The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-02-25
THE CONTRIBUTION OF INDUSTRIES
OF MONTANA TO PHARMACY
. I.sTARz
Take paris green for example. II

Take paris green for example. This
compound is now very extensively
used in agriculture to protect pota-
toes. and other plants from destruc-
ton by insects. Now Montana pro-
duces every element contained in this
copper compound and yet every
ounce Of it is shipped in from remote
eastern places. The waste copper in
all its forms. the arsenic obtained as
by-prOduct from our smelters, the
acetic acid to make the acetate of
copper produced from cider on our
farms, all these indigenous products
are plentiful and there is apparently
no reason why this by product should
not be manufactured in our state.
Sulphate of copper, sulphate of
iron and many other technically
used chemicals could be manufacture
ed in Montana as by-products of our
mining industry.
Silicate of soda is another much
used chemical compound largely EN-
plOyed as preventative for eggs, a
very efficient paste and in the manu-
facture of soap. We have within our
state mountains of the purest silica
(Quartz), and plenty Of soda-contain-
ing minerals to produce this useful
article.
| However. if one speaks about the
manufacture of such substances, he
is generally confronted with the
statement that we are unable to
compete with eastern factories. on
account of higher freight rates and
wages paid for labor. While that
might be so at present. it will. how
ever. not always be so. The time
will arrive when these conditions will
be changed and when these objec-
tions will be removed by the increas-
ed demand of material and a more
stabilized wage situation all over the
United States.
The element PHOSPHORUS which is
contained in the native phosphate of
lime rock found extensively in Mon
tana is now on large scale con-
yerted into available phosphate of
lime or super-phosphate used for fer
tilizer. The Anaconda Copper Min
ing company has undertaken the
manufacture of this valuable product
in commercial way and this indus
try is bound to develop into one of
the most beneficial to our country.
You all know that sooner or later
our lands must be supplied again
with those substances which are alb
stracted from the soil by growing
our crops. Among the necessary ele-
ments for the growth of plants are
phosphorus and lime. and these are
contained in the fertilizer in such a
form, that they can be readily taken
upby the vegetation. In this connec-
ton l will predict the Harvesting of
atmospheric nitrogen by the Montana
Power companies for industrial and
agricultural purposes with our enor-
nous water supplies and the choicest
sites for dams.
We will simply be forced to make
available those hidden treasures.
which can be freed by the ability of
our engineers
The Latin adage "Ex aqua fiat lux
ct Wis" tout of water comes light and
power) will be changed in a few
years to lex aqua fiat lux. Wis ct
pants" tout of water comes light,
power and bread). Such will be the
outlook into the future. To bring all
the good out of our mountains, val
leys and rivers We must make use of
those gigantic engineering features,
which comprise transmission of pow
Ter. irrigation projects and the high
est development of dynamic energy
from our water sources. Thus the
farmer and stockman will derive as
much benefit from mining as the
mine owner.
In conjunction with the above
lproblems the establishment of stock
yards and public abattoirs are desir-
able. We would then have SPLEEN
did chance for the creation of new
industries in making use of various
by-prOducts arising from these sour
ces.
Coal
There is hardly any natural pro.
duct which serves us in such mani.
fold and useful ways as coal. the re-
mains of prehistoric plant life anG
one of the most indispensable gifts
of nature to the human race Oul
industries need it for the production
of heat and energy. 1t is impossible
to mention here all the product.
which have as their origin coal.
Besides Illuminating gas. which il
one of the great modern conven
\ fences for heating and lighting. W,
derive from it those various organic
substances which enter into the man
ufacture of numberless importan
chemical compounds. From the des
pissed black coal tar, by-product O
the Illuminating gas works, thous
ands of substances are manufactured
which are used daily in pharmacy
medicine and the arts. The mos
dazzling colors with their myriad
of brilliant shades are extracted from
this coal tar IN the form of so-calle,
aniline dyes. Indescribably sublim
odors and delicious perfumes. power
full drugs, some producing SLEEP