Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-29
The salt Beds and Hot Springs Of tho
Humboldt.


Humboldt.
A correspondent OF the Humboldt Register,
who recently sloshed around the Humboldt
country between Unionville and Reese River,
gives the following sketch of the Salt beds
and Hot Springs on his route. 1t is worth
reading:
Much of the scenery is remarkable for its
wild grandeur and strange picturesque beauty,
while the hill sides are, in many places, col
ored with great variety Of hues, indicating
the existence of metals Of different kinds, that
at some future period, perhaps not far distant,
will cause these towering mountain nights
that now preside over desolate solitudeS, to
echo the voices Of mighty industry. In this
region several large and exceedingly rich
copper mines have been discovered; which,
even with the present costly means OF trans,
portation, can be worked with prOft-and will
ultimately, become source OF immense
wealth to their owners. There are also sew
eral silyer-bearing lodges, on which sufficient
work has been done to shsw that they are OF
great value. Pine timber exists in great
abundance; and there are numerous lne
springs of excellent water in different por-
| tions of the district.
About fifty-hye miles southerly from Union
vile, in the center Of 4 sagebrush Valley, is
the Humboldt salt mine-one Of the most re-
markable deposits, in the way Of a native pro-
duct, that has vet been found. It is seven
miles long and three wide. On the surface
there is stratum of superior salt about six
inches thick; Immediately beneath this is
stratum of mud, eighteen inches thick, which
is filled with large clear crystals Of salt, and
underlying this-continuing for an unknown
Depths bed Of excellent salt. Except for
an inch on the surface, the entire deposit is
saturated with water and upon removing
any portion of the salt the opening becomes
relied in a very short time. Practically, the
supply in this deposit is unlimited and, with
proper facilities for transportation, this salt
could be furnished, even in Eastern markets,
at q handsome profit. When we consider
what immense quantities Of salt are required
in the working of silver ores, the Importance
of this and other similar deposits OF this IN
dispensable article, must be apparent, The
company has recently constructed a railroad
track, wagon road, platform, &C., which
greatly facilitate their operations.
About twenty miles in a northerly direc-
ton from the salt works, are number OF
hot springs, which will well repay the trou-
bic Of slight deviation from the regular
route. They are situated on the plain near
the mountains known as the East Range,
and occupy the extreme summit OF mound
embracing about twenty acres, and are ABOUT
seyenty-fiye feet high. This mound is COM
posed of carbonate Of lime, and has evidently
been formed entirely from the deposits oil
these springs. They consist OF eight clrcu-
lar ponds, varying in size from seven to sixty
feet in diameter. Though located only few
wards from each other, some OF them are
boiling hot, some milk warm, and others
quite cold. The water is pure. The prlncl-
nal discharge is from the spring that has the
greatest altitude. They appear TO be OF an
immense depth. The hottest ofthese springs
is in a basin exactly resembling the crater OF
a volcano, and, as in other similar cases, II
is supposed, by most visitors, to occupy the
place from which volcanic flames formerly
belched. forth in terrific fury; but this is evil
IDENTIFY popular error: for even slight ex-
animation will show clearly that the material
from which these supposed craters have been
formed, is simply the carbonate OF lime
brought up and deposited BY the waters of
| the springs. In some instances we ind
that the deposits, in cases Of this kind, are
! silicious matter instead of carbonate Of lime,
and sometimes they are found to be mix
| ture of both. The deposits about Steamboat
| Springs, near Virginia City, are sllicious,
| and so are those Of the now extinct hot
| springs on the twenty-six mile desert, north
| Of Ragtown while, so far as my observation
has extended, the deposits from hot springs,
both active and extinct, in this region OF
country, are mostly composed OF carbonate
of lime.
About ten miles southeasterly from, the
springs Just described, there is another mound
| on which are springs of 4 similar character.
And throughout various parts OF this valley
a. nj
matter, presenting the clearest evidence that
they were formed by hot springs which long
| since ceased to flow. The origin or cause OF
! hot springs has been the subject Of many
learned dispositions; and much profound
nonsense has bsen INDUCED in by those
whose inclination to theorize has, perhaps,
been greater than their opportunity for care
| full examination. Some have attributed tine
cause Of hot springs to the near proximity oil
volcanic fires In the absence Of other EVIL
dence of such proximity, it is not fair to as.
sumo that a hot spring proves anything OF
| the kind. Others have, with good deal OF
plausibility, argued that they are the result
| of the influence of local combustion, or oil
the chemical action resulting from the water
| coming into contact with certain substances.
| This theory is incompatible with what we
| know of the constituents of the waters OF
many OF these springs. II the neat Oh tien
waters were thus generated, it is reasonable;
| to suppose that in most instances they would
| discharge some Of the products OF such enc
mical action. Analysis shows that this Is
not the case. The most probable cause Of
these springs is simply this: it is obvious
| that the strata of this region Of country has
been much disturbed by the commissions 70
which the earth's crust has been subjected,
4 and hapca that The from the noun
tains must in some instances, before finding
its way to the surface, pass downward toI a
great distance-and as it is known that the
| temperature of the earth almost universally
increases in proportion to the depth attained
it is reasonable to assume that springs, the
natural course Of which extends to great
depth, and thence directly to the surface
forming kind Of inverted natural syphon-
must discharge the thermal waters.
| AFTER McClellan's battles, So-called, re-