The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-28

very limited and only. occasional ship
ments were made, but gradually the
market expanded. it was several
years before the value Of gilsonite was
determined as a paving material and
only after many trials was a prepar-
alton hit upon that was a success On
one of the principal streets of st. Louis
IS piece OF paving from this material
that Is said 10 .De the finest and most
durable in the country. This piece of
work was done by Mr. Baxter without
cost to the city to test its durabil-
ity.
Its value as a paving material is
without question now. but the long
wagon haul from ne mines to the rail-
road makes the cost so great that un-
DER present conditions. the St Louis
company are unable 10 compete with
the Trinidad product in that lire.
After the demand for gilsonite began
10 assume some Importance, prospectors
and range riders kept their eyes open
for Indications and stories of big veins
on the UncOmpahgre reservation
reached the ears If the St. Louis peO-
pie. Upon investigation they found
that the White river country contained
Blisonlte enough to pave all the clues
IN the world, which If ever thrown
open to entry and operated by other
companies. would mean competition
that would bring to naught the strug-
sles that were made 10 first introduce
the stun into the market.
Inc opening of the Uncompa hgre
reservation and the reserving of the
slisonite deposits for future action by
congress was step in the direction of
releasing them. and Baxter and his
associates at once set about a big
undertaking, which was nothing more
nor less than to secure every option and
right upon gilsonite, wherever found.
# possible. Hundreds of claims had
Deen located upon the reservation de-
spite the fact that ;he government or
dered all notices torn down. and Indian
police patrolled the reservation con-
stantly and elected all trespassers. For
several years this went on and in the
meantime Baxter lost no opportunity to
negotiate with the prior lOcatOrs of
claims, and bought and paid cash for
several hundred to which the locators
could give no title whatever. The dis
position Of the deposits rested wholly
with congress and what action would
be taken was problematical. but Bax-
ter. backed by almost unlimited capital,
took big chances on the claims of the
prior locatoTs being eventually valid
ated. and no less ;han S1OO,OOO was paid
out by him on this kind of a chance.
To the credit of the company it may
be said that they paid good money for
every location they have and scores Of
poor men have prOfted thereby. There
Is not an instance on record where the
company attempted to jump a claim,
nor would they deal with jumpers.
Owing TO the report of the govern
ment engineers, as stated in the be-
q
strong sentiment in congress in favor
of leasing the deposits, the government
10 receive a fixed royalty BY this il
was meant that they would be re-
served indefinitely like the nitrate beds
Of Chile.
Chairman Lacey Of the public lands
committee was strongly in favor of the
leasing scheme and at one time il
looked very much as If that idea would
be followed out. Baxter and associates.
however. enlisted powerful support. BY
persistent work through several ses-
slons of congress. the influence Of sew
eral United States senators and a score
OF congressman was secured. but no
instance has ever come to light where
dishonest methods we're used. After
Warding of the leasing idea through
the last two or three congresses. Baxter
and associates set about securing the
session that would validate the claims
or the prior locators. The Uncompah-
gre amendment to the Indian approDrf-
alton bill was the result which valid
ates all claims located prior to 1891. or
these claims ninety-nine per cent were
IN the hands of Baxter and associates
through purchase as before stated
Ihat measure gave the company some
thing like 40 claims Of gilsonite where
the veins are from FIVE to eighteen feet
IN thickness along the now famous
COWBOY and BONANZA lodes. Of the
claims that have been located since
1871 there were several hundred
my per cent Of which have
Deen purchased by the company. the
Daiance being in the hands OF the To-
Iators IN way only. as according to
me recent act Of congress these loca-
lions are all null and void. It will be
seen from this that the GiIsonite As
phallum company has the big end of
me proposition but il has it after
years OF persistent work and the ex-
penditure Of cOnsidera bic good money