Guano
phosphate was an important component of fertilizers that
became a mainstay of American agriculture in the mid-19th
century. It can be said that today's huge fertilizer industries
have their roots in the guano from hundreds of islands
like Poco Cabesa.
At the
time, the Act's stated purpose was to protect U.S. access
to this precious resource. Some insisted it was a sell-out
to political contributors associated with the Chicago
Mercantile Board. Others claim it was just a ploy by Congress
to keep their minds off "bloody Kansas" for
a few hours and swap bad scatalogical jokes.
In any
case, this piece of legislation allowed Hyman Klinkle
to acquire the guano rights on Poco Cabesa.
And he
made the most of it.
