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Show POTfiSH SUPPLY ENOUGHFDR II. S, Methods Perfected Makes Country Independent of Other Nations. WASHINGTON", Oct. 4. Dependent almost, al-most, wholly upon Germany for potash at t he outbreak of the war, the United Sta tcs within two years will be able to manufacture enough of the mineral to supply the nation's needs. Secretary L.ano made this announcement tonight in reviewing re-viewing the progress made by. private concerns and the department of the interior in-terior in developing means of producing potash. "Germany has thought all alonsr, and still thinks no doubt, that she has a whip hand over America because of her supply of potash," said a statement, issued is-sued by Secretary Iane, "but America can in two years become entirely independent inde-pendent of Germany in this regard by the development of her own deposits and the use of processes devised by the department depart-ment of the interior." In addition to the. manufacture of potash pot-ash from the brino lakes of California. Nebraska and other slates; from kelp or sea weed of the Pacific coast, and from various minerals, the secretary said that through processes discovered by Pr. Frederick Fred-erick Cottrell, chief metallurgist, of the bureau of mines, potash was now beinp made from smelter, blast furnace and cement ce-ment plant by-products which heretofore were considered not only useless, but injurious. in-jurious. Fumes from smei ters are now heins used in the manufacture of the mineral, while from the dust of re men I plants, experts have figured, the potasr produced soon will reach 100.000 tons annually. an-nually. Through the cleaning of blasl furnace gases potash Is being made. II has been found that best iron ores for producing potash are found in the south, where more than 60 per cent of the potasr ta needed, mostly for the cotton crop. A slncle large blast furnace. It is estimated, will yield from 6000 to 7000 tons of potash yearly. Secretary Lane disclosed that the whole of Searles lake in California has been leased by his department to a number ol companies who have undertaken to ereci plants for the reduction of potash from brine. From alunite and leuclte. two minerals min-erals hitherto regarded as worthless, potash pot-ash la being obtained In Utah and Wyoming. |