The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-07-08
FUTURE OF PHOSPHATE
VAST SUPPLY IN IDAHO
IDAHO HAS VAST DEPOSITS
WHICH WILL PROVE A RICH
RESOURCE.

Development of the Idaho Wyoming
} utah phosphate field that was discOv-
cred in 1906 has been retarded to
such an extent that in 1919, thirteen
years later, only 10000 tons of rock
was reported sold. This may be as
cribed to various causes. chief among
which were the Governments conser-
walton policy through which lands
were withdrawn from entry, and the
distance of the field from existing
markets. Southern phosphate. richer
and more easily mined. from Florida,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ken
lucky. but principally from Florida,
after conversion into the soluble"
form of superphosphate by treatment
with sulphuric acid, has had the do
nestle market TO itself and has also
been exported in quantities that be-
fore the discovery of the Western
field. BODIED i'll for the future. Euro
peans until recently have been more
alive than American farmers to the
Importance of phosphate, says the En-
cheering and Mining Journal
have established themselves in the
new field. and now that the general
leasing act is effective. the entry of
others will be facilitated. Regulations
for leasing deposits on public lands
We're approved by Secretary Payne on
May 22 under which areas not ex-
ceeding $3.50 acres in extent may be
leased. 1t has been demonstrated that
the raw rock when ground, is assimil- |
able as a plant food, though requiring !
a longer period than the acid soluble |
product. Rock shipments |
however, must have a more favorable /
freight rate if distant markets are to !
firms have entered the market seeking !
phosphate rock as return ballast. and |
bunSers are being built at Portland |
Ore. for loading the vessels.
Just at this time, then it is unfor-
tunate that the Union Pacific inter
ests. whose Oregon Short Line is the |
main artery of the new phosphate |
field, should threaten to raise the rate |
about 40 per cent on raw phosphate |
rock shipped from mines to the coast, |
for such an increase is sufficient to |
kill efforts to develop the Idaho Wyo- I
ming Utah phosphate industry. 1t is |
to be hoped that the traffic officials |
mindful of the benefits and revenue
to be derived from the development Of !
this new territory and not pursue the !
policy proposed
The most important event in con- /
nection with the Western field is the
panys laboratories of a new process /
whereby a much more highly concen-
trated acid phosphate is made than
anything placed on the market to date,
which product it is said. by reason |
OF its concentration, will be able TO
stand shipment anywhere in the Uni
ted States, and even abroad. For the
of this product, Anacon-
da will use sulphuric acid as a by
product at its own smelling works The |
has already secured phos- |
phate land near Garrison, Mont, and /
has acquired the right to purchase a !
large deposit of high grade rock about |
seven miles from Soda Springs, Idaho. |
The miner must eat in order to mine. /
and so agriculture naturally takes /
precedence over the mineral industry !
in Importance But the farmer must /
have phosphate. potash, and nitrate,
and he thus. in turn. is dependent on
The miner The mineral constituents
IF the soil are no more inexhaustible .
han are our petroleum resources. re
garding which there has been a rude
weakening. Once virgin soil, the acre
lge of land in the United States re-
luiring artificial assistance is stead
ly increasing.
OF the three minerals named. phos-
lhate alone occurs in large quantities
n the United States The amount sold
n this country last year. according to
he u. s. Geological Survey. was l.
l41,700 long tons as compared with D.
90, 76O in 1918 and S.111.221 in 1913
he last being the maximum output in
my one year since production began. !
If last years tonnage. Florida produc-
d 1856, 700 tons. South Carolina no.