, 1923-01-11
Wyoming Opportunities
(Continueds rem Page 2y

Continued from Page ~
IN was undertaken on a large
scale nearly Z decade ago. The rev
-enue derived from the states min
erals, however, unlike that from 9TH
i. er industries, goes in large measure
TO non-residents - the mineral re-
r are exploited chiefly not for
the benefit Of Wyoming. but at the
expense of the region. This, how
ever, does not prevent the revenue to
wyomingites from development and
exploitation of the mineral resources
playing q very important part in the
prosperity Of the state.
Wyoming's mineral industry dur
ing 1922, produced $17S.050.0 600, or
nearly 5000 per capita, this state
ment ~predicating petroleum value on
the estimated refined basis. Petrol
cum was responsible for $155,3O0,-
900 (refined price basis) Of this
amount, the other mineral resources
producing only about Is per cent Of
the total revenue. The 1922 mineral
output was worth $17,704,25 more
than the 1921 outputs value, $780,
345,750, but would have been less
had 1t not been for the increased
production OF petroleum, the 1922
output of which was worth $22,954,-
$50 more than the 1921 output.
The 1929 petroleum production
was 25,500,000. in increase of s.
$4,000 barrels over the 1921 pro-
.duction. The states developed
petroleum potential in 1922 made
possible q very much greater output
than was taken from the wells, but
curtailment Of the production by
agreement limited the output to the
amount stated.
Coal Industry Hit BY Strike
Wyoming's coal output during
1929. like that of all other coal pro-
'ducing states. the mines OF which are
unionized. suffered from the five
months of idleness at the mines re-
snltfng from the strike that was in
effect from March until September.
Accurate information regarding the
output of coal during the period of
1922. prior and subsequent to the
strike. is not available, but official
estimate places 1t at $3.50, 900 tons,
or nearly 1.250,000 tons less than
the curtailed 1921 production OF g.
100000 tons. The mines of the
state. working full time, are capable
OF a production of between 15,OO0.-
900 and $4,000. 900 tons annually. At
the basis on a value at mouth Of mine
Of 50 a ton, the 1922 production was
worth $40. 900. which was So
100000 less than the production OF
the preceding year.
Although the production is COM
paratively small. iron ranks after
petroleum and coal in Wyoming's
mineral output. The iron industry
was handicapped by Industrial
troubles during 1922. and the call
Tor Wyoming iron ore. therefore, was
less than 1t had been in some preced-
Ing years. but 100000 tons were pro-
duced at the mines at Sunrise and
shipped to Colorado for reduction.
The value Of this output was $500
900.
The value Of Wyoming minerals
produced during 1922, other than
petroleum, coal and iron. is estimat-
ed at 100000. These minerals
include precious metals Tin compare
lively small quantities). gypsum,
sodium. sulphate, bentonite, phos-
pilates. rock, gravel. building stone.
lime rock. etc. During the year
100000 tons of lime rock were quar-
ried and used in this and neighbor-
ing states in the refining Of sugar
ond tho production OF lime
~ About $4,000 tons Of gypsum was
4emoved from deposits. three-fourths
of this output deing utilized by the
cement and plaster mills at Laramie.
Two thousand five hundred tons OF
sodium sulphate was taken from de-
posits In Natrona county. the greater
proportion Of this production going
In Kansas City. where II Is utilized in
medicinal. stock food and glass man.
u~facturing.
There was q small production dur
snE the year of bentonite, probably
oot more than 800 tons. Wyoming
contains immense deposits Of this
mineral. which Is increasing IN COM
mercial Importance since perfection
OF a method for its use in the de-
linking Of print paper. During 1893
the first wyoming works for the re-
timing OF bentonite was erected and
begun operations In Cheyenne. The
bentonite production of the year vas
from deposits near Newcastle, Rock
River and in Big Horn county.
Precious metals we're produced In
Wyoming during 1929 only as by
products. and the production was
small. probably not exceeding $780,
600 for all. II included gold. silver,
platinum and uranium. Copper min
ing In the state. once promising, was
In . state OF stagnation during 1929.
Anything approaching a compre-
Aensive summarization OF oil field
and refining activity in Wyoming
during 1892 is impracticable in an
article OF the scope OF this one.
Wyoming during the year took rank
80 tho fifth In Importance among
american oil producing states. Drill
ling was pushed during the year In
the proved fields and in many wild
cat" fields and much waa added 70
the proved area. The refinery capac-
ity within the state was largely In.
creased. - we1l ~ the carrier capAc-
~ tpipe lines) between the produc-