Although Germany now furnishes the American farmer with the bulk of
his potash, she may not do so much longer. In 1911 an indirect potash
tax was levied by Germany on her best customer, the United States, to
whom 15 million dollars' worth of potash had been sold the preceding
year. This led Americans to inquire whether potash could not be
obtained at home.
Geologists say that long ages ago Germany was submerged, that the
waters slowly evaporated and that the various substances in the sea
water were deposited in thick layers. The deposits thus left by the
evaporation of the sea water gradually became hidden by sediment and
soil, and lost to sight. From such deposits, potash is obtained.
Geologists tell us that our own Western States were once submerged,
and that the waters evaporated and disappeared from our land very much
as they did from Germany. The Great Salt Lake of Utah is a relic of a
great body of water. If it be true that waters once covered our
Western States, there may be buried deposits of potash there, and
to-day the search for the hidden treasure is going on with the energy
and enthusiasm characteristic of America.
|