on some other sand hill
property he owns. before the armistiee.
Krausc came from Wisconsin and
homcsteaded in the short grass copn,
fry. He managed to make ends meet
by as marrow squeak H. most other
Ieewmcn. In time he took over other
hamesteads which settlers, discouraged
sold cheap. On Krause s property were
several lakes of brackish water. They
We're worthless as the stock could nat
drink the water. Two veaY- ago the
lakes were found t. De rich in potash
, 1t was from the water of these lakes
that Krause got 81 900 a day royalty
, When the potash rush started there
Krause was in litigation eyer portion
eff his land, He offered an Omaha at
, tePneY = quarter interest if he would
handle the case. The lawyer refused
He told krause he would take the case
at fair fee, but he did not want ia
, fool with any potash leases. The law.
yer got $500 for handling the ease Had
he accepted Krause s offer he WOULD
have drawn $3.50 a day. Solid ivory, .
cxelaims that lawyer.
o The potash feds cover territory
e 80 miles square. Scientists say the
eountry there was once covered with