Start making of fertilizer

British company decides to establish plant in Welland.

When existing industries begin to slacken, one of the best methods of procedure is to get new manufactories. This appears to be the plan that Welland has decided to follow, since the acquisition of a few months ago has been followed last week by another addition to the list of plants in that city. Evidently the widespread publicity in Great Britain as a result of the Industrial Congress of Niagara district municipalities last August has given that district a more favorable place in the estimation of British manufacturers than ever before, since on British firm has already located in Welland, and a second announcement will probably be forthcoming this week.

A site of about 15 acres was secured by Scottish Canadian Fertilizers, Limited, on the west bank of the canal, just south of Welland. The plant will produce chemical fertilizers, and not from basic slag, as at the company's plant a Sydney, N.S. The British interested behind the organization have decided that the market for such products is sufficiently large to construct a plant in the Niagara district to supply Ontario and the Western Provinces. The site is part of the Henry Bartz property.

Build plant next spring.

It will be served by spurs from the two Canadian National lines and from the Wabash Railway. Commencing next spring, a plant will be erected that will cost approximately $250,000, according to an announcement made to The Globe by George Day, Industrial Commissioner of Welland.

The head of the British firm is Sir William Cross, an industrial Baronet who has a record for service in the great war. Together with C. R. Walker, Director of the Cross Fertilizer Company, and A. L. Smith, General Sales Manager, Sir William examined the site, and gave his approval to the selection. He have his opinion that it was too late this season to go ahead with active building operations, so actual construction will be deferred until spring. It is hoped to start production next autumn. Preliminary work, including the designing of buildings, will proceed immediately, so that an early start can be made next year. Mr. A. L. Smith will be the resident Manager of the Ontario company.

Sir William Cross was in command of a regiment of Scottish Yeomanry in France for two years. He was called to the Ministry of Munitions during the latter stages of the war, and conducted experiments on high explosives and poison gases.

Have plant at Sydney

In 1919 the Cross Manufacturing Company established a plant a Sydney, N.S., for the production of fertilizer from basic slag, which was secured from the Dominion Iron & Steel Company. An annual production of 40,000 to 50,000 tons was achieved, and it was found that the demand was greater than the supply.

The Cross company officials considered that Ontario presented an attractive field for manufacturing as well as for distribution. The company intends to produce fertilizer from chemicals. In commenting on the market for fertilizers in Canada, Sir William Cross said:

See markets for fertilizer.

Farmers throughout this country are beginning to realize the value of fertilizing their lands. So greatly had the demand for fertilizer increased in Ontario alone, that we are confident that every ton that we can produce will be utilized in the Niagara Peninsula. That is quite a statement to make, when you consider the thousands of tons that can be produced by a plant of the size we intend to erect, but we feel it is not exaggerated.

With the increasing use of labor-saving machinery on the farms in Canada, the amount of natural manure for the land is correspondingly decreasing, and that is one big reason why our industry is gaining such headway. The land must be fertilized; it is gradually becoming impoverished, and will continue to become more so unless the farmers use more fertilizer.

Railways: G.T.Ry., Wab.Rd.

Stations: Welland

Results