The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-17
KANSAS NEWS.
Frank VrOOman In a Gigantic
Scheme For Wealth.
Head of a Company Which Owns
a Mica Mountain
IN THE BLUE HILLS.
Say the Mineral Claim Glistens
Like a Mirror.
Easy to Mine and Sheets of Ex-
traOrdinary Size.
A Strange Story Woven About
the Discovery.

Independence, May 17.-Frank Vroo-
man. formerly pastor of the Congre-
gational church Of this city, well known
in Kansas, and who also recently came
into extensive notice as the head of the
Vrooman Gold Mining and Prospecting
company, is making another bid for
wealth. His hopes are vested this time
not in vast gold fields, but in remark
able mountain said to be wonderfully
rich with mica slate; a mountain so
rich, it is argued, that it is only neces-
sary TO travel into the north with a
large shears, backed by a strong pair
of hands and plenty of confidence, and
without a protest it viii give up its
treasures.
Frank Vrooman, Charles Norris,
William johnson and a man known as
Dock" Nichols left Chicago a few days
ago for Edmonton, Alberta Canada,
whence they will travel by pack and
foot to their 2OO-acre claim in the Blue
Mountains of the Rockies, $50 miles
from civilization. Nichols is the man
who unawares discovered the micaceo-
calcareOus mountain, and Norris, who
was secretary and treasurer of the old
WrOOman company, and who now holds
a similar position in four other pros
pecting companies, is the one who told
Nichols the value of his discovery
Johnson is the cook and "all-around
handy man" of the expedition, and
VTooman is the moving spirit
Members of the Nrooman party as
sert that mica is so plentiful in the re-
giOn Of their claim that it can be seen
glistening everywhere in the sunlight.
The high altitude, however, makes life
uncomfortable, and is the greatest difh-
Guilty to be overcome. Sheets of mica
Sx12 inches are the largest on the
market now, but it is claimed that
sheets is inches square are not at all
uncommon in the Northwest Territory.
In fact they say sheets of almost any
size can be easily cut out
Mica in Sx12 sheets is worth about
SIS a pound and members Of the
NrOoman party expect to take out
81 000, 900 worth the first year They
express confidence that they can ship
q like amount each succeeding year,
Notwithstanding the fact that to do
this 1t would be necessary to take out
about p tons q year Of the first quality
OF mica sheets averaging ski inches.
1T the mines are what they are
claimed to be, they surpass anything
known to exist before. A strange story
is woven about the discovery of the
micaceOuS mountain; a story replete
with stirring incident. Charles Norris
penetrated far into the Blue Mountain
country prospecting for gold. He lost
his bearings and for weeks travelled he
knew not where, across snoWcapped
peaks and hazardous gulches. He did
solitude and was thankful when one
morning, as he paused in the ascent of
a rugged mountain side to look about
him, he saw a lone figure far in the dis
lance up the snowbOund valley. He
FASTENED to the solitary man, the only
person he had seen for weeks, and found
Nichols. He, too, had lost his way,
and together, more hopeful, they hur-
ried on
When they stopped for rest Nichols
took a large piece of mica from his
pocket and asked Norris what it was.
And when Nichols learned the value OF
his find he told Norris it was to be
had in great quantities and the men
started for the place, Nichols leading
the way. Norris was nearly overcome
with ecstacy when he realized the
great fortune the mountain revealed
on every side. Then began their long
perilous journey back to civilization.
Now they have organized a party
and returned to the mica country, hav-
ing bought up 200 acres in claims
When they have taken out the mica
they will box it, nail it onto RATS and
send it down the rivers, establishing a
place Of rendezvous at Edmonton.