The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-12-10
Worlds Fair Notes.

The mica hall in the Idaho state build
ing at Chicago will be something that
the other states may well envy. Mica
for practical use is found in but one 9TH
or state in the Union, and that ls North
Carolina. Idaho has the finest mica in
the world and sheets 12x20 inches are
taken out of the Mcconnell mine, in
Latah county, that are almost as clear as
glass. The owners of this mine have do
mated $4,000 worth of mica for fixing up
the hall. The windows and the panels
in the doors will be made of mica. The
wainscotting and other wood work will
also be covered with mica. This hall
will run transversely through the sec
ond story of the building and at each
end will open out onto two broad varan-
das. The panels of the doors will be
made of blocks of mica and the four
windows, one on either side of both
doors. will also be of mica. 1t is the de-
sire of the commissioner TO call attau-
tion 10 this product of the state in the
most striking manner possible, and some
day, not far distant it is hoped, Idaho
will be supplying the United States with
mica which is now imported from for
eign countries.
Commissioner Wells is very desirous
of Obtaining a specimen of the ibex for
the Worlds Fair. The question has
been raised sometimes whether this an
imal exists in America. Mum bers of
them have been seen in this state but
they frequent such inaccessible heights
that their capture is very difficult A
handsome reward will be haid for good
MAJ n of thin rara nina
Persons who have good samples of
winter apples should forward them to
Com m issioner Wells for the Worlds
Fair. These can be put in cold storage
at Chicago and kept in good condition
for next year. All winter apple speci-
mems must come from this faPs crop for
it will be too late next year.
A fine specimen of the black wolf has
been secured for the Idaho exhibit at
Chicago next year. While the gray
wolf is quite common, yet the black
wolf is rare in this state as elsewhere.
This handsome representative of the
black species is mounted with a rabbit
in it's mouth, and placed on board COW
cred with sol stuck here and there with
sage brush. The effect is quite l;fe-like.
The wolf is greatly admired by the Wis
itors to the Worlds Fair rooms in the
Soma block.
As mere business investment Ida no
would lose nothing by her appropriation
TO the Worlds Fair. A large part of the
exhibit can easily be disposed of for all
it costs. But the state should be actu-
ated by higher motive. Many of the
older states seriously regret the lost op-
portunities of their early life for max
ing collections of plants and animals and
are now expending mnch money for
permanent museums. Idaho can we'll
afford to preserve her exhibit in the
keeping of the state university, or some
other institution, for the information of
coming generations in natural history.
While it is not expected that Idaho
can make a big display in coal at the
Worlds Fair, yet the question is one of
the deepest interest to the people of
this state. So far all the coal used here
is imported. But it is not improbable
that Idaho will soon obtain her supply
from her own coal fields. Around Horse
shoe Bend there is a district of more
than hundred square miles underlaid
with fine quality of coal. At Robb's
mine the most development has been
uOUef anu dOOub nlACNil CA bOilo' Q
expended in opening up the vein. But
at this point the vein is only two and a
half feet thick AT Ireton's and other
places where it has been uncovered the
vein is four feet through. Coal has also
been discovered in Custer and LIE mhi
counties. Report also Games that an ex-
cellent coking coal has been fonnd at
Ruxburg, in Bingham county, and eff
forts are being made to secure samples
for the exhibit.
After the first of January Secretary
Case's time will tie occupied in Chicago
in Classifying Idaho's exhibit as it ar
rives As all exhibits must be in posi-
ton before the fair oprns, the tire is
not long when the collection mnst be
complete. 1t is estimated Idaho's ex
bibit will fill ten cars. This is excIn-
sive of the fifteen carloads of material
shipped the first of December for the
Idaho building.
A fine specimen of the cougar has
been received from Kootenai county.
The mounting was done by soldier at
Fort Sherman and is a work of art. The
eye of the visitor fingers admiringly
npon this ferocious. looking but beauti
ful animal. A good mounted specimen
of the lynx WAS also received from the
esnoa snnrpe as he conpar