Evening star., 1926-05-17
fertilizer PLAYS ]
BIG PART THIS YEAR
Farmers Intensely Cultivat-
ing Worn-out Lands, Little
Virgin Ground Broken.
BY. j. c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, May 17.-Fertilizers
bought and consumed during the
1925-26 season, now drawing towaro
a close, undoubtedly have eNceeoeo
$500 000 tons. This fact not only
is a splendid indication of the pros
perous condition of the farmers, but
makes it evident that new Cleiio
has come into agriculture.
Heretofore the tendency has been
toward breaking new land rather
than building up the worn -out re-
sources of old fields. The aGrlcul-
tural authorities now admit, now
ever, that the day OF ploWlng virgin
soil in the United States is nearly
nassed. and that intense cultivation
viii continue TO increase steadily
This surely will mean additional
use of fertilizer. But many 1arhl
economists are issuing warnings thdl
TOO much in the way of lower prices
should not be expected from Muscie i
Shoals. even If Congress, when Is
Iikel,- to call the matter up for ac-
ton in the next few days, finally de-
termines on the future disposition
of the great plants there and they
go into active operation. 1t IS Ger
tain that nitrates can be produced
at the Muscle Shoals plants. put the
cost of their commercial production
Is something which remains to be
pNOVen.
Five Per Cent Nitrates.
only about ) per cent, according to
fertilizer men. of the ordinary mixed
fertilizer consists of nitrates. Should
they be produced at no cost WhatSo-
ever. therefore, it could result In
reduction of only per cent IN the
selling price to farmers. Other ma
terials which must be taken into con-
sideration are potash, acid phosphate,
phosphate rock, sulphate OF ammonia,
fish scrap and tankaSe. FeruHzerS III
which Sulphuric acid Is a paSlc III
gredient aggreg gated nearly S,uUu,oou
ions in the last year. According TO
The terms of the bill now before Con-
gress, the first IL, o,000-ton commercial
nitrate plant is TO be completed by
the lessees in three years.
Such a plant run at fun capacity,
then, would supply, roughly, enough
nitrogen for 100000 tons OF mixed FER
tilizer, or less than per cent OF the
total consumed this season. Fertilizer
prices are slightly higher than at this
time last year. No matter to whom
the plant is leased or operated, it is
fair to assume that considerable
period of time must elapse before pro-
duction of nitrateS in large quantI-
ties is possible.
The No. l nitrate plant now at the
shoals is an ammonia plant ana cost
about $4,000, 900. The No. plant is
a cyamid plant, which, with the lime
stone quarry and steam electric power
plant of 10000 horsepower capacity
near it, cost about $Sl,000,000. Some
fertilizer men say that as both plants
were constructed to make ammonium
nitrate for munitions considerable
sums would be required to tit them
for fertilizer manufacture.
Electric Power Possibilities.
The effect of the electric power
possibilities Of the Muscle Shoals de-
Velopment will be much more prompt.
In fact, it is being felt at the mo-
ment, although the fate of the pres
ent measures before Congress IS any
thing but assured. Heavy construc-
ton programs already are under way
in the Muscle Shoals SuperpoWer zone
as a result of the demand of tire
manufacturers for cord tire fabric.
The most recent project contem-
plated is the erection of two new
plants at 1nOuldSlOH, Nd, W ScoL
$4,000, 900 each. The Goodyear mills
recently purchased by the Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Co. at Cedartown,
Ca, are in course Of enlargement.
Construction is progressing on the
plant which will house the Brighton
mills at Rome, Ga, which are being
moved from Passaic, n. J. The West
Boylston mills are moving from North
Adams, Mass, to Dalton, Ga, and
the Stark mills from the same State
to Hogansville, Ga. All are on trans
mission lines which are naturally
bound to be a part of the Muscle
Shoals system of distribution.
The recent huge order placed for
cord tire fabric by the Goodrich and
Fisk Cos. is more easily understood
when it is known that about $4,000
castings a day are being produced by
Fisk and that Goodrich net sales for
1925 totaled S136. .239, ,526. q gain of %
per cent over 1924. Goodyear sales
last year amounted to $2O5,s9s.S29.