LIMESTONE SUPPLIES FOR ILLINOIS. 



J. R. Bent 



(J. R. Bent.) 



MR. CHAIRMAN AND FRIENDS: Agriculture is one of the oldest, if not the 

 oldest, industry. As an art, it is very old. As a science, it is comparatively 

 new. These are basic facts with which we are all familiar. Under agricul- 

 ture as an art, some form of lime has been ap- 

 plied to the soil as a beneficial conditioner for 

 generations, but scientific knowledge covering 

 its action, the reason for the results, and the 

 best form and way in which it should be applied 

 is comparatively new, and we are told that 

 there is even yet much to be learned. The burn- 

 ing of lump limestone, in order to make caustic 

 lime, is an industry that has been practiced for 

 centuries. Not only has such lime been used 

 for construction purposes and in the arts and 

 sciences, but, in the past and in the older 

 agricultural regions, it has been the prevailing, 

 if not the exclusive, form in which calcium 

 has been applied to the soil and an alkaline 

 condition maintained. It would be a mistake, 

 I think, to jump to the conclusion that this is 

 a practical demonstration or proof of its su- 

 periority over raw limestone for soil treat- 

 ment purposes. The real reason for the fact 

 that raw limestone has been used in recent 

 years only and that even yet the practice has 

 not been generally adopted, lies in the further 

 fact that the mechanical equipment and industrial means under which stone 

 can be economically reduced to fine sizes are developments which have taken 

 place within the recollection of the present older generation. 



The manufacture and use of explosives are not new, but the possibili- 

 ties and effectiveness of explosives in the quarrying industry were decidedly 

 limited until the advent in recent years of the power driven drill. Quickly 

 following this development came also the invention and development of first 

 the power crusher, then pulverizing and milling machinery. It is therefore 

 only in recent years that it has been possible, within a reasonable cost, to 

 prepare raw limestone or reduce it to a degree of fineness suitable for ap- 

 plication to the soil. Prior to that time, the only form in which the non- 

 caustic or carbonate form of lime could be applied was as chalk, marl, or 

 air slaked lime, and the available supplies of these were too limited in 

 quantity and distribution to constitute much of a factor in comparison with 

 the need. . 



One of the brightest spots in the history of scientific agriculture, and 

 a fact of which every true Illinois citizen should be proud is the advent 

 of Dr. Hopkins and his revolutionary discoveries and doctrines so quickly 

 following these great developments in the quarrying industry. These facts 

 made Illinois a pioneer and leader. It is up to the Illinois farmer to see that 

 this proud position of his state is maintained. 



There is an old saying that youth must learn by experience as it will 

 not profit by the experience of the past generations. This principle has 

 seemed to hold literally good in its application to agricultural regions. 

 As a rule, the older agricultural regions are either entirely abandoned or 

 the methods that are adopted are conservative and have due regard to 

 established scientific facts particularly as they have reference to the main- 

 tenance of soil fertility and productivity; but the newer regions are prone 

 to ignore problems of soil fertility. Attention has frequently been called 

 by different writers and speakers to the fact that, if you start on the At- 

 lantic coast and go West, as you step from state to state until you finally ar- 

 rive in Iowa, the yield per acre increases. The reason for this fact is not that 



