GYPSUM DEPOSITS OF NEW YORK 49 



there was later added the equipment of the Big Four Plaster Co. 

 The entire equipment consisted of one Blake crusher^ one -nipiper, 

 eight buihrstone mills, four kettles, two sihaking screens, one single 

 mixer, one triple mixer and one sand drier. The Oakfield Plaster 

 Co. at about the same time was operating three mines and a mill 

 that contained one Blake crusher, two buhrstone mills, one bolter, 

 and two kettles of lo-ton capacity. 



At present the industry is in control of two firms, both of whom 

 are working on a good sound basis. 



United States Gypsum Co. This company, which owns gypsum 

 mills and mines in several states, entered the Oakfield district about 

 1903 and boiught up or leased the properties of a number of the 

 former eompanies. The company abandoned all but one of the 

 many shafts, consolidated the mill equipment and instaliied electric 

 power. 



The present mines and mill are situated about i^ miles west 

 of Oakfield on the West Shore Railroad. The mill formerly be- 

 longed to the Genesee Plaster Co. and has already been described. 

 The company also operates the mill of the Oakfield Pilaster Co. a 

 short distance to the west. The mine shaft which is situated about 

 Yz mile north of the mill is eciuipped w4th a two-com,partment elec- 

 tric hoist. The rock is automatically dumped into large hoppers, 

 is weighed and then falls into a steel lined storage bin from which 

 it is loaded directly by chutes into large cars which are drawn by 

 a loioomotive tO' the mill. 



Niagara Gypsum Co. The mill and mine of this company are 

 situated ^ mile west of the United States Gypsum Go's p:lant, or 

 2 miles west of Oakfield Station, on the West Shore Railroiad. The 

 manager is Mr M. A. Reeb. The shaft at present operative is 

 situated about Y^ mile north of the mill. Entrance is made 

 through a two-compartment shaft, 45 feet in depth. Transporta- 

 tion underground at present is by means of hand labor. An elec- 

 tric hoist raises the rock from the mine to a level above the switch, 

 where the rock is either dumped directly into cars oi' on a supply 

 pile. The gypsum is conveyed to the mill on cars drawn by a 12- 

 ton electric loeomotive. A second shaft nearer the mill has just 

 been completed. This is 51 feet in depth and will ultimately con- 

 nect with the other mine, when ah the rock will be conveyed under- 

 ground by electric haulage to the new shaft. Here an electric 

 hoist will be installed, togetlier with a crusher and cracker also 

 electrically driven. At the mill the rock is crushed first by a large 

 rotary cracker, elevated by a bucket elevator, passed through two 



