Thursday, February 20, 1919
THE ALLIANCE HERALD
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POTASH INDUSTRY IN
NEED Of PROTECTION
landing Product ts Now In Va& in
Confervnce ullli Forllllwr anl
Coltun " Interest!
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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.
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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
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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
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"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
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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
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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 '
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