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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1919)
Thursday, February 20, 1919 THE ALLIANCE HERALD 1 I 4 I I i I POTASH INDUSTRY IN NEED Of PROTECTION landing Product ts Now In Va& in Confervnce ullli Forllllwr anl Coltun " Interest! .1 leaders In the Nebraska poioEh I : Industry are now In the east l:i cni fertnce. with' the fertiliaor aiufa turers and the tottcn growers, wl.o have been holding mec-iir.ps Won during the past week. Practically all or the potash ilun?B ' Mare now shut down or are runi.iim with a very limited uuiv.br or men, and this condition will continue un r til the product produced during the past year and now stored In the faat is disposed of. Tim T.inoMn stain .foiimal of Sun day carried the following article re garding -lve potash Industry: :- A critical period exists In the pot ash industry of Nebraska, in which a million or two of Lincoln money and about twelve millions of Nebras ka cash has been invested. Two i things are menacing its further con tinuance. One Is the attitude of the ': cotton growers of the south. They did not sell all their crop of last year and are holding it for a higher price than now prevails, around 25 cents. As a result of this hold-on policy they are threatening to plant but a small acreage this year. Many '? fanners have canceled -their orders with the big fertilizer companies and these are holding ofT with their 6i- dera. But little of last year's production of the Nebraska plants has been pur chased. Most of it has gone into ' Btorage In the southeast and east and at the plants. For ome time V 4 hero was n clou dlock between the fertilizer mm nanies. lhe biceest buy ers or potash, and the producers, ov er the question of price, i ne ienu- lzer men, anno their contracts uu the farmers called for potash at a higher price than they could buy It, held oft In the hope that they could get supplies from abroad. In this attitude of mind they were buoyed up by announcements from Mr .Hurley, chairman of the ship ping board, and from Vance Mr Cormick. chairman of he w.ir trade board. Both men are in Paris. Hur ley proposed to utilize home-bound American tonnage by shipping at once the huge stocks of potash, said to be Beveral hundred thousand tons, accumulated In Alsace during the war thru the enforced us6 by -the Germans of the labor of prisoners of war. The ruling of McCormtck was that shinnipivts rule' t be made from Alsace under the same rules that ap ply to Importations rrom otner r.uro pean non-enemy countries. ' Hold Off lur hne! With the nrosnect of a cheap sup ply of foreign potash, the fertilizer houses naturally refused to purchase Vio Metier tort American product. and altho this is usually the peak of the season, the American produeera find themselves loaded up with thou sands of tons of potash salts which have been mined and shipped to Bal timnro Norfolk. Charleston. Savan nah, Atlanta, Jacksonville and other points near places or consumption. In order to prevent the cheap for eign nrnftnrt nomine in and breaking the home market, causing big loss to them, the America '.producers nave Keen dhH are now' it Washington urging upon congee1.; protection un til such a time as'" Vy can get away from the old high ,st of production. The arguments they are using is that they went Into the business, partly because of the government's need for Tintauh which had been supplied ex- niuoiirciv from (Jerm'anY before the war, and they had produced the stuff t lovcrai times what would have been the ordinary cost of construc tion In peace times and under condi tions of excessive rates ror war iudoi onl urnr materials. They say that if the present plans carry and cheap potash Is allowed to in nnw the American produc ers with no market for either their present stock or for stocks yet to be produced, will be compelled to close hich have kept on producing by borrowing on their a cti ixiii ho thrown into ClUI t.w w " Nebraska rurnishes but hair or the American production. In 1915 this was 1.000 tons; in 1916. 10.000 tons; in 1917. 33.000 tons and while final figures for 1918 are not yet available the production was about hair the total pre-war requirements In the United States. As plans have been laid the entir requirement would have been produced this year. Bcause or the scarcity or potash the pre-war price or about 40 a ton gradually rose to $250 a ton, and all that has been imported since were re-exports rrom South America., at tracted by the big prices here. Stated In units or potash content, the price went rrom 90 cents before the war c k i 1017 hut has receded, as domestic production increased, t $4.25 per unit, ttie last quoins... Germany nas vast uiw" " ash. and in 1910. to smash competi tion the government too' over ine inou ry and afterwards so i: ampu tated prices that whenever a ly corn pet it ioH threatened anywfc-r " e world the representatives it had ev trywhere notified the syndicate, and .. ...nca nf mice till that competition was threatened. Ihia action of the German government caused the United States department of agriculture nine years ago to in vestigate potash-producing possibili ties in America. After the war be gan it appealed to both the patriot ism and cupidity of the people, and ...... ermnnraeed the investment of over fifty millions in potash-pro ducing plants, a fourtn 01 mis u... representing the invest met in Ne- Lbraska. either as a main or by-product. . ... i ilmiilnff for l'otahll r,i h futilities ceased various . have heen made in iniproPi"c"t" . . methods or production and the search for means to get out ol the Solids which contain only 20 per cent po7ash. the chemicals therein has continued. The owners of the plant at Hoffland have a refiner in Nebraska's War Work Ntbraska had more soldiers and sailors In the service or the country, in proportion to population, than any other Btate. Total to September 1. 