Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-13
NEW STYLES IN COFF|NS
Utah Mineral Wax Is to BE Used nv
Company Organized for $780,
900 Yesterday.

The Crescent Manufacturing COM
with the secretary of state yesterday
afternoon, the concern being incorpor-
ated for $4,000 with headquarters In
Salt Lake. The principal incorpora-
tors are Il, II. Sherman and NJ. D.
Griffin, who transfer $4,000 worth of
holdings In Montana to the new con-
Germ. The Butte Miner under the date
OF Thursday devotes a column TO the
retirement of Mr.. Sherman from the
commercial life of that city and his
transfer to Salt Lake.
In addition to furniture and other
manufacturing enterprises the new
concern proposes to revolutionize the
undertaking business with a new ana
novel coffin which 1t is expected viii
supplant wood. Utah mineral rub
ber,' better known as "elaterlte,' is
to be used to encaso the dead
The merit OF elaterite lies In it's alb
solute ndestructibility, except by fire.
There was a time when an attempt
was made to manufacture coffins of
reinforced concrete, but this was
abandoned on account OF the action Of
water which Will pass through con-
crete. and on account of the weight.
making the carrying or shipping Of
concrete encased bodies almost impos-
sible.
Elaterite weighs very little more
than wood.
For the past year a series of tests
have been made with elaterate. AS it
comes from the ground II returns as a
natural element absolutely impeiylous
to the action OF the earth or the vari-
Gus chemical influences TO be found
under ground.
Even nitric acid fails to affect II In
the slightest. Wood must eventually
rot away, concrete is too weighty
steel viii rust out and a PERSONS ma
tural aversion to cremation has held
back this manner OF dlsposing OF bod
les. 1t Is claimed for elaterite that II
Is not only indestructible. but that Il
viii bc alright when moulded into
caskcts.
Heat alone affects II. When sub
Jected 10 intense heat II will burn like
cellulcld or may be melted like glue.
In this form II will be moulded into
Baskets Of which Mr.. sherman has al
ready had several made,
When the cover Is. for the last time,
placed on the casket, II Is sealed with
red hot iron and rendered water and
alright. a patent arrangement will
draw through small hole at the foot
Of the casket all the air within and seal
the hole. The process, II Is said viii
practically mummify the body
In itH natural or in It's remoulded
state the mineral resembles ebony bur
It's molecular structure does not per-
init OF any cleavage. II has the elias
ticlty OF rubber. For the past year
the owners Of the clulms have beer,
experimenting with elaterite with tns
result that they have found no reason
10 doubt the efficiency or their theor-
les.
1ha mineral occurs In veins for six
lnches 10 several feet wide, ard not
many states. but where II Is found Il
IL easily mined. Up 70 this time Il
has been used largely for buttons
which turn ON and on electric lights
as II is non-conducive OF electricity.
ON account of the constantly in
creasing value Of lumber and espe-
cially OF cedar, elaterlte collins will he
made at half the cost OF the others
and Will, IN addition. offer every adj
vantage lacking in wood, Being en-
tirely alright It's sanitary properties
will be brought 20 the attention OF the
national, state ana civic health boards
and medical associations and clinics
VIII be invited 10 look into the merits
II claims 10 possess beyond any known
means OF burial at the present time.