Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07
Great Variety of Natural Re-
sources in the State.
ODD FINDS OF MINERALS
Alleged Discovery of Vanadium and
Asbestos.
NEW RA1LwAYLINE PROJECTED
Popularity Of Indians as Road
Builders-Fairly Good Workers,
But Capricious.
RY WILLIAM p. Curtis.

But Capr1c1ous.
RY WILLIAM p. CURTIS.
Eperial CORRESPONDENCE Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
SHOSHONE, Wyo., July 20 1909.
do not suppose any other state in the
Union has more wonderful natural freaks
or a greater variety of resources than
Wyoming The prospectors are discov-
ering something new every few weeks.
All the odd things In the way OF min
erals seem to be hidden among the rug
ged mountains OF this state. The soil
of wyoming. either by dry farming or
under irrigation. will produce everything
except corn, and from these barren-look-
ing prairies have come. again and again,
prize winning vegetables and grains that
cannot be matched by those grown under
ordinary methods of farming. The Ameri-
can AgricuIturist newspaper offered
series of prizes several years ago for the
largest and best yields OF potatoes. A
farmer near Sheridan. Wyo., took both
the first and second prizes, and for quail
ity as we'll as quantity, with a crop OF
nine hundred bushels to the acre. Wyo-
ming land has produced the hlghest per
centage of saccharine ever found In sugar
beets They were grown on La Preie
creek. near Casper.
a few weeks ago prospector appeared
in Washington with some samples OF
yanadium one of the rarest and most
valuable of metals. an ounce OF which Is
worth a pound of gold. 1t is used for
setting the dyes In hosiery, silks ana
other fine fabrics. SO that you will under
stand the extent of the demand for IT.
The present supply comes from the Ural
mountains of Russia. and little Is pro-
duced In Venezuela. II the Wyoming dis
covery turns out to be Of sufficient guam
tity to justify its development a great
deal will be added to the wealth OF this
state.
In the mountains south of Casper ex-
tensive deposits of asbestos have recently
been discovered, and It is claimed to be
in the United States. There Is an IN
limited demand for it for building pur-
poses because it Is non-combustible. A
house of asbestos could not be burned
even If you were to soak 1t In oil before
YOU set 1t on fire. Partitions, ceilings
and floors of asbestos would be abso-
lutely fireproof. Hence. it is easy to
imagine the possibilities of this discovery.
There is an unlimited demand for as
bestos also for the adulteration of silk,
and only the long fiber can be used. II
the deposits that have recently been
found nine miles south of Casper turn
quality 1t will be more valuable than gold
or silver or coal. Ninety per cent of the
worlds supply of asbestos comes from
Canada and 1t brings $500 ton. The
Casper miners claim that they can pro-
duce and deliver 1t at the railway station
for $35 q ton. Three companies have
been organized, their machinery has ar
rived. they are now building their plants
and expect to get to work IN a few
months.
This part Of the country Is very much
excited just at present over the prospect
of new railroad. The Northwestern ex-
as far as the town of Lander. Wyo.. at
the entrance to the Wind River noun
tains, and has done a great deal to build
UP the country. From the LIST OF January
carloads Of emigrants into the dry-farm-
ing sections OF western Nebraska, south
ern Dakota and eastern Wyoming. with
out counting those who came In on the
other railroads. and they are not gam
bling or saloon people.
Changes on the Frontier.
There has been q remarkable change
in the character and the conduct of the
population. 1t used to be necessary for
frontier towns to go through series
of trials and tribulations, just as child
has to 60 through the list of measles,
whooping cough. mumps and other in
fantiie diseases: but nowadays the tough
period In the life OF frontier town Is
variably men of character. culture and
means. That change is illustrated no
where SO forcibly as along the line Of
the Northwestern through Nebraska.
South Dakota and Wyoming. and the
appearance OF the towns shows It,
There is also a difference In the charac-
ter and behavior Of the mining popula-
ton. The old-fashioned prospector and
ginian' and other stories. has disap-
peared with the cowboy. Mining has
been reduced to business basis, and
the miner Of today is scientific man,
rather than q gambler and an adventur-
DR.. Hall. the state geologist OF Wyom-
ing. who Is out here on a professional
inspector tells me that any person who
desires to sell or buy mineral property
has the right, under the acts Of the
legislature, to call upon him I'd make an
inspection. and furnish an off1ciai report
in writing concerning its value and pros
every promoter who has a mine for sale
to send for DIR. Hall and get his Official
opinion before placing the property on
the market. On the other hand, any per-
comes from. intending to invest in mining
property in Wyoming. has an equal right
TO an expert opinion from DR.. Hall be-
fore he pays the price.
This makes mining in Wyoming a much
safer investment than it used to be. OF
course. DR.. Hall cannot tell what is
hidden In the earth. any more than any
other geologist. All mines are more or
less speculative, and an investor has to
take his chances OF making or losing
money. just as he does when he buys q
piece OF real estate, but the new law
has put an end to wild eating and
sailing mines forever.
DR.. Hall says there are more different
kinds of minerals In Wyoming than In
any other state In the Union or any
other country in the world. and that
new and important discoveries are being
made continually. All Of the mountain
ranges are filed with minerals. and al
though many localities have already pro-
duced great wealth. he says they have
practically never been explored, and
there Is no telling what unknown sources
OF wealth may exist among them.
The New Railroad.
II you will take your map of Wyoming
] will tell you where the new railroad is
going. First find the Burlington and
Missouri route, which runs southwark
from Billings. Mont. via the Crow In
dian reservation along the banks Of the
Big Horn river. uptil you reach the town
of Kirby. which Is its present terminus.
Just south of Kirby is a place bearing
the classic name OF Thermopolis. which
has become quite the rival OF Hot