1918. 40.500. Nebraska has subscribed more money per capita ror Liberty rtontls and War Savings Stamps, and has given more money per cap ita to the Ked Cross. Y. M. C. A. and K. or C. than any other state. Nebraska was the first state to go over the top in the War Sav ings campaign. Nebraska was almost 100 per cent on Food Administration pledges, with 238,071 cards signed. National average was only 50 per cent. Nebraska was the first stale to organiie a Farmers' War Coun cil. v Nebraska produces more corn, wheat, oats, beef and pork, per capita, than any other state, and Increased Its production in all lines to bilp win the war. Only 5 per cent of the population of Nebraska was born In Ger many. Most of them were Intensely patriotic, and gave their sons and money for the support of the government. Nebraska was second In number of four-mlnute-men Bpeakers. Omuha mid experiments at the Wesvern at Antkich have shown the separation possible. Potash manu facturers say that tney no not rxoiii to make the big profit possible in I9lfi and 1917. and have recognized that competition from various 6ourc- ta woiilit force PrircH down. For this reason they have been spending nionev lavishlv to increase tne tni- ciency and decrease the cost of pro duction. At one time it cost $30 a on to manufacture in the Ivst plants, hut reports from the potut.b. regions Indicate that in some this has been cut in two by a new method of treatment. Potash 13 one of the most widrly- liutrl'm'p 1 elements in the world. The crust of the earth is full of it. and millions or tons are washed into the sta. Along the racltlc coast Brent plants have been constructed o recover this rrom the kelp or sea weed. Great deposits like those in Germany, Spain and Alsace are scarce. Vast quantities or potash are thrown away or dissipated in the waste of cement mills, blast furnuc es, mi gar factories, elc, and no ef fort was ever made to recover it un til the war hut off the supply from Germany. Many or these plants have spent a lot of money building equip ment to save this potash. In addi tion to those three methods, evapo ration nt hrinps. kelp and the ashes of various plants and by-products of big industries, there is a rourtn source, the decomposition of silicate rockE. It Is out or these trial Amer ica is expected to build her -potash industry, if it can survive Ks pivscnt critical situation. Since 1915 ten large plants cost ing from $500,000 to $1,500,000 each and twenty-one small plants, costing from $13,000 to $75,000, have been erected between Alliance and LakeBide. in western Nebraska. The pioneer, the Potash 'Reduction Company, is located at Hoffland; the Nebraska, American, western, Alli ance and National at Antioch, tne Hord and Standard at Lakeside and the Berg at Merrimanr Nebraska rirndures half the total production in America. There Is an immense de posit in Searles lake, In California, where -three bi tt companies, repre senting many millions of investment. operate. Five big plants in iJtan are irettinK potash from the Great Rait lake and alunlte rocKB. ll is fiirnred that if the cement inill3 get to going on poiasn irom naie " terial they can supply 100.000 tons a venr The dust from blast tur- la rlrh in potash, and the Beth lehem steel company is putting in a recovery plant. From this source an immense surply is expected. Potash is necessary on the light Boils in the cotton and tobacco grow ing regions. It prevents rust in cot ton, and increases the yieia. i-oiasn gives southern grown vegetables the texture they need to keep. Potash is an Indispensable article or. use In nearly every trade. With the sup ply rrom Germany shut off fertilizer companies have had to reduce the potash content until the soil that re quires it Is potash-hungry, as a re cent bulletin of the government de scribed it. Great pressure is being brought on the government af the present time by all of these prospective and actu al producers to keep out tve foreign product, with the Nebraska produc- ers on the anxious seai oeruc iurj must sell their stored Btun soon or go out or business. ' RECOMMEND CHANGES IN POTATO GRADING )'lartiiiciit of Agriculture and Foot! Almiiiitrutioii Kevlsp Their Spin Meat ion Slightly Washington. V. C. The potato grades recommended by the Depart in tn-i of Agriculture aiwl the United States Food Administration, on Sep tember 10, 1917, have been changed slightly. The revised grade specifi cations are stated below: I. H. J rude No. 1 This grade shall consist of sound potatots or similar varietal charac teristics, which are practically tree (a) rrom dirt or other foreign mat ter, frost injury, sunburn, second growth, grown cracks, cuts, scab, blight, soft rot, dry rot and damage caused by disease, Insects or mechan ical or other means. The diameter (b) of potatoes of the round varieties shall be not less than one and seven-eighths (1) inches, and of potatoes of the long varieties one