Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1917 — WHY FERTILIZER PRICES HAVE ADVANCED. [ARTICLE]

WHY FERTILIZER PRICES HAVE ADVANCED.

Cannon and crops use the sam< food. Six hundred thousand tons of nitrates went to make explosives last year, In the United States telone. _ Sulphuric acid necessary for the manufacture of acid phosphate is normally made from Spanish sulphur ores. Submarines have now almost entirely cut off this supply. Brimstone, used as a substitute source of sulphur/ must be transported by rail at great expense from Louisianla and Texas, since the government has found It necessary to commandeer sulphur-carry-ing boats. Large quantities of phosphate rock from Florida and Tennessee must now go by rail at high freight rates. Uncle Sam needs the boats. Higher labor, machinery, coal and supply costs have caused a general advance in all raw materials, varying from 25 to 100 per cent. Burlap bags which normally cost 10 cents each, now cost 25 cents and are scarce at that Labor which was plentiful In 1914 at $2.00 per day Is now almost unobtainable at $3.50 per day. There can be but one answer to onditions such as these; namely, high-priced fertilizers.