POTASH AND NITRATES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 227, 19 June 1919, Page 8

POTASH AND NITRATES

SURPLUS SUPPLIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

A 6urplus of potash and nitrates ia troubling tho United States at the* present time, and tho suggestion is being made that the American Government should soek a foreign market for boiuo part of the holdnigs. Large stocks of potash have accumulated in Nebraska, whore the potash is obtained from brine lakes. Tho total possible output of Webrueka is estimated at about 220,000 tons nor annum, and tlio quantity in etock is not less than 100,000 tons. California aleo is becoming a very large producer of potash. It. is estimated that bearles 'Lake, in California, could supply the potash requirements of tho United States for the next eighty years. The 'great difficulty now, according to ■Vmerican correspondents, is to find purchasers. Tho buyers are' waiting for a big drop iu prices, expected to bo produced by tho resumption.of production in Alsace, though it has been official y stated that no supplies will lie available from Alsaeo for the 1919 season An American commission has gone to l>ranee to study the Alsatian position on the snot The position is complicated by the fact'that the American Government hna in etock over 200,000 tons of Chilian nitrate, with a further 120,000 tonsi under contract for future dolivery from- Chili. Tho American Government is beinft lilted to sell the undelivered Chilian nifrato abroad. The authorities appear to believe, however, that, there will be difficulty in finding a market. Britain is holding big stocks of Chilian nitrate, nnd tho output of Chili is going to bu

very largely increased by the development that has taken place during lhwar. It is estimated in America that the annual production of the Chilian nitrate fields will )jd from 3,000,000 to 3,300,000 tons.