Exhibit 2

 
                      ATLAS APPOINTS GARY DAVIS PRESIDENT
                        _______________________________

  Denver, CO, August 18, 1995 -- Atlas Corporation (NYSE:AZ) announced today
that its Board of Directors has appointed Gary Davis to the position of
President of the Corporation.  He had been serving as Executive Vice President
since May 15, 1995.

  Mr. Davis is an engineer with over 24 years of experience in the natural
resources industry.  He joined Atlas in 1989 as Vice President of Business
Planning and over the past six years has held the positions of Chief Operating
Officer, Vice President of Operations, President of Atlas Mining and Atlas
Perlite companies and, during a period of recapitalization, as Coordinating
Executive Officer.  Prior to joining Atlas, Mr. Davis had been with Atlantic
Richfield Corporation for over 15 years, the majority of time was with ARCO's
coal division where he was most recently responsible for directing its worldwide
acquisition efforts.

  David J. Birkenshaw, Atlas' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated,
"Gary has played a major role as part of the executive team in the significant
events of the last few years.  He was the key player in the recently announced
Doby purchase agreement and in the acquisition of the Granges equity position in
1994.  As President, he will continue to direct the activities associated with
the restarting of gold mining operations at the Gold Bar Project in Nevada and
evaluate other growth opportunities for the Company."

  Atlas explores for and develops mining properties.  The Company is in the
process of restarting mining operations at the 105 square mile Gold Bar Project
located in Eureka, Nevada.  Atlas also holds a 28% equity position in Granges
Inc.

                                  Page 6 of 6