The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-06-26
In
OKLAHOMA
Prof. Gould Thinks VaIua-
bic Deposits May be
Found.


homa untold wealth OF valuable fer
tilizer lying beneath the surface. That
is what the authorities are trying to
find out. The Oklahoma geological
survey at Norman, the Oklahoma state
board OF agriculture and the U. S.
geological survey are cooperating in
the endeavor to find deposits OF pot
ash or other fertiiizing salts in west
ern Oklahoma
It is well known that potash is one
Of the most valuable fertilizers known
to man. It has been used for genera
t!cns in both Europe and America to
restore wornout soils. The worlds
supply of fertilizers comes from GER
tain deep mines in Germany, where
this material was discovered in drill
ing for salt This German potash is
used ia all the countries Of Europe
aal much Of it is sent to America.
The authorities at Washington have
for some time been endeavoring to
find out where in the United States
deposits of potash were located. The
last congress made an appropriation
for research along this line and the
work was placed under tue direction
OF the United States geological sur
vey. According to the bill. all re-
search work must be done on public
land. The director Of the United
States survey has organized several
parties that will work this year in Cal
| ifornia, Nevada and Arizona. A num-
Der Of deep wells will be drilled in
cid lake beds in hese states and the
drillIngs at various depths will be an
alyzed in the endeavor to find potash.
Prof, Could Of the Oklahoma geolog-
ical survey, having learned Of this,
endeavoreed to persuade the federal
authorities to spend some Of the mon
cy in Oklahoma. but was unable to do
so because OF the fact that there is no
public land in this state
It will be remembered that last
year the legislature appropriated s45,
600 for drifting nine wells in Cimar-
ron, Texas and Beaver counties in Ok
lahoma in an attempt to find artesian
water. This work was placed under
direction Of the state board OF agri-
culture. The board has contracted
with drillers 10 put down four wells
in Texas. three in cimarron and two
in Beaver counties
When Prof. Gould found that the
government would not spend any
money in drilling in Oklahoma, he
took UP with the federal survey the
matter Of securing the information
from the wells which the state is to
drill, and has arranged to have sam
pies collected from these wells. That
Is. the federal survey an dthe Oklaho-
ma survey will cooperate III paying
the expense OF a man to collect these
samples Mr.. Chas B. Eckes, grad
uate in geology at Oklahoma univer-
sity has been assigned this work and
instructed to report at Hooker, Okla
homa. where the first well is being
drilled He will collect samples Of
the drillings from every few feet,
These samples will be sealed in air
,'ght bottles and taken rocaenical Ia
oratories and aanlyzed. 1t is hoped
that some Of them at least will show
potash or other ferllizing salts.
When asked regarding the probab-
ility Of these things being found in
the Panhandle, Prof. Gould said:
4 consider the chance for finding
potash salts fairly good. In Germany
and other places in the world where
potash salts occur they are generally
found in connection with dolomite.
gypsum and common salt All Of these
minerals occur in western Oklahoma.
The Gypsum hills which outcrop along
the Cimarron river in Woodward and
Harper counties, contain great Lodges
Of gypsum and many beds OF salts
aud dolomite. These formations pass
uuder the surface and should be en-
countered in the wells which are being
drilled in the Panhandle counties. II
is true that heretofer very little pot
ash has been found in Oklahoma. but
las Of itself sfno particular reason
why these deposits might not occur
in the deep wells.
At any late agree with the direc-
tor of sne federal survey that we will
be justified in paying the expenses
of man to collect samples and Of
having analyses made in order to as
certain whether or not these salts oc-
cur. If nothing is found the state Is
out few hundred dollars. If the salt
IS found Oklahoma will have added
millions Of dollars to its wealth"