Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-10
Men of Science
Believe us. Has
Potash Deposits
Investigations Indicate Large
Fields of Mineral in Texas
Sufficient to Supply
Nations Need.
By HOLLAND.

by I1SAAhND'
Master minds in the operation Of
American mines from which comes
ores now agree Upon one point,
namely: that the value OF the mine
| is to be fixed by All estimate OF the
value OF the ore which is III sight
There may be riches of bonanza
like character in the unexplored
depths Of the mine, but these have
no weight in estimating the lmine-
date value of All ore-producing
mine
This, however, cannot be said OF
OF: or Of potash. Oil production IS
always more or less a matter OF
chance. One of the leading au-
thorities in American oil industry
has said that well may yield 2S.-
600 barrels at the start and yet De
exhausted within few weeks. The
sulphur industry of Louisiana aud
eastern Texas. which within a few
years has made the United States
Independent of the rest of the world
so far as sulphur is concerned. is
now placed upon reasonably sure
basis because tests have shown how
deep and how far these sulphur
deposits 60.
Detriment to Germany.
Is this to be the case with potash
II 1t is. then our international trade with
Germany may be affected to Garmany's
harm. For Germany expects to recover
some part OF it's prestige and wealth and
to liquidate some part OF the reparation
1t must make by marketing. especially
in the United States much OF rd rs Aissss gssc.
have heretofore been presumed to possess
the worlds greatest deposits OF potash
Upon German potash American farmers
pendent until the wars embargo put an
ed TO potash imports from. Germany.
Then began a search for American pot
ash Many were wSsSer er'p certain
American natural products contained pot
ash In commercial amounts. Capital was
invested in the production OF potash i.om .,,in
off the coast Of California. Some potash
Is now taken from this sea weed ana yet
It was not expected that II would neeln
to make good the American heeo ioi
potash.
Potash Procured From Sand. -
Capital and science undertook to pro-
cure potash from sand which covered
what had been the bottom OF lakes ~nieh
years ago were dried up, IN. uney a,nt.Iu, arsU Go
;n Titan Science demonstrated that field
spar contained a considerable percentage
Of potash. But this was not 81 fneen
tractIng it from the feldspar and the
transportation was greater than any pos
sible market price. Not all & OF the amer, ,,,sat
can potash resource could begin TO meet
the demand for this mineral
The men Of science discovered tnat 1ne
waste from the chnneys OF the factories
whose product is cement csmsn. con'anna ennsderabie
amount, So also another heretofore waste
product the accumulated Stag OF the iron
and steel furnaces was ,.1SsrabIe iGsno ie use Of
this slag for the fertilizins element "nich
it contains is in progress. 49,,
Many Of the men Of science have oesn
inclined to believe that somewhere IN ING
United States there were rich deposlls "
potash. so rich In fact that, II discovery
of them could be made ana tnen s5 tne
deposits utilized. the United states woyin
mot be compelled to rely upon Germany
Within a few weeks reports have come
from Texas which, II further insestssa, a,
tion fully justify them, give good proof
that very large deposits OF potash naNe
been discovered in western Texas. Insse
reports are endorsed by DR.. Christner. VINO
ia field xeologist in the bureau OF economic
geology OF the University OF Texas pr.
Christner is quoted as saying that he Is
inclined to believe that the greatest oe-
posits Of potash in the world are those II
which exist in western Texas. The sam
nIes which we're furnished to him came
from potash which was discovered at i,svo
feet below the surface ana the ihaica
tions were that the strata was az ieast
200 feet In thickness, II this be the case,
then according to DR.. Christner these are
greater potash resources than are the de-
posts of Germany and, Of Alsace.
Important Economic Changes.
Further investigation is In progress and
will be the more easily carried on a1tef
the lea douarters of the Aureau OF economic
geology is moved to Crane county II
there come satisfactory demonstration OF
the correctness of the view which pr.
Christner takes, then some important eco
nomic changes will be established. 1t
may be that the discovery OF potash salts
in large strata, 1900 feet below the sur
face, will match In its economic effect
haustible amounts was found to lie be-
meath the surface OF SOUTHWESTERN
Louisiana and eastern Texas.
The discovery and then the mastery
Of these sulphur deposits, was OF far-
reaching economic Importance. 1t was es-
pecialIy influential iii changing our trade
relation with Sicily which, until within a
few years, was our chief source OF supply
of sulphur. Now II in western Texas sast
strata of potash salts lying far beneath
tain that these will be utilized and the
exploitation OF this potash may be com
pared in its economic rela tions with the
discovery and exploitation OF sulphur. 1t
will mean much to the farmers who are
more and more dependent upon fertilizers
It will be Of economic advantage to
some American industries. Furthermore
II will add to the once unsupported wealth
In the natural resources OF Texas. nrst
the discovery and production OF
oil, next the sulphur deposits and now,
very likely the worlds greatest deposits
of