Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
Omaha Bee. June D. 1906
SOAP MINE NEAR ORLEANS
TRAVELLER MAKES THE
DISCOVERY WHILE CLEANING
HIS KNIFE.
COMPANY Is FORMED TO DEVELOP FIND
Geyserite Soap, which Has Proved It's
Merit, In Result of investigation
by Scientists and Inventors.

Orleans. Neb., June 2S.-tSpecial 1.-The
limitless possibilities for mankind that lie in
nature herself has had new exemplfication
recently In the discovery of deposit of
lava-perhaps centuries old-from which a
high-grade genuinely pure soap can be
made. Heretofore Ii has always been
thought that a soap could only be made
from animal fats. oils. etc. 1t thus adds
weight and credence to the old saving that
man can find everything he wants In
mother earth The finding of this sapona-
ceous deposit is especially interesting In
this period of chemically prepared articles
The discovery. romantic though it sounds.
Is not myth, but a geological fact The
supposition Is that the lava was deposited
by an extinct geyser centuries ago. 1t is
situated near Orleans
No doubt thousands of prospectors and
ranchmen in days passed camped near this
valuable lode, but none thought to investi-
gate it. 1t remained for some ranchers
from Colorado who camped there to look
into the peculiar soil. II was purely an
accident. deed of curiosity. that prompted
a member of the party to take some of
the mud to clean a knife blade. To the
amazement of ALL ii took off the rust as
IL by magic. They rubbed 1t In their hands.
and their hands became clean. They tried
it in cleaning other articles and 1t worked
equally well.
Capitalists Are Interested.
When the party returned to Colorado they
told of their find. The saponaceous quail
ties of the lava were not dreamed of at
that time. the finders believing it merely
had strange and unusual securing proper
ties. just as nearly all mud possesses some
such properties. Denver capitalists became
interested and sent geologist to investi-
gate. He reported that the deposit was
undoubtedly left by once active geyser.
The matter then submitted to chem
lists, and their analysis of the lava gave
the first inkling that it possessed the prop
critics of soap in a pure and natural state.
The property, extending over a consider
able number of acres, was bought outright
from the original owner, and a company
was formed in Denver to manufacture a
commercial soap with this lava as a base.
The company was named the Geyserite
Soap Company, and the article itself Gey-
serite soap. A building erected at
31st and Blake streets, in Denver. and the
manufacture of the soap was begun on a
large scale.
Company Finds Demand.
Though all this happened comparatively
short time ago, the company is reported to
be in a very prosperous condition, and the
soap is being sold in all parts of the United
States and the demand for 1t is increasing
steadily without the expenditure of cent
for advertising. The promoters, however
hope soon to compete with the other WELL
known soaps by launching extensive ad-
vertising campaign 1t seems that nowadays
nothing can be made to go hugely without
extensive advertising.
Frank A. Joslin of Denver, the president
of the company, recently made trip to the
property In the company of an expert. and
he reports that the deposit is well nigh
limitless An attractive feature from the
commercial standpoint is that Geyserite
costs the company practically nothing in
comparison to the material that other soap
manufacturers are compelled to buy and
that the Geyserite can be shipped into
Denver, ready to be converted into soap. at
less than one-half cent pound This gives
the company a tremendous advantage over
other soap manufacturers, as, owing to
the peculiar Responsiveness of the article.
it can be sold at a lower figure than other
soaps. while giving a better profit The
wholesaler and jobber sells what he finds
the most profitable, so 1t Is certain that
Geyserite soap will have the friendship OF
the men who sell 1t.
Pure Natural Soap.
Chemists claim that Geyserite soap is the
only pure and natural soap that has yet
been marketed. 1t is said to be uncombined
and to contain no free caustic alkali 1t
Is this latter ingredient In the cheaper
soaps that plays such havoc with the skin.
The successful sale of the soap is remark
able, because 1t has depended entirely upon
one person recommending it to another, but
even by this primitive method the sale has
been extended into several countries. The
commercial Importance of the find is ad-
mtted by rival soap manufacturers, and
other sections of the state being pros
pected for similar deposits. At the present
time it Is believed that the Geyserite Soap
Company has world monopoly of this de-
posit.