Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-21
THE DEVELOPMENT of phosphate

THE DEVELOPMENT of phosphate
mining in Idaho, a new industry
for the northwest, by the Anaconda
Copper Mining company is made thu
subject of an article in a recent issue
of Northwest Mining Truth, published
at Spokane.
The author of this article is Robert
n. Bell, of Boise. for years mine in
spector for the state of Idaho. His is
the first authentic account of an en-
terprise which marks the fruition OF
Is years of experience and research
by Anaconda's geological and chemical
departments and is of interest to all
Montanans.
The intelligent application of phos-
phate to large areas of land has al
ways increased acre yields of corn and
other grains by 80 to 100 per cent.
With treble super-phosphate now an
accomplished fact. the serious problem
of soil sterility gradually creeping
westward, seems in a fair way of solu-
ton.
While Henry Ford's proposed scheme
for the manufacture of cheap fertll-
izers al Muscle Shoals, Ala. is claim
ing national attention. the actual en-
trance of the Anaconda company into
the phosphate business of the country
is quite as timely and of quite as much
significance to the American farmer.
Mr.. Bells story of this young but
vigorous industry. is as follows:
Phosphate Mining
After 10 years of constant boosting
for the development of the great south
eastern Idaho resource of non-metalhc
mineral. PHOSPHORUS ore, 1t is as
gratifying to me to chronicle the sub
s~tantial progress that has been made in
this new line of mining endeavor as it
is to look over my old reports and
read my forecasts of the big end of
Hecla and the Nine Mile bonanzas
years ahead of the event.
I have repeatedly expressed the
opinion that the Idaho non-metallic
minerals would ultimately supercede
it's metallic minerals in mining volume
and contingent industrial activity. /
may appear to jeopardize by judgment
to this end occasionally but am still
willing to father the suggestion and
hope to live to see its contamination
in the interest not only of our state
but most particularly of our national
industrial progress.
The mineral fertilizer business of
the United States has suffered the
same temporary setback that has af-
flicted all other lines of industrial en-
deavor during the past panicky year.
The new Idaho enterprises of this class
haze been seriously retarded with one
notable exception.
Conda, Idaho
Conda. Idaho. is the rather euphon-
ious and compact name for Idaho's
newest mining town. Mining men will
readily suspect that it dropped its
feminine prefix Ana on its way down
here from Montana, which ~suppositiOn
would be true. for it originated in
Butte. and while as yet merely a heal
thy embryo. with a population of about
300. it already has acquired a vigorous
start on industrial lines in the recent
completion Of a modern phosphate mill
ing plant of 1000 tons daily capacity.
a mining plant foundation of 5000 tons
daily capacity. both of which embrace
the last word in modern mechanical
equipment for these purposes. Conda
is designued TO grow into a big model
mining town that should ultimately ex-
coed. in far reaching industrial quail
ity. at least. the famous Montana town
of it's origin. as the potential value of
it's immediate mineral resources are
superior to all the copper mines of that
famous copper state.
To justify the above apparently ex-
t%ravagant forecast a rough outline
analysis of the words potential value"
used in this connection is necessary.
The mineral in quetsion is high grade
phosphate ore, used in its raw or re-
fined state for fertilizing farm land. 1t
is the crucial. and limiting soil element
which successful farming depends.
bends.
Northwest Field Is Extensive
This mineral exists in sufficiently
rich concentrations for economic use
is less than a dozen known fields on
the entire earth's surface. Our new
northwestern field of this mineral. as
shown by United States Geological
survey studies, surpasses in quantity
and quality any other known resources !