Food for 



The Cost of Nitrate of Soda. ^- 



21-7 



Its Use more Profitable than ever. 



The steady upward movement in prices of Nitrate 

 of Soda has been attracting widespread attention, and 

 the uninterrupted gradual rise in prices is warranted, 

 based on solid facts which govern the industry. Labor 

 troubles and the extra cost of production, together with 

 the steady increase in the consumption, have been and 

 are factors in the situation. The increase in the con- 

 sumption in this country for several years has been 

 striking. Labor troubles in the Nitrate regions follow- 

 ing the great earthquake, as the laborers wended their 

 way to Valparaiso and other sections of the country 

 where better wages were paid them, caused considerable 

 irregularity of shipments, and vessels experienced long 

 delays, owing to the scarcity of labor to move the goods. 



The tremendous demand for agricultural purposes, 

 however, has really caused the rise in price. The con- 

 sumption all over the world for agricultural purposes 

 has expanded at a very great rate lately, and perhaps 

 more particularly in this country in the cotton belt 

 than anywhere else. This great demand has grown very 

 rapidly, hence the effect on prices. Production is likely 

 to expand so as to fully meet the fresh demand as rapidly 

 as the supply of labor can be provided for on the West 

 coast of Chile. The earthquake was followed by a wave 

 of rebuilding activity which made labor very scarce 

 and high. 



Looking at the prices current, taking the price for 

 all Nitrogenous fertilizers, it will be noted that they have 

 likewise risen. Many observers of the (Nitrogen) am- 

 moniate market in recent years have asserted that there 

 are not enough ammoniates annually produced to meet 

 the consumption requirements, and the tendency on 

 the part of fertilizer manufacturers is to make lower 

 grade goods; a policy which seems to have invariably a 

 disastrous effect on those who follow it. 



It is proper to observe also that all the Nitrogen in 

 Nitrate of Soda is available. In the other ammoniates 



