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Show '"'A C A s " i V s &!& .juft x v - A f 4 A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS on the wing is represented by this converted PBY amphibian, Down to Grand Junction in January by Vernon Pick. The $250,000 aircraft was included in the deal which transferred Picks fabulous Hidden Splendor uranium mine to the Atlas Corporation, a Floyd B. Odium venture. Pick will use the aircraft as a pleasuie craft and for world-wid-e hemispheric exploration for uranium. Vernon Pick, Fabulous Miner RAGS TO RICHES is the story of Vernon Pick, Grand Junction, who sold his uranium holdings for a reported $9,000,000. On the wall near him is a painting made during his less prosperous days in the Plateau ore fields. First National Virginia Hofei Bank Serving Delta County For Over 40 Years Modern Rooms Cedaredge A Home Owned Bank Reasonable Rates Hr. & Mrs. A. D. Jensen, Brooks Service Station Props. PHONE 632 303 Colorado Ave. Frontier Gas Wholesale & Retail Lube Oil Propane Grand Junction Cedaredge NURSERY STOCK Western Grown For Western Planting Garden Center Member American Association of Nurserymen 2862 North Avenue Phone 1419J For Building f.laintainence Specialties SEE J. P. HENDRICKS Denver and Salt Lake City Phone 1285 Grand Junction FLOWERS By George You Know Youre Bight" 1251 Wellington Ave. Telephone 623 W Grand Junction, Colo. i Plateau, Looks to Future To Vernon Pick, who last August 24th sold his Hidden Splendor uranium holdings to Financier B. Odium for $9 million, Floyd life has taken on the aspect of a dreamed movie script up by a Hollywood press agent. In his own words, "Its fan- tastic. That the fantasy does not extend into his business life is readily realized when you consider the projects Mr. Pick has scheduled for the future. Among them are: 1 Construction and operation of a nuclear energy laboratory in Grand Junction, with two physicists already at work on basic research on nuclear energy for civilian and industrial uses.. 2 Establishment within the industrial framework of the Pick Uranium Co. of a department of solar energy, a long time interest of mine, to probe the secrets of putting the sun to work for industry. Asked if this meant research on the use and operation of solar reflectors, Mr. Pick said he planned to attack the problem from a different angle, since solar reflectors have been proved not too practical. What the angle is, he did not disclose. Goes to Argentina 3 Exploration for uranium deposits in Canada and the Argentine. Atlas Corporation, a holding company owned by Odium, has secured full righs to Argentine exploration and development, and Mr. Pick has been asked to look over the field while he takes what he described as a vacation, beginning this month. He has also been requested to explore possible fields in both Ceylon and the Philippine Islands, the invitations being extended through the governments of each of these countries. 4 Fantasia entered his life when negotiations were opened with Mr. Odium and his wife, Jackie Cochran, famed aviatrix-financieFlights to New York City, where he was a guest of the Odiums swank apartment overlooking the e East River, and to the Indio, California ranch owned by the financier, became commonplace. Mr. Pick described the latter property as combining the most lavish attributes of a billion-dolla- r Hollywood production and the splendor of the Arabian nights. Among the ranch features are a swimming pool, from which Mr. Odium conducts a great deal of his business, a golf course, riding stables, and guest cottages, which Mr. Pick disclosed as the size of his own Grand Junction home. Gets Plane Just to add to the amazement, an aircraft was thrown into the deal betweeen Hidden Splendor and Atlas. Babb Company, a South, ern California subsidiary of Atlas, is currently remodeling a Navy PBY, which, when completed, will be a luxurious executive amphibian which will take Mr. Pick anyplace in the world. Mr. Pick, who holds single and pilots licenses, will help fly the plane, although he plans to hire a pilot to command the aircraft. Before landing the plane on water however, the Grand Junction millionaire must be checked out. Faith in Area I have great faith in this area, Mr. Pick said. That is why I am locating a research laboratory here, and I shall continue to r. make Grand Junction my headquarters. Out of his research laboratory has come a special instrument for airborne explorations, which will e production j shortly go into for the uranium market. The morning of the Interview, the president of the Hidden Splendor Mining Co. had received a package from a Utah artist, Carl E. Olsen of Price. It contained a painting of Mr. Pick, showing him with about a three-da- y stubble of beard, hollow cheeks and sunken eyes, posed against a backdrop which includes the mine and the surrounding mountains. The artist and his subject met at the Hidden Splendor and the painting was done from pictures taken at that time. Mr. Picks life during the last three years is best expressed by a story he tells of Hanksvilie, which was a town of, at most, Graham's Market full-scal- GROCERY & MEATf SPORTING SUPPLIES FRANKA, CLARA & FUZZY Cedaredge, Colorado Cedaredge Lumber Lumber and Building Materials Electrical Appliances WHITE AUTOCAR CUMMINS ENGINES W. R. HALL SALES & SERVICE LARGEST PARTS DISTRIBUTOR On The WESTERN SLOPE 6th & North Ave. Phones 1925, 1894 Grand Junction, Colorado Your 24-Ho- ur Fine Food Stop 900-acr- The ONLY SPECIALIST Between 1107 Houston Avenue Of people when Mr. Pick was prospecting in the area where he made his strike. Today, Hanksvilie is a booming mining town. How did he know there were only 50 people there? He and an old sourdough prospector sat down one evening and counted them. 50 OASIS CAFE GRACE & HUGH HURT 350 North Ave. Hiways 6 24 50 Grand Junction Phone 893 Mesa Memorial Hospital Mesa Clinical Group two-engi- 10th & Grand Ave. Grand Junction, Colo. Phone 2311 |
