Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-06
POTASH MEN OF
NEBRASKA AND
utah TO UNITE
To Effect Combination to
Strengthen the Industry
in the Two
States.

he potash industry in America,
N,ally interesting to thousands OF
NeOraskans, will automatically hold
Is own in the commercial world
Notwithstanding the threat of Eu-
F, 'opean countries that foreign mined
potash will be shipped into the
United States. according 10 Theo,
dore Rodman, halloween OF one Of
The largest potash mines in the
United States. Mr.. Rodman is IN
Omaha in the interest of effecting
a combination of Nebraska and
tab potash manufacturers for the
purpose of strengthening the in
iustry.
The public has the wrong idea
Of the potash industry. 1t has
been misinformed of the conditions
met by the western producers OF the
product Mr.. Rodman said. Home
industry in manufacturing and min
ing as we'll as in retail commerce is
essential to the United States. The
mines in Utah and the potash lakes
in Nebraska can produce and have
been producing untold quantities OF
potassium chloride and potassium
sulphate. A product 81 per cent pure
is mined in Utah, in comparison
with the inferior sulpha4e which for
e'Gn countries are trying TO import
nlto this country. Thousands Of
tons OF the product from the west
era mines have been shipped to the
south and east for farming purposes
The United States can supply the
world with potash aud the by-pro-
Ducts of aiumina. sulphuric acid,
Chlorine and sodium without relying
Upon foreign mines" he continued.
Can Compete With Europe.
We can compete favorably
t. o. b, Atlantic ports with the for
cign market that received $85 ton
as a minimum price for potassium
sulphate that holds less percentage
than the American product.
Thousands of Nebraskans who
have money invested in potash be-
sieged congress at the last session
TO place such heavy duty on the
import Of foreign potash and its by
products that it would not interfere
witt, the American market. Repre-
sentatiyes Of p potash mines met in
Denver Wednesday night for the
purpose of organizing the National
Association OF Potash Producers,
which movement Mr.. Rodnlan is in
Omaha to launch. Willis T. Reed,
former attorney general of Ne
braska, is an exponent of the idea
DIR. q. Z. Condra, state geologist
and government inspector of potash
mines. has recommended these ef-
forts i'll stabilizing the industry.
in my personal opinion, the flu
ture potash industry of the United
States will depend upon the methods
adopted by the government in keep
ing out of this country the inferior
grades Of potash that are mined by
foreign nations" Mr.. Condra said.
1T is true that foreign countries can
produce higll-grade potash, but all
: eNorbitaat- price far above that for
which American mines can produce
1T will be asked"
Interest in Move.
w Ii, Osterberg. vice-president
OF the Western Alkali Refining Coli
pany, Omaha. aud w. P. Sharp.
known as the Potash King" of
Amei lea, are interested in the Or
ganization OF potash investors.
= A chief advantage of the Amer
lean mined potash over the product
mined in foreign countries is \the
purity of the potash, NJ. Sharp said.
In some western mines, notably the
Aluminium Potash Mines Of Utah,
740 pounds OF aluminium, a raw pro-
duct 81 per cent pure, are obtained
out of each ton of potash mined.
Sulphuric acid is also Obtained in
, large quantities. Potassium sui
phate from the Utah mines is selling
for as high as $500 ton, manu-
iacturers say.