The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-09
ASPHALT FLOWING FROM
BOTTOM OF The LAKE

Tribune; Dr. l.. r Palmer OF Los
Angeles. who has been experimenting
for some time past on method Tor
The recovery of the aSphaltum depos-
ue underlying the Great salt Lake
near the northeast shores. was IN tlls
city Wednesday and expressed him
self as being firm in the opinion that
he has at last solved the problem,
and as A result, he believes that the
production of asphaltum Will rapidly
become an important industry Of this
state DR.. Palmer and n crew OF men
have been working diligently for some
time past. though nothing has Deen
said OF their operations. pending the
success or failure of the undertaking,
and now that a practical plan has
heen worked out, he and associates
viii prepare for permanent develop
ments DR., Palmer has done the re-
ouired legal work, has secured resp-
lar United States patents. paid for his
operating territory and is prepared 10
produce aSphaltum on a large scale.
Works From Raft.
Some years ago. and at different
times in fact, efforts have been made
To get at the product which has been
known to exist in large quantities In
the neighborhood Of the lake ana In
the lake proper. and after NUMBER
of experiments 1t was decided that 10
make the proposition commercially
profitable II would be necessary to
extract the product from the lake bot
toms. and It is IN the perfecting or n
feasible plan OF this kind that DR..
Palmer has been successful DR..
Palmer, when II WAS made known that
a company was being organized in
Utah for the manufacture OF coal
cite" or brick coal a plan OF this
Kind being in operation at CoaIvllle
at the present time, came TO Utah to
become interested In the industry. ne
holding the German patents for very
successful binder" used In the manu-
facturc OF the new fuel. Upon his ar
rival. however, he found that a suit
able grade of aSphaltum ror the
binder had been developed In the
state. and having some knowledge IL
the deposits OF the lake. he proceeded
IN his cndeavors to extract It anc put
il on tho market
DR. Palmer, though his Idea WAS not
taken seriously at first, announced his
intention of working a drilling outfit
from a raft on the lake. He accord
ingly constructed huge "GOat- of
drift logs. his experiences in the wat
ers of the northwest having taught
him that this form of raft would be
the only kind that could be expected
10 Withstand the punishment which
II would receive IN being buffeted
about during the stormy season on the
Ii
peted, was equipped with a drilling
outfit, pile-drivev, engine, &c, suo
while at work 1t carries a total weight
II about 10000 pounds. The raft -
C0x40 feet
Tests Successful.
DR. Palmer made his tests about
900 feet from shore, and the drill at
depth of III feet encountered the
Oil.sands and a core OF asphaltum was
secured as the drilling progressed. DR.
Palmer states that the product IS fill
cd with gas. which In Its efforts 20
escape. gives the long core the ap,
pearance OF a big, moving snake. and
until the gaseous properties are all eX-
PEELED. the apparent life continues. To
the presence OF the action Of the gas.
also, Is attributed the fact that the
asphaltum rises through the drill tuDe
Numerous experiments of this kind
were successful. and it Is believed
that the production OF asphaltum from
this source can now be maze very
profitable. The product as anaIyzed
by \. " Dow. inspector or asphalts
for the United States government, is
proven to be OF splendid quality, show
ing 35 per cent possible commercial
extraction.
Major II. P Myton is one OF the To-
cal interests in the proposition ana
VIII act as the local representative
Of the company which Will carry on
operations.