The Monte Vista journal., 1897-07-24
vrAn.s ouAno DEPOSIT.
Z Unlque Eaterprsss Undertakes ~ New
a. Company.

Z Unlque Eaterprsss Undertakes ~ . New
| IA Company.
| A unique mining venture-the eco
nomic working OF the only deposits q
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 Ioo4-o5 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 a monopoly of this product, IT
possible. Under legal advice they locat.
ed twelve placer mining claims OF
twenty acres each; eight on Gunnison.
two on Hat and two on Davis Island.
respectively. and these 24o acres en-
brace all the deposits Of this valuable
substance.
So soon as it became noised about
party OF jumpers filed desert land en-
try on the Gunnison I6o acres and
shortly aiterward the Southern Pacific
Company set up 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 a homestead entry
was 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 ard In protecting
their rights. Within a few months OF
the first discovery the Utah Guano
Company was incorporated with 10000
capital stock, in shares OF 81; the pres
ent officers being: Simon Bambergcr.
president; A. II. Cannon. vice presi-
dent: 7. 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 Ogden. on May 3.
1897, an order was entered making the
temporary injunction, obtained by the
Guano Company against the desert land
filcrs. 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.
Tie all-important matter OF title being
thus settled. the Guano Company speed
lily made preparations to mine its placer
deposits and to begin marketing its
products this season A contract was at
once let for the building OF a three
mastcd schooner, 400 tons burden,
adapted for navigating this trcacherous
sea. to cost 5000. and to be launched
early in July. A contract is practically
elosed for oooo tons for beet 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 lcachei out.
Analyses show the Utah guano has
ingredients contained in the standard
high-grad Peruvian. but the Utah
product is said to be still worth $40 10
S5 ton in San Francisco. In thick
ness these deposits vary from one to
twenty feet, and a recent estimate OF
the material in sight. alter very
thorough examination, places the total
at over 100000 tons.
The origin OF these deposits is sim
liar to that OF the Peruvian guano. Mil
lions OF gulls. pclieans. grcbcs and blue
cranes have chosen these tracts for their
nesting place. AT times. they cover the
surface so that not point can be seen.
save a broad carpet 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
oi the company without walking on
eggs. Gulls' eggs are as large as hens
eggs. which they resemble in taste and
flavor, while those oi the other fcath-
cred denizens oi 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 oi a sort OF 4 di-
minutive shrimp. colloqually styled the
Salt Lake Shrimp