, 1903-02-25
WALDO
ON THE ANTIPHLOGlSTINE CLAY
OF WESTERN ALBANY
COUNTY.
Deposits in Other Parts Of the State
But These are the Best Known,
Contain Superior Grades and Have
Been Worked-vary from Three
and a Half to Five Feet Thick.

The following interesting paper was
read by A. R. Waldo of this city at the
Cheyenne Industrial convention a few
weeks ago.:
These valuable clay deposits are 10,
Gated in the western part Of Albany
county, Wyoming. There are a few
deposits in other parts of the state, but
the ones in Albany county are the best
known, contain more superior grades
of clay, and have been worked for a
number of years by the present own,
ers, proving a valuable source OF
revenue coming from all over the
country to this state.
There are very few people In the
United States that know what this clay
is, what it is composed Of, or to what
purposes it is used. The most valuable
deposits are found in the vicinity of
Rock Creek, neal the western line of
Albany county. These deposits vary
from three and one-half to five feet in
thickness.
The largest area of clay land is own
ed by Alexander Bowie and David
Linscott. These parties have expend-
ed considerable money in opening up
these deposits and have by many
chemical and other tests demonstrate
ed the many uses the clay can be put
to.
By analysis the clay contains
silica, alumina, iron, magnesia, sui
phur and water. having ove SO per
cent of silica and alumina, about l per
cent Of iron, 8 per cent OF magnesia,
" per cent Of lime and sulphur and 6
per cent of water. Some Of their de-
posits have no iron, magnesia or sui
phur. One of these deposits has some
3 per cent of iron and magnesia.
Years ago, when Fort Fetterman
and Fort Mckinney were frontier army
posts, Rock Creek was the shipping
point. Transfers and cavalrymen were
passing to and from these points every
day. Some of these number being of
an investigating turn OIL mind, motto,
ed the peculiar clay deposits near
Rock Creek. BY Investigation they
discovered that the clay was good to
use as a substitute for soap in washing
hands. Having q few horses that were
lame from sore and contracted feet
they tried it to e II it was good fol
packing their horses feet to relieve
them Of the soreness. They wer,
agreeably surprised to see the lamenes,
soon disappear. This created a goot
deal Of comment among the teamsteri
and army veterinary surgeon.
One of the men who lived In Rocl
Creek at the time was shrewd enough
to realize that this clay would have q
great commercial value II properly
handled, and he secured the largest
area of land containing these deposits.
Since that time there have been many
car loads Of this clay shipped to parties
in the east, who have used it in many
different branches of manufacture.
MI. VIM. Taylor of Rock Creek also
realized that the clay was valuable and
secured some good deposits for himself
and associates.
Several large stock food houses 10
Gated in the east have been selling the
clay until now 1t is considered by many
veterinarians in the United States az
being the only remedy for sore and
contracted feet, scratches. grease heels,
swellings. bronchial and all throat af'
fections, pneumonia, and all diseases
where there is any Inflammation. It Ia