A RICH DESERT

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1925, Page 8

A RICH DESERT

CHILIAN NTTRATE ARI \s.

DESERT WORD Mil J JONS.

Chile has many thousands of square miles of laud capable of cultivation, yet its most valuable asset is a desert where, the rainfall is seldom more than iin per annum. Tt does not grow a single tree, or even a blade of grass, except where patches of imported soil have been laid. This is the nitrate country, which employs 50,000 people directly and indirectly five times an many, and in which something approaching £40,000,000 is invested. There are over 170 separate workings, each of which is the centre of a busy population. Yet every ounce of food, every yard of clothing, every cog and shaft of its huge machinery.

every pint of water even, has to be brought from a distance. For nmny miles around the country produces nothing but nitrate of soda.

It is an amazing fact that the most valuable fertiliser of commerce comes from a region where nothing will grow, but it is a case of all fertiliser and no soil ami no rain. Tn earlier days

-■■atcr was so valuable that it was a aying that it was cheaper to drink . hampagne, but now water is carried by pipes from far.off sources, some of which are. 20(1 miles distant.