El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-07
days bright and cool. O
Yours resp sctfully, ,
S. M. DAVIS. :
Gypsum, FAsphaltum, and Coal
In Indian Territory.

So many conflicting stories have
been circulated relative to the min
eral wealth of the reservation of the
Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches, in
been directed to the United States
geographical survey here for inform a.
ten in relation to the reservation.
The survey has no Official report upon
the matter, nor have any of its mem.
bers made researches in the reserva-
ton. Prof. Robert T. Hill has travel
led extensively in the vicinity. He
is at present in Texas on a special line
of work for the survey.
E. w. Parker, ststistician of the
survey, to whom all Information in
relation to mineral lands and investi
cations along this line are referred,
says there il nothing to indicate that
tn ere are rich mineral deposits in the
Wichita Mountains, which pass through
the reservation, although, in the ab-
sence of survey or Investigation along
this line, he would not like to say that
there are not deposits there of COM
mercial value. There are several
valuable fields in the vicinity which
are being developed by ST. Louis con.
Germs. One of these is at Quanah,
Hardeman county, Tex, just south OF
the reservation which is to be opened
up for settlement and which Is now
overrun with ''sooners", who claim to
have entered under the mineral lande
clause of the act which contemplates
the opening of the reservation elk or
eight months hence.
The deposit there is of gypsum
which is used in the making of plaster
of Paris. Il Ia said to be very valuable.
The gypsum is a sort of blush soft
limestone formation, and is quarrted
or mined with great profit. The de-
post is spread over acres there, aud
the works of the Acme Cement Plaster
company, of st. Louis, are quite ex-
tensive through the country. There
found in this vicinity also, and fur
mace was erected there and plans were
said to be under way for the develop
ment of copper mines. Nothing was
ever done to bring paying results and
the furnace was Abandoned.
The reservation just east of that
which fs to be opened ia that of the
Chickasaws; in 1t there are valuable
deposits of ssphalsum, which are now
son Asphalt company, of st. Louis.
This company has large concession in
Utah, where 1t secures form of as
phaltum known as "Gilsonite," after
the name OF the inventor of the pro-
cess of preparing it, and it is said to
be the purest and best form OF asphalt
tum yet discovered. The concession
which the company has secured from
the Chickasaw Nation is said to be q
valuable one. 1t Is not far removed
from the railroad, and is expected to
develop into q paying commercial en-
terprise.
About 160 miles east of the Kiowa-
Comanche- Apache reservation Ia the
town of Atoka, in Indian Territory,
and there are said to be some of the
best coal mines in the Southwest. The
mines have only been developed in the
past few years, but already they
promise to give surprising output,
and there are those in Washington
who are watching affairs in the South
west who expect to see great mining
center at Atoka Is soon as the condi-
tions under which the territory is
governed are changed and more liberal
concessions can be secured, as we'll a.
protection in the enterprises which are
aunched.-Globe Democrat.