Gilpin observer., 1908-04-16
NEWS FROM THE MINES and MILLS
Colorado Non.MetaIlie Minerals.

SOtS'duo INon-MCtdIIIC mlncTdI8s
AS evidence of the rapid increase in
the uses of cement and cement con-
crete, says Capt. II. j. Smith in The
Denver News. word comes from Colo
rado Springs that the Beaver Land and
Irrigation Company. composed largely
of Colorado Springs capitalists, and
operating in Fremont county, proposes
to construct its reservoirs, bitches and
laterals OF cement, after practice
adopted to some extent in California
and Utah districts where water is
scarce and valuable. 1t is estimated
that this cement construction will save
twenty to sixty per cent of the water
supply.
The Engineering Record, a new
York publication of the highest class,
pays Denver notable compliment by
devoting eleven columns of its space
TO an illustrated description of the
new concrete bridge over Cherry creek
at Bannock street. Ideal Portland ce-
ment Colorado MANUFACTURED. two
parts sand and five parts gravel, with
crushed granite and steel framework,
constitute the material
But cement is only one of the twenty
five non-metallics now established in
this state on a producing basis, and
which already surpass in value the me-
tallic output of the commonwealth, de-
spite the present revival and expan-
sion in mining for gold and the very
recent additions of several rare min
erals TO the established metallic list.
The greatest OF all the non-metals is
coal. which. with coke added, reached
$5S.000.0OO IN Colorado last year, al
lowing 81 per ton as the retail price of
the coal and s9.000.000 for the coke.
The Geological Survey has recognized
the importance of Colorado as coal
state, and OF Denver as an industrial
center for the adjoining states and ter.
ritories. by establishing in South
Denver, at the foot of West Cedar ave-
nue. and on the tracks of the Denver
& Rio Grande railroad, an elaborate
fuel-testing plant, which continues the
experiments inaugurated at st. Louis
in 1904 in connection with the Louisi-
ana Purchase Exposition. A. w. Bel
den is the engineer in charge, assisted
in the coke and washing sections by
w. E. Nicke:s and H. l.. Gardener.
The chemical laboratory is controlled
by G.. a. Burrell. Coal washing ma
chimes OF the most up-to-date pattern
have been installed. The plant is
machines, four different specific grav-
ity solutions being used with each size
of coal tested.
The Colorado list of non-metals, al
ready formidable in value and enorm-
Gus in promise. grows wider month by
month. II includes at present such
valuable factors as sulphuric acid. coal.
cement. coke, brick clay, fire or refrac-
tory clay. kaolin. fuller's earth, fluor
spar, garnet. gypsum. lime, manganese
ore, mica tboth ground and fiake).
mineral waters. precious stones, petrol
cum, pyrites. silica tglass material),
soda. limestone. grindstone. building
stone. paving stone, marble and sui
phur.r
Since the first of the year the oil
industry in Boulder county has eX
panded rapidly. The Boulder oil belt
produced last year 1850 barrels.
worth $4,000 at an average price of
sl.25 per barrel, which is higher than
the average in the eastern oil fields.
Last week the Inland company shipped
in one day siXten car tanks of refined
oil. According to the Boulder Miner,
the product of the Boulder City refin-
cries now exceeds that of the Florence
plants. although the latter field was
exploited as early as 1882. The build
ing of the new refinery of the Inland
company is being rushed 10 completion
and The sinking of additional wells is
set for the very near future. The Dal-
ton Oil Company. another Boulder cor
poration, has declared quarterly divi-
dend of two per cent. payable April
18th. This is notable as the first an
nounced dividend in the non-metals OF
the STATE. as the coal and cement COM
panies. while generously profitable.
are of the close corporation class, keep
ing their dividends to themselves.