The state herald., 1897-07-23
uTAH's ouANo DEPOSIT.
A Unique Enterprise Undertaken by New
Company.

| A Unique Enterprise Undertaken by New
Company.
A unique mining venture-the eco
nomic working OF the only deposits OF
the kind north OF the equator-will
soon be in progress on Great Salt Lake,
in Utah. Guano was discovered on
Gunnison Island, in Box Elder county,
| Utah, in the winter OF 1So4-95 by a.
Richter, George Payne and T. G. Davis:
Immediately on learning the value OF
their find they prospected all the islands
and the shore line OF the lake, desiring
to have monopoly OF this proddct, ii
possible Under legal advice they locat-
ed twelve placer mining claims oil
twenty acres each; eight on Gunnison,
two on Hat and two on Davis Island,
respectively, and these 24o acres em-
brace all the deposits OF this valuable
substance.
So soon as it became noiscd about
party OF jumpers filed desert land en-
try on the Gunnison 100 acres and
shortly aiterward the Southern Pacific
Company set up a claim TO the better
part OF the beds, alleging that the
ground was within twenty miles OF its
track, hence in the limits OF its land
grant. Last winter homestead entry
WIS made on the. Gunnison tract, which
rounds out the list. OF claimants. The
placer locators were poor men, but
alert, and they succeeded. in securing
associates OF means and enterprise to
join with them and aid in protecting
their rights. Within few months OF
the first discovery the Utah Guano
Company was.incorporated.w with $4,000
capital stock. in shares OF 81; the pres
ent officers being: Simon Bamberger,
president; A. Fl. Cannon, vice presi-
dent:'T A. Perkins, secretary; w. S.
Mccormick, treasurer: a. Richter, gen
eral manager. These. with John Beck
and w, c. Maginnis, compose the di-
rectorate. =. -.
The railroad has now. abandoned
its claims to title, OF. the, land, and in the
District Court at .Ogdvn, on May 3,
1897. an order was. entered making the
temporary. Injunction. obtained by the
Guane: Company against the desert land
tilers, perpetual. .At.this hearing it was
proven that'these tracts are not farming
land. hence there. is no way in which
title can be had to these deposits save
as placers.
The all-imnortant matter OF title being
thus settled. the Guano Company speed
deposits and to begin marketing its
once let for the building OF a three
masted schooner. 400 tons burden,
adapted, for navigating this treacherous
early in July. A contract is practically
closed for 6.ooo tons for bcet-sugar
lands in California, which will compose
the initial shipments.
Guanos are rated. according TO their
nitrogenous and phosphate contents.
From parts OF Chill, Peru and the
islands near by, where there is almost
no rainfall, come the best OF these fer
tilizers. Around Salt Lake there is
considerable rain, and a larger portion
OF these soluble salts is lea,:hed out.
Analyses show the Utah guano has
about hall the percentage OF the soluble
ingredients contained in the standard
product is said to be still worth $40 to
ness these deposits vary from one to
the material in sight, after very
at over I,ooo,o 900 tons.
The origin OF these deposits is SIM
liar to that OF the Peruvian guano. Mil
lions OF gulls. pelicans, grebcs and blue
cranes have chosen these tracts for their
nesting place. At times, they cover the
surface so that not a point can be seen,
save broad carpe, OF live feathers, and
when they rise on the wing they. hide
the sun completely. To-day it is i'm
possible to step anywhere on the ground
OF the company without walking on
eggs. Gulls' eggs are as large as hens
eggs, which they resemble in taste and
flavor, while those OF the other ieath-
cred dcnizens OF these Islands are not
fit to eat. The pelicans destroy large
quantities OF fish from the streams that
flow into the lake. In Great Salt Lake
there are no fish, or anything else in
the way OF animal or vegetable life, with
the single exception OF sort OF a di-
minutiye shrimp. eolloqually styled the
Salt Lake Shrimp"