El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-14
MINES
ARE VERY RICH
Chief of Geology Bureau
Saws Worth Millions; He
Praises Mining School.

brewster county has Of the
richest quicksilver deposits IN the
United States and is also IN same
oil carrying horizon as EIeGlIa near
IT oWrfh which was such a large pro-
dncfng field DR.. ". B. Phillips, head
~ fbs buereau Of economic geology OF
the Tniversitv Of Texas, says Dr. phil
lips was here Tuesday on MS way from
Silver City, n. NJ 10 AIs. a
eff The mines Of west Texas were IN
an other state thew would be produc-
ing millions in wealth the Iact Jnal
they are not has been que 10 neglect
by the state and an unfortunate sltua-
tion in the mining legislation But the
state has adopted a new mining policy
patterned after the old Mexican mining
iaw and 7 believe that this is the true
DrinciDle of mining development IN
der the law the production OF mines Is
put on a royalty basis, the miner pay
ing the state a five percent royalty on
tbe leases and not a foot Of mineralized
land being sold. There a been little
D~roduct{o1 which has resulted from this
law. which went into effect on nua
l. lint this is due largely TO the 11nan-
ciaI situation rather tnan the hahuicaps
Of the mining laws
Quicksilver jump
THE quicksilver mines Of Brewster
countv are excellent examples or the
need for systematic development IN n
west Texas mining field These quick
silver mines are among the richest In
the world, vet only one mine is now op-
Grating. When the price OF quicksilver
is considered this seems almost re-
markabIe. Quicksilver jumped from
sSS a flask to 500 and is now selling
for SIS a flask. Yet only one Brewster
county mine IS operating in spite OF
the great demand for this mineral It
is being used in illuminate manufac-
ture. which causes 1t to be in great
demand. The cutting off Of foreign
supplies has also had an effect upon
the quicksilver market
There is a Yield party from our bu-
reau now in Brewster county making
q survey OF the mineral situation, with
special attention TO the oil prospects.
This party includes DR.. J. E. Edden
and ". F. Bowman, who Will prepare a
complete survey Of h entire section.
We are also preparing 10 put q man in
the PecOs valley to prepare a report on
the water possibilities OF that section.
Tests Road Materials
zone OF the most popular depart
ments Of our bureau is the road testing
section We are making tests Of all
rOad making materials in the state, by
counties. n expect to examine FL
Paso county's rOad materials as soon as
we can get to il. Three men are kept
busy making these tests all the time
and more than so counties have asked
for reports on their materials. Ell Paso
possesses good o a building materials.
The granite gravel found on the sides
OF Noun Franklin is excellent for
building roads when il Is mixed with
clay for a binder. The Stag has posi-
biities for building roads and FL Paso
should have magnificent dirt roads as
well as your paved roads.
The institution hat most interested
in FL Paso was the Texas School Of
Mines II has splendid grounds, fine
buildings and excellent equipment Dr..
WorrelI n 1 have been discussing
such an Institution for IS years and
1t is, at last realized But 1t needs
money more than anything else and
that is where FL Paso and west Texas
must get busy and get appropriations
the state school in order TO make
II a success The modern tendency Of
is to place the stress on the
treatment Of ores after thew leave the
ground rather than to teach how 10
find them. This is what the Texas
Of mines is teaching in its in
itial year and its success IS assured II
the El PasO people viii only get be-
hind It"