Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-13
GEMS OF MAINE
LECTURE BY PROF.
HOWE AT BANGOR
Bangor Commercially

The lecture by Prof. George Howe
of Norway, on Maine Minerals and
Gems, in the lecture room of the
library building Thursday afternoon,
April under the auspices Of the
Athene Club, was very interesting and
instructive The ladies of the city and
Brewer who gathered were very much
pleased with the manner in which
Prof. Howe described the various min
erals and later the gems of this state.
Many Of the precious stones he men
toned were new to those present and
few realized that the resources of this
state, in these products, are as great
as Prof. Howe showed them to be.
The speaker told first Of the contri-
buttons of the atmosphere, the winds,
the forsets, the soils in making ma
terial for minerals. He explained how
the production Of the minerals is go
ing forward now as it always has and
that the minerals are decaying just
as fast as ever. 1t was here that
Prof Howe tried to interest his audi
ence in the preservation of minerals
so precious and still so much over
looked.
Prof. Howe gave tabulation of the
total values Of the minerals in the
United States, showing the relative
value of each mineral in all the states
and then comparing this tabulation
with that Of the state Of Maine. 1t
was shown that there are very few
minerals that have not already been
found in this state and the speaker
stated that there are many other min
erals not yet prominent in this state,
which, when developed, will be Of
great commercial value.
Under the subject Of building stones
the speaker described the granite,
sand, structural material for roads,
graphite, peat and number of others.
He told how these are procured, their
value and the numerous uses that
most of them can be put to. 1t was
indeed surprising for those not well
versed in this to learn Of the different
phases Of the work in securing the
material for building purposes and
Prof. Howe held the close attention
of all during his talk on this subject.
He also spoke of the metals and
ores in this state going into detail in
various instances and showing the
most interesting phases in securing
a thorough knowledge of these. He
explained generally and then specifl-
cally everything under this head and
told Of the commercial value of both
the rare as we'll as the more COM
mon varieties of metals. The speaker
dwelt for some time on metallic and
non metallic elements of Maine and
their uses.
The part Of the lecture dealing
with precious stones was extremely
interesting. Prof. Howe spent good
deal of time in explaining the various
stones, much to the delight Of his au-
diencc. He told Of the prices and
uses and historical values Of the
precious stones and explained the
sentimental nature of the birthstones.
Prof. Howe attaches especial i'm
portance to the peat industry and ex-
presses the belief that there is bill
lion dollars worth Of peat in the
state now and that If proper study
was given it the production for COM
mercial purposes would become a
great industry in the state.
The speaker said that if more at
tention was given to mining in this
state there would be a great amount
Of money made from this occupation.
At the close of the lecture the au-
dience had the privilege Of inspecting
Prof. Howe's fine collection Of metals
and gems