Frrrrrac Sand !

I know different regions in the country are affected differently. Out East, as I understand it, there are concerns, primarily environmental, of the costs of this new technology.

In North Dakota, of course, they are begging for workers, and even have extra gas to burn off, thanks to the presence of the Bakken Formation, and the new way -- frrracking! -- of accessing the reserves.

Here in northern Wisconsin?
We've got the sand, baby!
The perfect type -- named "Northern White" -- the companies want.

"Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin have some of the best fracturing sand in the country. It's called "northern white." It is what they look for because it's hard, it's spherical... and it can be cleaned so it's pretty pure - it actually looks almost white when they wash the iron deposits out of it.
"The better frac sand tends to be the more coarse frac sand."

"Typically, the product that is most in demand is what's called 20/40: it falls through the 20 mesh, and gets caught by the 40 mesh; 40/70 falls through the 40 and gets caught by the 70. Then they have 100 mesh. Those are the three product lines for frac sand.

"The more 20/40 you've got, obviously, the better facility you've got," Duffy said.

My only wish?
That enough of the locals -- some get it, not all -- better understood negotiating principles. You get the promises and guarantees in writing first, before you rezone to give away the ag lands...

Now is the time, if ever there was, to rely on your comprehensive plan, and more importantly, to be killer in those negotiations. You don't just give away the farm, or let one landowner sell out, without negotiating -- road maintenance say -- on behalf of the county.

Some businessmen though, and county execs, they're better at marketing than at negotiating. Or finance, if you think longer term...

And god bless 'em.
Some of these folks up here are still gentlemen, think that what they hear is what's to come, despite all the "at this time" qualifications from the men they are dealing with.

I'm not worldly, necessarily, depends on the category, I guess... and I rarely wish to see more skepticism in this world, but for heavens' sakes, now is the time -- before anything's changed on the ground or signed, to get assurances in writing, and to make certain you're getting the deal you think you're getting.

Then again,
I was engaged, had the date set, even some of the trappings purchased, plus a shower thrown by my good friend Ruth ... and still, we didn't do the deal. For the best, though. People tend to see that kind of thing as failing: considering, asking questions, negotiating, and then a no-go.

I like to think I'm worldly enough, though, to realize that kind of thinking, that's not always right either... No can be just as valuable as Yes, if you play your cards timely, measure and value accordingly.

OK, back to the salt sand mines ...