THE PROMONTORY BRANCH STATIONS (continued) KOSMO West Kosmo - Railroad use: September 1912 - 1942? East Kosmo - Railroad use: October 1901 - April 4, 1906 Two sidings, approximately one-half mile apart, were constructed at Kosmo. Kosmo West (siding) was built in 1912 in conjunction with potash activities and the original Kosmo East (siding), constructed in 1901, served area ranchers. Potash, used in the manufacture of gunpowder, had been chiefly supplied by Germany. With the advent of World War I, potash became difficult to acquire. The Salt Lake Potash Company responded to the need by building ponds, canals (Fig. 76), a rail spur, and processing station at West Kosmo. Three bunkhouses, a cookhouse, garage, stock corral, general store, blacksmith shop, and coal house were constructed and a train car body served as the depot. In 1924, there were 200 people in Kosmo (Utah Gazetteer 1925). Spellings include Kosmos (Rand McNally: 1956) and Cosmo (Cram: 1908).
The original Kosmo (East) was constructed at the turn of the century to support the growing number of ranchers in the region (Fig. 77).
Although no cultural materials were observed at East Kosmo, substantial evidence remains at West Kosmo. Included are concrete foundations and canals associated with the potash recovery facility. LAKE West Lake - Railroad use: ca. 1877-ca. 1910 East Lake - Railroad use: 1869-ca. 1890 Both areas were used and occupied simultaneously. East Lake contained the section maintenance facilities, documented by the 1887 cadastral record (Fig. 78), and West Lake possessed a siding and wye built in February 1877 and 1899 (Fig. 79). Although one mile apart, both were inhabited by Chinese, as verified by onsite investigations. During the respective years 1870, 1876, and 1879, populations of 17 (Geological Survey 1900), 25 (Rand McNally 1956), and 100 (Cram 1879) inhabited these locations. The census for 1879 may have included the Chinese, often ignored at census time.
A marsh separates the two Lake settlements today. Mesic conditions prevailing in the 19th century may have required dual settlement. Although on sand/clay dunes above the marsh, both settlements lacked suitable building sites. Dugouts for example, a preferred Chinese shelter, may have been flooded out. Conditions at West Lake are so wet today, that the wye is barely visible (Fig. 80).
At East Lake, field investigations found evidence for a substantial Chinese community (Fig. 81). Time-sensitive artifacts confirm occupation during the 1870s and 1880s.
At West Lake, dugouts and a brick walkway remain (Fig. 82).
METATAURUS Railroad use: 1898 - January 9, 1909 Railroad documents date the installation and use of the Metataurus siding, however, structural facilities or cultural materials were not found (Fig. 83).
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