Show i h I i fc Seeking Ind-d Ind Independence nc 1 1 I IS 0 5 S- S tf I oJ NATIONWIDE i exploration on under S th the tM j f. f Jeo will b be made in in the States for p potash tash deposits Before H the war r a German syndicate controlled the of the world and land the price of nf of pot potash sh in 19 1914 t 4 was quoted d atS at S a ton too In lii n August this year it it was 5 quoted f d at at 3 I t I 1 O. O Recently the G German s syndicate ii at m made nide de' de a trade agreement w with France Prance for tor control of th the Alsatian potash sup SlIp ply Pear Fear was was was' in immediately mediately expressed essed that 5 S' S S i f. f y f A j v t t jf J the price upward d' d forcing the American f firmer farmer r l r t to p pay y r wartime l prices for or potash so that th a au an an attempt F will be m made de to to tomake make America independent for the European supply The farmers consume tons tons- of potash annually During the war period by strenuous efforts this country was able to produce tons but Jut immediately y after tITe war var the market broke and all except one sour source e of supply in the tIle Searles lake ii in the Noja Mojave v desert ceased to operate Tl This is latter source i is now W producing about 10 10 per ler cent of the demand A A con concrete rete example of the thed d dependency of the United States upon foreign potash is evidenced by the market fluctuations ti ns when the Europ European a war stopped the thein in importation to this country The normal price was about 38 38 but it went werft up to a a. a ton I in ill 1915 and and- 1916 and was fi finally ally brought do down through domestic prod production t to in 1917 in 1918 By December 1918 it was to The indu industry try began bega to flourish in p parts of Utah California California- Wyoming and N Ne Nebraska braska during during- these peak prices but when hen the market brok broke again gai to normal 1 r al through ugh imports th the d domestic mines co could ld not operate at a p profit fit a and nd closed down with tt the single exception The development of the potash deposits in n the United States is an an au important matter for for national protection The soil b byn by endless n ess harve harvests ts is drained draine of pota potassium phosphorus phosphorus and ad m nitrogen rogen and these three elements I m must st be e restored If If the n nation ti n must depend S upon the German and Alsatian supply it puts the the agricultural industry industry- of of the nation at a fl great disadvantage The quest for potash d deposits posits in the United S 'S St States t tes s is of decidedly I national importance I |