Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-12-04
THE EARTH'S RICHES.
Geological Exhibits at the Cotton
States Exposition.
To he One of the Most Interesting Min
ersi Dispiays Ever Made In This
Country-soms Unique
Features.

-
Of the United States geological survey,
has been appointed by the Atlanta ex-
position management 70 take charge Of
the whole mincralogic exhibit in the
mining building. The mineral exhibit
at the exposition promises, according
to the Washington Post, to DC one Of
the most interesting ever assembled in
this country. While it may not be quite
so large as that at the worlds fair, it
will have many novel features that
were wanting in that exhibit, and the
main collection will be assembled on
systematic plan that will make it u
very valuable object lesson to visitors
DIR. Day in planning the exhibit, has
been given larger pow..s than We're
held by the mana GERS u the mining 7
building ut the wor rs f.si'., and ne has
so far chosen to exercise IL by calling \
upon exhibitors for certain Ilat> .ials |
to complete the systematic collection
rather than to leave it to individuals |
and companies to send what they
chose
This plan is rather rclished by the
exhibitors than otherwise, as it 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 be the ar
rangemcnt Of mineral products from
the Appalachian system, which really
includes in greater or less quantities
everything from gold and diamonds to
coal and Sulphur.
4 number Of special features OF inter-
est are now being negotiated for. On
Or Days desk in the survey building
is q slender shaft CT perti-colorod min
erf.l that looks almost rs though 1t
might be good TO eat. This is a small
srecimcn of rock salt and potash salts
tfron the famous Sassfurt beds vi Ger
many, which wiz 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 fertil-
izers that are used almost exclusively
in the southern states. Nearly all OF
Sassfurt mines of Germany, where the
potash salt was discovered by accident.
The Sassfurt beds form one of the
greatest rocl, salt mines of the world
and have been worked by the German
government for years. Some time age
deep drillings were made to ascertain
how deep tire salt deposit extended
Far down below the surface 1t wal
found that the rock salt abruptly
changed to potash salt, an immense bee
of which formed the foundation of thu
mine. The demarkation is as sharp a
in block of harlequin ice cream, and
the specimen on DIR. Days desk is q sec
ton of the drill core where it passet
from one deposit to the other.
Another feature OF the exhibit viii
be a complete collection of southern
gem stones. Though it is not general
ly known, North Carolina produces al
most every variety of precious stone IL
grcater or less quantities from dia
monds to hiddenite, which is found nc
where else in the world The urges
crystal of this very rare stone, by tn
way, is owned in Washington, and vii
probably be secured to grace the Al
!: lanta collection.
IL One OF the big diamonds Oh inc wori
will also be shown there. IL Is IN
Cogswcn, not the largest stone 'houg
. well up in the front rank beng aoot
the size Of big hickory nut, but
crystalline formation and purify OF
of the very finest gems that has eve
been found. This stone Is product I
the South African fields.
All the foreign governments viii
invited to exhibit, and the wonde
IA full Russian iron castings that we
such an attraction ut the worlds Ia
10 will probably be secured Tor Atiant
. The Russians excel in this class
work, and what arc undoubtedly u
+. most beautiful art castings IN mon
the whole world como from little
berian furnace one hundred ana clgh
''u miles from railroad. The work turn
out by these workmen equals high-cia
die work. These castings, II the
hibit is secured, will be made on
ground as souvenicrs.
cry Returning to the native products
the south, there will be CLASSIFIED
tho hibit of petroleum, shown with ref
a.. ence to it's geology, from the helds
"o Kentucky and Tennessee and from
better known and more fully deveioT
regions of West Virginia.
m sulphur from the recently discover
Ills laposifs in Louisiana will also be SHOW