Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-12-18
THE z 8


During the year which isnow expiring,
the Great Basin Of North America, in
which is located the State Of Nevada, has
been prospected and explored TO a greater
extent than ever before. A writer in the
Reese River RepeiHs (Whoss initials are
N. D. F.), is publishing some very inter-
ssting sketches ofan exploring party which
he and others recently made into a COM
paratiyely unknown region of our State.
The following is his last sketch, which is
very interesting, and worth reading:
The distance TO Silver Peak from Austin
is about one hundred and fifty miles, and
the course travelled, southwesterly. As a
natural avenue, the road is unsurpassed
lying in = continuous range Of valleys for
nearly its entire length. 4 And at
only one point does the road vary from
an almost perfect level this is after leav-
ing the " Desert Wells" and about mid
way therefrom to Silver Peak, where the
low jutting points Of "Lone Mountain
upon the east are encountered, which here
render it but slightly uneven. 90
While passing these little hillocks we
may as well stop for . moment and ex-
anime the sulphur mine Immediately upon
the road, and whose proximity no one can
fail to notice. In several mounds, where
slight excavations have been made, a
yellowish-w white rock is disclosed, full Of
seams, in the in,erstices Of which are crys-
tails Of sulphur and alum. By placing .
piece of this rock upon the fire, even though
no sulphur can be detected by the eye, it
win be found to burn fercely for q con-
siderable length Of time with a beautiful
blue flame, emitting IN unpleasant odor
suggestive of the internal regions. When
this ceases and the sulphur is all expelled,
= white, gritty mass remains-pronounced
by competent authority to be sulphate Of
lime, or gypsum. At present, this great
deposit Of sulphur is Of no value what
ever, but in a few years more an influx Of
population and . consequent greater de-
velopment Of our, vast mineral resources
may create q demand for this article in the
manufacture of powder, acids, etc., so as
to enhance its commercial wealth.
Approaching Silver Peak from the north
ward, one beholds upon the west a chain
of barren, rugged looking mountains in
which are situated the mining districts OF
Minnesota, Red Mountain, and Silver
Peak, while to the southwark, robed in
purest white, is seen a large salt plain,
whose extent is some fifteen miles in length
by five or six in width. Abruptly rising
from this plain are several island : hke
peaks, whose dark sides present a striking
contrast to the glittering white Of the sea
of salt which surrounds them. Let those
who visit this locality scale these peaks to
their utmost hight. if they would gaze
upon a Acknowledgements picture Of
real nature. A landscape, wild, barren,
and desola,e, unrelieved Of its savage fea-
lures BY the arts Of ~innoyating civilization.
save at n single spot, will amply repay
for the Chamber.
The salt procured from this great marsh
is very pure, and the quantity sufficient to
supply the wants Of the whole State, with
no fear Of exhaustion. Upon the north
western border of the plain there are sew
eral large springs Of fresh water, which,
OVERLOOKING q few acres, cause grassy pools
-favori,e places of resort for geese, ducks,
snipe, etc. Our Nimrod, Mills, made it
"very warm for the water fowl in these
places, while the party remained at the
Peak. Some distance out upon the salt
plain the singular anomaly is presented of
a spring of fresh cold water and one Of
boiling hot brine, not many yards distant
from each other. These are very deep
and quite difficult to approach-eSpecially
the latter-and no plummeted line has as
vet been able to fathom them. Several
anecdotes are told of the mishaps Of those
who have ventured too near this boiling
one Of the sudden breaking Of the treach-
erous crust of salt by which it is surround
ed, and of some unlucky wight finding
himself most unceremoniously (and liter
ally) in q devil Of a pickle. Large masses
of salt of most fantastic shape are con-
s,antly forming in the vapors Of this spring
Several miles to the north of the salt
field stands q butte called by the denizens
Of the locality the " brown mound" from
the dark color which its surface presents
in contrast with that Of the lighter n OF
the valley around it. The road Travelled
passes Immediately at its western base. It
rises to the hight of about three hundred
and fifty feet, dark, grim, and lonely from
the plain in which It is situated. Its shape
is that OF q truncated cone as seen from
all points in the valley ave the eastern /;
it is composed of igneous rocks and ashes,
and was at q comparatively recent period,
the seat of an active volcano. Ascending
its precipitous side, through masses OF
loose scoria, I found upon reaching the
top that it was but o mere shell-the rim
of which was but a yard or two wide at
the apex, increasing in thickness upon the
inside toward the bottom at about the
same angle as does its outside surface, and
10 nearly or quite as great depth. a
chasm has been cut through the eastern
side of the rim to the level Of the valley,
through which a molten torrent from the
crater has rushed, leaving a dark, narrow
trail of scoria down the valley for several
mile, in length. Viewed from this po.
sition-the extreme top-its shape is very
nearly that Of q horseshoe. Its extreme
diameter at the base is about four hun
dred yards ; at the top. about one hun
dred. Amongst the scoria thrown from
this crater are to be seen innumerable
specimens Of igneous rock, most curiously
contor,ed, and interesting as cabinet 'pecl'
mems. Let none who travel this way
pass the volcano without ascending its
summit. ~
Leaving this interesting spot, the road
runs directly to the salt plain. skirting
which for the distance Of a mile or wv
where a rocky p~romontory juts- out, and
upon turning its sharp point the quartz
mill Of the Great Salt Basin Company Is
suddenly reached.
OLD Santa Claus was caught on the top
Of Mt. Davidson in the late storm, and
being too heavily loaded with Christmas
and New Years gifts, appointed Dale &
Co. Special Agents for their distribution.
Any one able to .show cause" can obtain
his or her share on application. They
have an assortment of everything. from q
tin whistle to q man-of-war.