AMERICANS ADVANCE IN POTASH PRODUCTION 45 
per cent of potash (K 2 O). About 24 per cent of it was in the form of 
muriate and about 6 per cent in the form of sulphate. 
For several years immediately before the European war the United 
States used annually an average of about 240,000 short tons of actual 
potash (K 2 O). The production so far reported in 1918 is therefore 
about 22 per cent of our normal consumption. The imports during 
1918 were very small. The producers reported that on January 1, 
1919, they had in storage 60,426 tons of crude potash, held because of 
the dull market prevailing during the latter part of 1918. These figures 
represent a minimum, as some producers did not give quantities, but 
stated that they had produced considerably in excess of sales. Most 
of the potash now held in storage was produced when the price was high, 
when quantity production was the main object, and when competition 
with foreign potash was not considered. The price now offered for that 
material is apparently below the actual cost at which many firms pro- 
duced it, consequently there is a crisis in the domestic potash industry. 
Many producing plants have already shut down, and others are marking 
time. 
The producing capacity of American potash plants, classified ac- 
cording to sources of raw materials, is estimated roughly as follows: 
Capacity of American potash plants 
• SOURCE 
AVAILABLE 
POTASH (K2O) 
Natural brines 
Nebraska lakes 
tons 
50.000 
28.000 
4,000 
3.500 
5.500 
4.000 
3.000 
1.000 
1,000 
Other sources. 
Alunite 
Dust from cement mills 
Kelp 
Molasses distillery waste 
Steffens waste water 
Wood ashes. 
Other sources .' 
Total 
100,000 
This quantity corresponds to more than 40 per cent of our normal 
consumption and indicates what may be produced in the United States 
during 1919 provided the American producers are able to compete with 
foreign producers. 
