The Portland daily press., 1886-02-01
ALUM
Its Discovery in the Monson Slate
QusrrIes.

A letter from Monson to the Bangor Com
mercial speaks of strange looking German
who six months ago visited that locality and
remained three days He was notlced daily
among the works of the Lowell slate quar-
ries ;now picking up piece of rock-like sub
| stance; then closely examining 1t, ana nnally
taking his find to an Office, where just What
was done with the matter was another thing
which nobodyscould say. But whether or no
| the mission of the elderly German was one
of Importance to the outside world, it was
soon apparent that it was of much signif-
canoe to him. 'The Monson vein, the Mon
son vein; millions in it! Aluminium ex-
claimed he, and he expressed much joy.
Then he went away as Unexpectedly as he
had come, and nothing more was thought
about it,
Prior to the Germans visit it seems dis
pute had arisen concerning the quality of
the slate taken from the Monson vein, and
after the Germans departure sample was
sent to Boston scientist, who. after an
analysis, reported the slate contained some
twenty per cent of aluminium, q rare metal
worth about $40 per pound. The managers
learned that the process of extracting it
IIOul Tile ore WAS NcTN l6u1OuS anu 6ApCuSlN6,
also that Prof. Frismouth, Philadelphia
scientist and chemist claimed to have dis
covered a new and cheap process of extract
ing aluminium. They saw certain con-
tractor employed on the Washington
monument, who informed them that some
aluminium used over the capstone of the
monument was furnished by Prof. Fris-
mouth, who sold it for 20 cents per ounce,
while the cheapest the metal could be pur-
chased of other parties was at the rate of
$1.05.
Prof Frismouth was then visited in Phila-
delphia, and the result was he went to
Monson, where he experimental and re-
ported that the deposits were so favorable
that the aluminium, of which there was no
question as to its abundance, could be separ-
ated for $500 per pound. The Professor IS
a graduate from a German university, and
with the exception of few years spent IN
the United States army during the war, he
has given his whole time to the study OF
aluminium. He absolutely declares that the
Monson vein will bring millions OF money to
the owners.
In few days after the Professors report
the stockholders of the so called Lowell
duly organized the American Aluminium
Company of Monson, Maine Mr.. j. b.
Matthews of Portland was chosen president,
and G. A. Matthews, f. F. Kimball and J. "A.
Kimball of Lowell, Mass, were chosen
directors The capital stock was placed at
100000. Correspondence then passed be-
tween the officers and Prof. Frismouth and
the latter finally offered for certain sum to
reveal his secret to their chemist, Prof.
Pearson of Massachusetts. The required
sum, which is large, was promptly raised,
and Prof Pearson is expected to leave for
Philadelphia today. After the secret of ex-
tracing the metal is learned, he will return to
Monson and the work of extracting will be
commenced.
The Monson vein in which the aluminium
has been discovered is controlled by the
Hebron Pond, Monson Pond and Kineo
companies, the majority of the stockholders
residing in Lowell, Mass, hence the name
mile long, and in width considerable of a
distance In the same vicinity are the quar-
ries of Blanchard and Brownville, upon
which experiments will soon be made. Geo
logical surveys have never been very exten-
sive in the State, and just how much alumni
mum there is in the soil has never been
aScertained.