Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-08-30
DEDICATION OF THE GRENORA
SODIUM sULPHATE MINES
BY EDGAR /. SyvERUD

the history of the Northwest 1t ma,
prove to be a day OF far-reaching ant
very substantial importance. Thi
was the Dedication day for the set
ting a part and dedication of a natur
al resource here, the capitalization o
action for the development OF th'
immense deposits OF sodium sulphat,
In this section OF the Northwest. /
may be called the birth OF a brant
new industry. especially for this par
OF the country. the possibilities o.
which are as yet undreamed of. L
may be in a measure the salvation oi
this section which for the past six
years has been SO soTely devastated
by drOuth and perhaps ruined fol
agricultural purposes. This may
mark the beginning of an important
industrial era In this section
An appropriate program for the
dedication was staged on Friday aft
ernoon following a Commercial Club
luncheon at the Lutheran basement,
Grenora, in honor OF the distinguish
ed guests present A band program
by the Grenora-Hanks band was fol
lowed by the speaking program in
the Orpheum theatre. Mayor O. II.
Svare of Grenora opened the exercis-
es with a welcome in behalf OF the
citizens OF Grenora. and after giving
a brief history OF the discovery OF
sodium deposits and the investiga-
tions introduced the various speakers
and honored guests. A packed
house greeted them, many coming
from Crosby Williston, Medicine
Lake and other nearby towns as we'll
as the countryside. all interested In
this momentous occasion.
Mayor Svare told OF the accidental
discovery OF these sodium deposits
| years ago by a duck hunter seeking
to retrieve a duck he had shot from
the waters of a large lake was sur
| prised to find In wading out that the
bottom was shallow and composed OF
crystals OF solid sodium. That dis
coverer. Oscar Quarne, Ford dealer
OF Grenora, has since then spent con
siderable money and efforts in seek
ing the developments OF this natural
resource. His introduction was fol-
lowed by that OF Albert Fischer, a
popular and venerable old pioneer Of
southeast Grenora community.
A most di~stinguishable figure ap-
peared on the program as a surprise.
Governor Ole II. Olson, OF North Da
kota- A. NJ. Christianson, Judge Of
the State Supreme Court had been
listed on the program but owing to
press OF official duties sent a sub
stitute in the person OF liver Acker,
head OF Rural Rehabilitation for
North Dakota DR.. Erwin Devine of
the University OF North Dakota, who
has charge OF the exploratory and
testing work at the various sodium
deposits, was also one OF the Inn
portant speakers on the program.
Mr.. Acker in his short talk touched
on some OF the work of the FERA In
North Dakota and sought to give en-
couragement to his listeners and To-
cal people inthese trying times to
Garry On, carry on" as they used to
say In the army He pledged the
| support OF himself and his depart
ment towards the development of
| these sodium deposits and the In
dustry. He also referred to Govern
or Olson as one loyal c~o-operator
that could be depended on for assist
ance, and support.
Governor Olson gave a most inter
esting talk In spite Of his assertion
that he was hut a green farmer
In his opening remarks he pointed
| out that our folks here In the North
west did not need the advice to Gar
ry on" as Mr.. Acker had suggested,
as that had already been practiced
here for a number OF years now and
was a part OF the local spirit any
way He highly complfmented this
spirit Of perseverance and patience,
and pledged his earnest support to
the undertaking for which this dedi-
cation program was given. His In
| terest and official approval will car
ry substantial weight In the promo
ton OF this project.
DR.. Levine gave an outline of the
work OF his investigating rev here
as well as some OF the commercial
possibilities. While holding out no
definite promises or predictions he
intimated that there were great pos
sibilities- Tests have been made
over a considerable area and still
going on and samples OF the sodium
being sent to the University for anal
ysis over 1000 having been sent SO
far. 1t is estimated that approxim-
ately 5000. 900 tons OF this sodium
sulphate underlie the area 30 far
tested. Thickness OF layers running
from a few inches to n OF thirty
feet
DIR. Levine explained some OF the
uses OF this sodium. such as In the
manufacture OF craft paper and 9th
or wrapping papers, and in paints
and glass A price OF SIS per ton Is
quoted for the product at the fac
tories, and II these deposits prove
OF sufficient quality and quantity to
warrant the building OF . large plant
here on important industry will de
velop. The testing work is going on
under the state FERA and It is ex-
pected 4 large number OF the local
unemployed will be placed In this
work and In the industry itself later
Tho drouth may prove a blessing
an advantage, AZ Mr.. Acker pointed
out, In that Y made these dry lakef
more accessible for exploratory work
and testing = well Al c~entering at
<~ntLnn - ns,4~fdo i~nf1uanra and AZ