and thrce-fourrhs 1 s?i ) inches. In order to allow ror variations incident to commercial grading and handling, five per centum by weight of any lot may be under the rre- Eat Mince Pie made with Nonesuch mincemeat t iki Mother Vtd to MaJtf Steeds Kb Sucar o QuicHy Pearly cr Crust WarUme Recipe Book Free MrrreH-Soule Co, Syrrue,KY WANTED TO BUY Will pay five cents per pound for clean cotton rags.' Bring them to The Herald of fice. tf The diversion dam in the North Platte river at Whalen, Wyo., where water la diverted to irrigate nearly 200,000 horBepower enough to light and heat every home and busi ness house rrom the? Wyoming line to North Platte in the river's valley, and turn every Industrial. wheel. Un less the people wake up and take Rtena to retain this creat privilege in their own name; it will be grabbed off by some corporation. f to Mr t t -w T AtA I M ill U PrfiifU--M.l)iiiifiir, )l 50 4? ioo or Dmf.; 250 DATIIS RATES 3 DOV N wdms With bath $2.50 RJOMS Willi BATH $2X)0 RfOMS VlTH BATH 1 1 .50 WW scribed size, and, in addition, six per centum by weght of any such lot may be below the remaining re quirements or this grade; but not more than one-third or such Mx per centum by weight of the entire lot, may have the flesh injured by soft ! rot (d). V. N.'irow Xo. a This grade shall consist of pota toes of siioilar varietal characteris tics, which are practically free from frost Injury and soft rot, and which are free rrom serious damage (c) caused by sunburn, cuts, scab, blight and dry rot or other disease, in sects or mechanical or other means. The diameter (b) or potatoes In this grade shall be not less than one and one-hair (IM) Inches. In order to allow ror variations Incident to commercial grading and handling, five per centum by weight or any lot may be under the pre scribed size, and. In addition, bIx per centum by weight or any such lot may he below the remaining re quirements or this grade; but not more than one-third or such six per centum, that is to say not more than two per centum by weight or the en tire lot, may have the flesh injured by soft rot (d). 1'planation (a) "Practically free" means that the appearance shall not be Injured to an extent readily apparent upon casual examination of the lot, that any damage from the causes men tioned can be removed by the ordin ary processes of paring without ap preciate increase in waste over mat which would .pecur ir 1 the potato were perfect. Loss of the outer skin (epidermis) only shall not be con sidered as an Injury to the appearance. (b) "Diameter" means the great- eat dimension at right angles to the longitudinal axis. (c) "Free from serious damage" means that any damage from the causes mentioned can he removed by the ordinary processes of paring without Increase In waste of more than ten per centum by weight over thnt which would occur ir the potato were perfect. (d) "Soft rot means a soft, mushy condition of the tissues, from whatever cause. DRAKE & DRAKE Glasses OPTOMETRISTS Accurately Fitted We Can Duplicate Any Broken C$Vl lens. 113 Vfc Boi Butt At Phona 111 (Help Your Digestion When acid-distressed, relievo we indigestion with ' inHOin Dissolve easily on tongue pleasant to take M candy. Keep your stomach sweet, try W-niolda MADS BY SCOTT BOWNB MAKCRS OF SCOTT'S EMULSION i "Service for You to Enjoy" THE SILVER GRILL Have you enjoyed llio meals served ot this restaurant? If not why not? Club Breakfasts, 40c, 50c, 60c, 75e. The crowning achievement of the week ' is our Southern Chicken Dinner Served Sundays from twelve to two and six to eight at Fifty Cents the Person THE SILVER GRILL "The Neatest, Cleanest Place in Town" JOE C. HARVEY, Prop. CARMEN'S FIRST Annual Ball w GIVEN BY AT LAST LODGE, NO. 814 . B. of R. C. Friday, February 28 At the ARMORY HALL ALLIANCE, NEBRASKA Relieved o( Catarrh Due to La Grippe, Thanks to FERUNA Mrs. Laurrt Derberick, 69 years old, of 12C3 Willow Ave., Hoboken, N. J., "Four yn 1 4 70 I naJ a arvrre attark of ;riir. Aft.r iny mcknesa 1 was troubled with ho.ir.rn-tiH nd Blime in the head and kkroat, ana i.iIH I had alarrh. I took Home lutdu llie but without much benent. .very winxer ior luur yeur, i nave naj LuOrlnpe (lata winter three time). The Catarrh grew worse. I could not He down or sleep at nlirht. Wan always troubled wllh allinr,. pala la my fcaek and a terrible a'adarae every inornlnn, when 1 woke up, and had no blood. I Ktt a Frruua calendar in Danish, my native lanruape. and I read It through, every testimony, and then I bought a bottle ef Peruaa. To-day I can truthfully testify that Hrruaa has area a arrest fceaeat to rue. It i tclvra me blood aad atreaata. 1 can lie dowa aad alee without bell. troubled, 1 have no pain, headache, or noise In ray head. I have gained a weight three pounds, which I think Is s;ood for my age. 1 wil. I altr-alae years old nest summer. I have used teruna since I slai(-JI in February, and I use It yet. I feel cheerful and happy, taaaks to feraaa. It will alwaya b ia mf boame and. 1 recommend 11 to tboao nkt aee4 It." Liar id on tablet form for sale everywhere -- : t - . . -3 -. e f srl jrj f The popular Fire Department Orchestra of six pieces has been selected to furnish the music, (iood order will be maintained and an enjoyable even ing assured all who attend. If you like to dance to pood music and with people who like to dance, too, you will be sorry if you miss this one. Admission $1.00 LADIES FREE ' P 4