The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-09-15
The salt Mountains of Nevada.

A correspondent of the San Francis
co Alta writing from Prescott, Arizona
gives the following description of tn,
wonderful salt formations on the Virgin
River, in Nevada:
Stones Ferry is about $50 miles above
the mouth OF the Colorado, having an
altitude of $50 feet above tide-water
The river is $50 feet wide, and has gen.
orally swift-runRing current Of from
four to six miles per hour. Virgin Riv-
er, which rises in the Mountains of Ne
vada over lC0 miles TO the north, enters
the Colorado short mile above Stones
Ferry. At low water il is a swift-run-
ming stream of over 80 feet i'm width
with an average depth of about one
foot. The salt formations are, in fact,
mountains of salt, and extend for 80
miles or more up the Virgin River, and
the Muddy, one Gifts branches. 1t was
discovered some II or Is years since by
the Mormons, who built up several very
hourishing colonies in the valleys of the
Virgin and Muddy, put out fine or
chards and vineyards, and brought
large tracts Of land under successful
cultivation. For reasons unknown
TO me they were recalled TO
Utah some years since by their prophet
Brigham, leaving their fields and inn
provements, or selling them for what
they could get. During their stay thay
worked the salt mines 10 some extent,
and supplied the country for long dis
tances with what was needed. Since
that time the mines have been worked
at intervals by different parties. The
different openings made are i'm the face
Of the mountain bluffs which run down
from the north and south ranges of
mountains both on the east aud west
side Of the river. The first one visited
by me was about six miles up the Vir-
Gin River from stones Ferry, and about
one-half Of mile 10 the east. The
second one Is seven miles up The river
and one-iOurth Of mile east. The
surface OF this and the other salt bluffs
and mountains is covered with dark,
orange-colored clay and earth, in which
are strewed large quantities of impure
mica. This clay and earth is some two
feet deep, and underneath this is from
two to four feet Of impure sedimentary
granite, and then, AZ a depth Of from
three 10 six feet from the surface,
the salt is found in solid
and compact form. IL is mined by
blasting in the same manner As granite
or other stone would be. Five miles
further up, or twelve miles from the
ferry, Is another opening Of a similar
character 10 the first. The salt from
the three mines mentioned is OF a dark .
gray color, somewhat resembling gran .
lite, and j. % per cent. pure. Small 4
veins, from two TO six inches wide. Of
pure cry stalled salt, are met with every
few feet in these formations. At a point
q miles from the ferry is a larger noun
tain than the others, and this is all
pure, clear and transparent laid a
block Of i one foot thick over copy
OF the Alta, and could as easily read
through il as through a small body OF
{ he purest glass. In extent and purity,
these mountains Of salt equal, II they
do not excel, any in the world. After
an examination of the salt Mountains |
returned 20 the ferry where | was
entertained by Mr.. Emery.
On the following day Mr.. Emery took
me TO a natural salt well, which is a
-'''N aAAt4' iAtAh Nut ltllN III u UOILn-
west direction. A stretch Of mesa
land, about 100 feet above the Colorado
River, runs of to the north and west
for some miles, and on this mesa, about
hall way between the river and the base
81 the black volcanic mountains to the ,
northwest, is this wonderful salt well. ,
1 he well is circular opening in the ,
mesa, about IS feet in diameter, the
surface of the water being 80 feet below |
ne surface OF the mesa. The banks are ,
iorupt and almost perpendicular, ex-
,ept at one point on the south, where I
he rains have washed down the banks :
% a slope sufficient 10 permit approach {
% the water. The water is SO salt that
person bathing in it will float upon its
,urface like cork upon common water. ]
he full depth of the water in he well {
: unknown, but line has been sunk l39 !
Get without touching bottom. The evi.
fences are that here, in the remote past, |
vas great salt lake, which in the lapse |
u time has been filed in by washings 8
rom the mountains and river until all :
mar Is left of its former greatness is |
ms well of salt water so briefly de.
crbed.