The Winslow mail., 1899-04-15
NEW SODA DEPOSITS.
An Inexhaustible Supply CT Pure
Sulphate in Wyoming.
= New Industry That Promises to
Make the American Market In
dependent of Foreign
Concerns.

Concerns.
BY the opening up of the vast nat
ural soda deposits Of Wyoming an
other industry is to be added to the
rapidly growing list in which the
United States can outstrip the world.
Natures laboratory, which is working
underground, and without q pay roll.
is turning out an inexhaustible sup
ply of pure sulphate Of soda which is
he base OF large number of by-prod-
ucts that are used in one form or an
other in almost every sort of manufac-
ture and in every household in civiliza-
ton Natures product is one stage
nearer the point Of consumption than
is the manufactured article. Over 20
per cent. of the latter consumed in this
country is imported and practically all
cf the remaining 80 per cent. is made
in factories that are branches of the
foreign establishments. The quantity
thus far taken from the deposits is not
sufficient to supply a small fraction of
the glass makers Of the Indiana gas
belt alone. though the latter can use
it at an immense saving over the man
ufactured and can turn ut better
quality of glass. The elimination Of
the expensive processes of manufac-
ture puts the native soda in position
not only 10 command the American
markets, but ultimately TO pay for eN-
porting it to the very countries from
which the American supply is now com
ing Despite the fact that only be-
ginning has been made on the home
trade there is every Indication that its
rise from an infant industry to point
where it can command the world Will
be very rapid. TO accomplish this re-
suit the native soda must supplant the
100000 tons of soda ash used by The
window and plate glass makers Of this
country each year, and then take care
cf the immensely greater demands of
the baking powder, soap, saleratus,
washing crystal, sal soda concentrated
I've, pulp. glucose, smoke!ess gunpow-
der and match manufacturers, and also
the tanners, bleachers, wcolen mill
men, dyers, packers. printers, pho
tocraDhers, starch makers and host
Of other users outside of the medicinal.
All Of these demands and dimmeasurable
quantities more can be supplied from the
three lakes or beds lying miles south
west OF Laramie, and which comprise
the bulk of the deposits in workable
quantities, CT the state. These depos-
lis are known as Red lake, Track Lake
and Big lake, and are fed by countless
springs which constantly rcPlenish the
supply as fast as it is drawn upon.
These deposits contain Al per cent. of
pure sulphate Of soda, a trifle less than
"a per cent. Of water and about two
per cent. of other matter. chiefly ear
Donate of soda and chloride of sodium,
or common salt All that is necessary,
it is said. 10 put the product on the
market is to eliminate the moisture. 1t
can be sold throughout America at an
immense profit. even at the lowest fig-
ures ever quoted here, though the
branches of the foreign factories
have frequently sold their output he-
low the cost of production to freeze
cut the small American establishments
that have been started in opposition tc
them within the last so years.
The soda properties have always
proven immensely profitable, and great
efforts have been made by the English
and German makers to Eeep compet-
tors out of the field. The largest of
The English concerns, which also con
trols the largest concern in this coun-
try, has paid dividends of IS to 50 per
cent. to its shareholders ever since 1t
was organized. The American Eranch
rays even larger profits, but its shares
are closely held, and no information
concerning the profits ever reaches the
uublic. The base product OF the artl-
icial article is salt or salt water, which,
after reduction to the form Of sulPhate
Of soda, must be clarified by expensive
processes before it can be used for
many of the purposes for which it is
intended Before it can be used for
making plate glass the iron, which all
salt contains, and which the ammonia.
or leading artificial process does not
eliminate, must be removed by the in
PRODUCTION of one part Of arsenic to nine
of sulphate The arsenic alone costs
a the rate of $75 per ton. The native
soda, having no Impurities, makes
much clearer as well as stronger and
tougher glass, and it is even claimed
that it is better than the French plate.
The Laramie deposits, which are the
unrest as well as the most accessible
in the state, passed into the control OF
one of the largest firms Of importers
Of heavy chemicals west of New York
several years ago. and this firm recent
~ transferred its holdings to Chicago
corporation, which is preparing to
vastly increase the outpu, by the eree-
ton of plant capable of turning out
1900 tons of product per day. The ex-
IRENE limit of the plant now on the
ground is $50 tons per day.