The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1916-12-09

that have been the rock upon
which the fortunes of many
frugal men have been wrecked
beyond recoupment have been
found to contain an element
known as magnesite which is used
in the manufacture of many
things, chiefly paper. Heretofore
this substance or material has been
brought from Europe and other
foreign lands at great cost. Now,
Stevens county promises to pro-
duce the bulk of magnesite used
in the western hemisphere and
may contribute much to the sup
ply used in the old world. A
year ago magnesite was unknown
to the people Of Stevens county.
Today the bulk Of a million dol
lars of Chicago and Pennsylvania
capital has been invested in
/ quarries and expended for de-
! velOpment purposes, and thous-
! ands Of tons of the rock taken
from the quarries are being carted
to the stations and shipped to the
eastern markets. 1t is said that
within a year 5000 people will be
employed in the production of
magncsite from the Stevens county
deposits.
Our educational institutions
have had much to do with bring
ing to light this new element in
our industry. The state school of
mines at Pullman has done it's
part. 1t is said that the head of
sthis department has, during sew
eral seasons, taken the advanced
students from the mining depart
1ment and trained them in the
field. Part of their work has been
Ito make mineral surveys of the
Ecountry. Stevens county being
rich in geology was recognized as
the most instructive field for the
young men to work in and a COM
|iplete geological and soil survey
has been made of not only Ste
hvens county but the adjoining
counties. Mining men from every
state have been interested in these
surveys, and it was through this
source of information that the
presence Of magncsite was dis
closed and the opportunity seized
for it's development.
Stevens county is rich coun-
try. We do not know how rich
it is; but it was rich when first
discovered by the early explorers
and the color of it's coin has never
lost it's lustre.
At a meeting of farmers held in
Colville last Saturday, a tempor-
ary organization of the Stevens
County Farm Loan Association
was formed by the election Of
Chris Mcdonnell, of Echo, as chair
man, and John B. Slater, secre-
tary. Twelve farmers were pres
ent to start the ball to rolling,
and it was decided to hold the
next meeting here Saturday, De-
cember 16 at 2 p. m. 1t was also
decided to give the meeting as
wide publicity as possible through
the newspapers, and in that way
invite every farmer in the county
interested in the enterprise to be
present, or send in his request to
the secretary for such informa-
ton as may be desired with ref
erence to becoming a member OF
the association. 1t will not be
necessary for farmers to go to any
expense to become members, and
their applications for loans may
be received at any time after the
association is formed, but every
one who can determine his needs
should lend a hand at the start.
The government, in organizing
the federal farm loan system has
made the requirements as simple
as possible, and it is said that a
dozen Sth grade school boys could
shape the preliminary clerical
work as well as their elders; the
federal loan bureau does the rest.
- L..