The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-07

itself almost as soon as any Is remov-
ed. The lake is supposed to be about
100 feet deep, although the actual
depth has never been sounded. Wis
1torS to Panama and South America
are usually taken to Trinidad to see
this wonder of nature.
Across the Gulf of Para, aboue 105
miles due west of Trinidad lake, Is
situated the asphalt lake Of Venezuela.
This lake is about 1000 acres in ex-
tent. being nearly nine times as large
as that at Trinidad. The supply in the
Venezuela lake, however, is not so
great az that at Trinidad because the
former Is only a few feet deep in some
places. Despite a difference in quail
ity between the asphalt of the two
lakes, scientists believe that they are
geplogically connected.
Asphalt Is taken from various parts
of the island of Cuba. 1t is actually
drawn up through eight feet of water
from the bed of the Bay of Cardenas.
The surface of asphalt lakes Is pare
of vegetation except that some is
found on small wooded islands. In the
cool Of the morning the surface is
hard enough to bear foot traffic and,
even carts. In the heat of the mid day
sun the work of mining asphalt has to
be suspended, as it becomes too hot
to work the sultan asphalt bed is
said to be the hottest place in the
world.
Very pure asphalt is deposited in
beds in Egypt. These have, possibly
been known from the very dawn Of
history. The Dead sea, from time i'm
memorial has cast up asphalt which
has been exploited commercially at
times. Valuable deposits are found
in Asia Minor porGin an5 th1 1o 1fo1r,
of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Along the Connecticut river in the
state Of New York, in New Jersey and
IN West Virginia are deposits of solid
oitumen. Texas, also, has beds of the
material. Veins of it have also been
found in Utah, Colorado, Missouri,
Kentucky and California.
Asphalt paVements have many COM
mendable features, such as their COM
parat1ye freedom from noise under
traffic; the, peculiar way they react
against automobile tires and the con-
sequent saving to motorists in up
keep of tires, their ability to absorb
shocks, thus. saving the feet and legs
of horses; their ability to contract and
expand with changing temperatures,
etc, AS shipping and digging facili-
ties improve and as, more effective
methods for preventing it's softening
under the torrid sun Of tropical and
se~mi-tropical cities are discovered the
use of asphalt will probably increase
as tim goes \, aM
The natives of the beautiful island
of Trinidad, the, chief source of the
worlds supply of asphalt, have put
this wonderful mineral product to al
most every possible use. It was for
merly used for lighting the streets of
the Port of Spain, but the neonle oh
Jected to it for this purpose because
of its unpleasant odor. The chief de-
velopments in the pitch and oil indus
tries there have come, however, in
late years. '. s. .. +
This Indifference on the part Of the
Trinidadians has been attributed to
the fact that so many other natural
resources. such as cocoa, coffee and
sugar, were so readily accessible as a
mean Of livelihood that they we're
content to do nothing with the asphalt
industry. The output Of pitch from
the island is. now mostly under the
control of Americans. .-.