The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-12
MORTON'S DISCOVERY.
He Says the Region Hereabouts
Abound in TIMBER and Sienna
of the Purest Quality.

All this region round, according to
Chemist Charles Morton, of North
Washington avenue, is rich in deposits
of the purest quality of umber and
sienna, two of the most valuable of
the ingredients that go into the COM
position of the finer grades Of paints.
There is only one mill in the whole
United States for the preparation of
umber and sienna for the market and
that mill is conducted by Mr.. Morton.
1t may be that dealers in these ma
terials will dispute Mr.. Morton's state
mcnt about his mill being the only
one of its kind in the country. Be
that as it may. he says it positively
and he talks like a man who knows
whereof he speaks.
He says there were 701 900 tons Of
lumber and sienna manufactured last
year in France, Italy and Canada,
each of which countries has one of the
only other three such mills in 0le
world that Mr.. Morton knows of. New
York city alone handled half. million
tons of these two materials last year.
The question Mr.. Morton would raise
is where did the New York jobbers
get this half million tons of umber and
sienna? He answers it by saying that
they made it from lampblack and 9TH
er materials.
If the raw material for the manu-
facture of umber and sienna are to be
had for the mere shoveling. as is the
case hereabouts, why should any one
make an imitation article? a person
naturally inquiries.
Mr. Morton's answer to this is that
nf L. kiper I,a itof 4
cles is a simple trick, while the means
of manufacturing the real thing is a
secret known to few. Mr.. Morton
claims to be one of these few and that
his two sons are being taught the
secret as a legacy that will, he hopes,
prove to be a rich one.
Mr.. Morton learned the secret in
France and perfected himself in prac-
ticing it in Canada. He came to these
parts a quarter of a century ago and
began prospecting, being mineralo-
gist as we'll as chemist. He says he
has walked the valley and mountains
on either side from Carbondale to
Pittston. Il can start mill any
| where in this region" said Mr.. Nor
ton. land not have to carry my raw
material more than three miles"
Is tHtSc
| deposits and a large vein is found in
| Tripp park. Over near Connell park
| is another big vein and down Moosic
| way it is also quite plentiful.
Twenty-one years ago Mr.. Morton
| attempted to establish a manufactory,
but through lack Of funds the enter
prise fell through. Recently he Or
| ganized a stock company with a capt.
tai of $4,000 and is at present manu-
featuring in small way at Throop.
He can turn out two tons a day, but,
as he has not as yet gotten the goods
on the market he has little call for
anything more than samples. He is
also manufacturing Van Dyke brown
from dirt found near Connell's park.
This is also very valuable, Mr.. Morton
| says.
The umber and sienna. or the stuff
being sold for lumber and sienna in
this country, costs 10 cents a pound
in its unprepared state. Prepared with
oil it costs in cans about twice that
much. Mr.. Morton says he can make,
prepare and can the real article at
four cents a pound and get rich on 1t
if he can only get it going once.