2 3 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



known. The smaller estimates make little or no allowance for discoveries 

 of new nitrate deposits, which is quite likely to happen, nor do they 

 count on any improvements in processes of manufacture, which very 

 readily might prolong by many years the duration of supplies now 

 known. It also is possible that ripio, nitrate-bearing costra and low- 

 grade caliche, thrown aside in the past, may be worked profitably in the 

 future. Should all these things develop favorably, the nitrate industry 

 could thrive for a good many decades to come. Otherwise its span of 

 existence is not likely to extend much beyond the middle of the cen- 

 tury, for increased production, which is entirely probable, must hasten 

 the end. 



Another possible " rock ahead " for the business has been found by 

 some people in the production of nitrates from atmospheric nitrogen by 

 an electrical process. Where water power is abundant and cheap, 

 nitrates from this process can be made to compete with the Chilean 

 product. It is being done now in Norway. But for most parts of the 

 world which have large water-power resources the use of this power will 

 be more valuable for other purposes as long as Chilean nitrates continue 

 to be abundant and reasonably cheap. 



It has been suggested that when the nitrate is exhausted irrigation 

 may turn the pampa into a highly productive farming region. This 

 may be possible for limited areas, but from what is known of the water 

 supplies available it seems unsafe to look for any extensive agricultural 

 development. Exhaustion of the nitrate apparently means a general 

 decay of the region unless other mineral resources are discovered and 

 developed. It means for Chile the loss of $100,000,000 (United- States 

 gold) in annual exports and $30,000,000 (United States gold) of gov- 

 ernment revenue. For the world it means turning to some other source 

 of nitrogen for supplies to fertilize its crops. Happily the way already 

 is open for the latter change. 



