The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-20

last fall, the material was sent east for
analysis and proved to be so nearly
pure that it attracted the attention of
capital, and the result was the forma-
ton of a company, known as the Colo
RADIO Gilsonite company, which has
been at work some time developing the
leads and acquiring title to the lands
in which the gilsonite is found. The
company now controls q placer claims
$40 acres in all-and has built roads
! to connect the mines with the railroad,
and Will commence shipping regularly
on Monday The company has contem-
plated putting traction engines on the
road, but has suspended operations in
that direction, and for the present will
haul the gilsonite to the market on
! wagons. The crude gilsonite is hauled
| to Empire, a distance Of 81 miles, and
even with this long haul a handsome
| profit is realized for the company, the
product being in strong demand for
the manufacture Of various articles.
USES OF GILSONITE
The principle use to which it is de-
! voted is the manufacture of water
proof paint, of which there is a large
! consumption in several branches of in
dustry. 1t is used to paint the bottoms
of iron ships, not only preventing the
corrosion of the metal and reducing the
friction of the water, but lessening the
d1fnculties resulting from the fouling
of the bottoms with barnacles and sea-
weed. 1t is also used for painting the
faces of sea walls, preserving the stone
from the action of the water, and for
treating the timbers used for piling to
prevent their destruction by the teredo,
for coating fence wire, for insulating
electric wire, and for a number of other
purposes.
The company has made arrange
ments to ship 20 tons a day or about
5000 tons during the year and already
has contracts for the delivery of 1850
tons to manufacturing establishments
in the east
The heavy demand for Colorado gill |
sonite is on account of its remarkable |
purity. The tests made show that it |
contains from SO to 50 per cent of fixed |
and volatile carbon, of which not more |
than 40 per cent is volatile, making an |
ideal product for the manufacture of |
paint. All of the carbon is saved, the |
treatment being of such a character |
that none of the volatile matter es-
capes. The low percentage of earthly
and other foreign substances permits it
to be transported long distances with
out loss, and it is believed that the de-
mand for the Colorado product will be
largely increased as its good qualities
become better known.
THE UTAH PRODUCT.
The Utah gilsonite, which has hereto
fore been regarded as the best in this
country, runs but IS per cent in fixed
and volatile carbon, which not only
makes it much more difficult to treat
but adds materially to the cost of
The entire product of
the company is handled by Blood &
Beddig of this city, who act as factors
for the company, shipping the material
to the market, settling with customers,
ETC. When the company installs more
economical methods of transportation
from the mines to the railroad, which
it now has under consideration, it will
be able to practically control the mar
ket for paint products.
The district in which this gilsonite is
found is said by residents of Middle
Park to be very extensive. Numerous
veins have been found on Willow creek
and the immediate vicinity, and it is
believed that when the territory is !
exploited it will prove to be
One of the most extensive deposits of ]
gilsonite to be found in the United
States.