The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-20
He Tells of Wonderful Gyp-
sum Deposits Found.
VISIT FIFTEEN COUNTIES
Work Had to Be Abandoned
for Lack of Funds.

pulled into Norman. 1t had been planned
to remain in the field until September
and visit the eastern part of the terri
tory, but the funds were all exhausted
sooner than was expected and the mem
bers of the party did not feel like pay
ing their own expenses.
The total amount appropriated for the
pursuance of this work is put SOC a year.
Out of this sum a team must be kept
the entire year. repairs made on the
outfit, freight paid and the expenses of
the summer field party met. 1t is only
by pIacticing the most rigid economy
that the survey has been able to accom-
plish as much as has already been done
The credit for the work is due to DR.. a.
H. Van Vleet, director of the survey,
and Prof. Charles n. Gould, who has
had the matter in charge.
1t goes without saying that the men,
bers Of the survey serve without extra
pay. So far those engaged in the work
have been either professors in the uni
versity who are interested in the devel-
opment of the natural resources Of the
territory or advanced students or others
who desired field experience.
During the past summer the party con-
sisted of Prof. C. n. Gould, geoIogist at
the university; Mr.. r. S. Sherman, an
advanced student. who is specializing in
geological chemistry, and Mr.. J. T. Hef-
ley, an aIumnus of the university, who
is principal of schools at Globe, Ariz
These gentlemen Travelled over ], 800 miles
with camp wagon and saddle pony. They
did their own cooking and slept on the
ground. In all they made over fifty diff
ferent night camps, rarely remaining in
one camp more than one night, except on
Sundays.
Fifteen of the counties in Oklahoma
were visited including the counties in
the western part of the territory. ex-
cept Beaver. and three counties in Texas.
In speaking of the summers work Prof.
Gould said;
'As has been stated in the Eagle, the
object of the survey this year was TO
investigate the deposits OF salt and gyp-
sum in Oklahoma. Few people seem to
be able to realize that the deposits of
these products in the territory are for
all practical purposes inexhaustible.
belief. In the region visited it lies as
immense lodges across the greater part
of the country. The lodges are from
few inches TO many feet thick. A ledge
in Washita county encountered in we'll
is said to have a thickness of 115 feet.
There are a number OF lodges ten to
twenty feet thick and some of them run
for a hundred miles or more across the
country. The greater part of this gyp-
sum is hard, massive rock, usually white
or pinkish and the lodges may frequent-
ly be seen for miles across the plain.
There are three principal ledges Of
gypsum in Oklahoma, or perhaps it would
be more correct to say three rows of
gypsum hills, for it is usually the case
that two three or even more ledges ly-
ing one above the other separated by
red clay, make up a hill.
The first of these are the 'Gyp Hills
proper, extending from the head of the
Medicine river in Barber county. Kansas.
southwest through Woods and Wood
ward counties to the Cimarron river,
then southwest between the Cimarron
and North Canadian, past the Glass
mountains into Blaine county, just touch
die cut just north of FL Reno.
The second ledge lies parallel to the
one just described and from thirty TO
fifty miles farther west. Its northern
extremity rs in southern Woodward coun-
", near Richmond. 1t is seen on the
hills north of Taloga and extends up the
South Canadian river. well into Day
county. II occupies the greater part OF
Dewey and Custer counties. outcropping
all along Deer, Barnitz and Quartermas-
ter creeks. 1t is found as far up the
washita as Cheyenne. In eastern Wash
tia county il forms immense lodges and
extends past Fort Cobb to the hills south
of the Washita and outcrops in the re-
gion Of the Keechi hills in southeastern
Caddo county. This is the most exten-
sve ledge IN Oklahoma.
'.The third ledge extends from the
southwestern corner Of Washita county
through the southeastern corner OF Roger /
Mills. across the north fork OF the Red
river into Greer county. 1t forms Hay
stack mountain. outcrops along Hay /
stack. Fish and Bull creeks and Elm |
fork Of the Canadian TO the Panhandle /
line and far into Texas In the south /
ern part of Greer county there is a ledge /
Of considerable area which may or may
not be the same as the one just men
toned
1T was estimated that the amount Of Z
gypsum N sight in the territory would /
approximate over Iee oae 90 tons
THE region OF the gypsum deposits are /
in many instances the most fertile IN /
Oklahoma. Lard plaster which in many I
states Is sold and used as fertilizer IS 4
rothlng but gypsum. In Oklahoma nz- +
ture spreads this fertilizer with lavish i
hand. Corn. wheat. cotton and fruits I
grow equally well in gypsum regions. (
and some Of the finest farms IN the ter 5
riteyy are In these western counties. I
right among the 'Gyp 4snls.
whether or not tEs-e are precious 4
metals god. silver. etc-iz paying Guan-
tit.es II Oklahoma. remains % Dc proved I
The present indications are that the
tine and money have been expended In 4
various parts OF The territory n pres
pectIng' for valuable minerals. Neither 4
the geological formations. the ressiits .
oS assays. nor the experience q miners /
justify the sappositon that large i
arrccrts win ever be forna.
The deposits a gygsurn azd salt how
ever. are !nexhaustieie- Gypsum prod
ucts-csment, plaster. stucco. plaster of 4
PARIS. cod water paint ard ths Ike
are coming r-rre ard mere into pro.ai- i
teTr1ts-y where these products are raauu-