Garfield County News | 1955-02-24 | Page 90 | Cortez Men Seek Uranium, Too

Cortez Men Seek Uranium, Too - Although Cortez Is situated on the eastern edge of the vast Colorado Plateau and there is little visible evidence of uranium activity as tourists walk or drive along its streets, the uranium rush Is having a very definite effect on the city. Every day several men of Cortez go out into the rugged country in the district to seek uranium deposits; some have found it while others still search without success. Uranium has opened a new way of life to several Cortez people, although none have become enormously wealthy. Thse who have discovered deposits of the ore on the Plateau have had to work hard with Jackhammers, jack leg drills, wheelbarrow or ore car, picks and shovels, before the first ore is ready for shipment to mills which now dot the Plateau. Most Cortez men Interested In searching out uranium deposits go to what is known as the Uravan Mineral Belt, about 75 air miles from Cortez, where deposits are larger and higher grade ore is found than in adjoining areas. That the uranium "boom" Is having an effect on Cortez people and their living habits is evident in the large grocery orders packed by merchants for explorers to take with them, in the back-fence talk, in the amount of money spent in Cortez stores for clothing, furnl-ture, appliances, automobiles, and other so-called "luxury" items. The flow of money for such articles has Increased since the "bom" started and, although it has not been definitely traced to the uranium finds, local merchants have but little doubt about where the money is coming from.