The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-07-12
THE EARTH'S RICHES.
Geological Exhibits at the Cotton
States Exposition.
To Be One of the Most Interesting Min
eraI Displays Ever Made This
COuntry-Some Unique


DIR. David T. Day, chief mineraIogist
of the United States geological survey,
has been appointed 10y the Atlanta eN-
position management to take charge of
the whole mineralogic exhibit in the
mining building. The mineral exhibit
At the exposition promises, according
To the Washington Post. to Ice one of
he most Interesting ever assembled i'll
this country. While it may not bc quite
80 large a. that at the worlds fair. it
viii have many novel features that
were wanting in that exhibit, and the
main collection will Toe assembled on a
systematic plan that Will make it
very valuable object lesson to visitors
DIR. Day, in planning the exhibit, has
been given larger powers than were
held 10y the managers of the mining
building at the worlds fair. and he has
50 far chosen to exercise it 10y calling
upon exhibitors for certain materials
to complete the systematic collection
rather than To leave it to individuals
and companies To- send what they
chose.
This plan is rather relished by the
exhibitors than otherwise. "a il saves
them the trouble of formulating plan
of their own for their particular cX-
hibit, while DR. Day. from his personal
knowledge Of the mineral resources Of
the country. is enabled to put his hand
ON Just the material he needs that can
be furnished by the producers of the
various sections. The great feature Of
the systematic exhibit will Ice :hc ar
rangemcnt of mineral products from
the Appalachian system. which really
includes III greater or less quantities
everything from gold and diamonds to
coal aud sulphur.
y number of special features of inter
est are now being negotiated for. On
Dr. Days desk in the survey building
- Il slender shaft of parti-colored min
eral that looks almost as though it
might be good to eat. This is a small
specimen of rock salt and potash salts
from the famous Sassfurt beds Of Ger
many, which will form an important
feature in the contemplated collection
and will be of very general interest to
the south.
The potash salts are one of the chief
constituents of corn and tobacco fcrtil-
izrrs that are used almost exclusively
in the southern states Nearly all IF
this variety Of fertilizer comes from the
Na>sfurt mines of Germany, where the
potash salt was discovered by accident.
The SaSSfurt beds form one of the
greatest rock salt mines of the world
and have been worked 10y the German
government for years. Some time ago
deep driiliugs were made to ascertain
how deep the salt deposit extended.
Far down below the surface il was
found that the rock salt abruptly
changed t. potash salt, an immense bed
Of which formed the foundation of the
mine. The demarlsatiOn il as sharp a.
in Il block of harlequin ice cream. and
the specimen on DIR. Days desk II
tion of the drill core where ii passed
from one deposit to the other
Another feature Of the exhibit VIII
be complete collection of southern
rem stones. Though it Is not general
IL known. North Carolina produces al
most every variety of precious stone in
greater or less quantities from did-
monds to hiddcnite. which Is found mo-
where else in the world. The largest
crystal of this very rare stone. by the
way. is owned in Washington. and will
probably be secured to grace the At
lanta collection.
One of the big diamonds of the world
will also be shown there. 1t il the
CorswelI not the largest stone. though
the size of d big hickory nut. but in
crystalline formation and purity one
of the very finest gems that has ever
been found. This stone Is a product Of
the south African fields.
All the foreign govnermcnts viii be
invited to exhibit. and the wonder
fuI Russian iron castings that were
such an attraction at the worlds fair
will probably be secured for Atlanta.
The Russians excel in this class of
work. and what are undoubtedly the
most beautiful art castings in iron in
the whole world come from little 81
berian furnace one hundred and eighty
miles from railroad, The york turned
out by these workmen equals high-cla>s
die work. These castings, II the cN-
hibit Is secured. Will be made on the
ground as souvenicrS.
Returning To the native products of
the south. there Will bc classified ex-
hibit Of petroleum. shown with refer
cnce to its geology. from the fields OF
Kentucky and Tennessee. and from the
better known and more fully developed
regions Of West Virginia.
sulphur from the recently discovered
deposits in Louisiana willals Toe shown.
This deposit Is very remarlla bic in its
location. being underneath bed OF
,uicizsand. There il plenty Of 1t there.
and "a novel method of minin" it l. nov.
being tried. Supcrhcatcd steam IL sent
down in pipes. and the melted sulphur
is then pumped out Ia thr surfa-c.
The contribution Of the geological
survey to the exposition will be a col
umn of cubes representing the mineral
products Of the south. Each cube Will
represent the amount of that mineral
produced in one minute by the com
bincd southern mines. The base of the
column on this scale will be cube of
southern coal fifty tons in weight
BESIDES this the survey will contrib
ME a classified collection Of the mineral
products Of the United States. In con
nection with this there VIII bc practical
illustrations of the technical terms of
mineralogv. such as color" streak.
..luster." etc. thus enabling a novice
to ground himself in the principles of
mineralogy with view to recognizing
any minerals of commercial value he
may meet with ON his own land.
The survey Will also have a large col
lection of lithograph and relief maps,
and lithograph map press in opera
ton
No Use for Soap.
A soap dealer who should open an
agency in China would lose money. In
many parts of China the children wear
no clothes for many months in the year,
and the ma iority of the Dponlp never