Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-11-03

The BoraX Mines Of Nevada.


valuable discoveries and inventions,
both ancient and modern, nave been
accidental Notable instances will be
readily called to mind by the intelli-
gent reader, not only Of the discovery
of gold and other mines Of great value,
but also the germs Of such great and
useful arts and inventions as printing,
steam, electricity, and various kinds
of mechanism. Among the modern
and indeed recent discoveries Of great
value to mankind, one in our country
is particularly noteworthy. 1t is that
of the discovery Of mine or vast bed
of borax, by which most useful and
necessary article, instead Of being an
expensive luxury as formerly, is rem
dered so cheap as to bring it within
the means Of all classes.
This remarkable discovery was
made in Esmeraldo county, Nevada.
some four years ago, by young man
who was prospecting for gold and sill
yer mines. While thus engaged ira
verslng gmountalns canyons and valleys
on horseback, he saw in valley
known as Tsal's Marsh, what appear
ed to be vast bod Of white sand, re
sembling dry see foam. The sppear
ance was so novel and singular that he
dismounted anL descended to pros
pect the object. Upon arriving at the
place, he found it to be the bed Of a
dry lagoon with the appearance Of
having been dry for centuries. Walk
ing cautiously over the place, he found
the surface to be soft and clayey, and
often sunk ankle deep. After an ex-
animation of the curious clayey de-
posits he put several hardsfuls into
lis pockets, mounted his horse, and
returned across the mountains to his
home in Columbus. There he hand
ed the contents Of Lis pockets to an
assayer, who, after analysis pro-
nounced it the richest sample of borax
he had ever seen. This fact at once
created great excitement, and no lit
tie expense attended the necessary
claiming, etc, on the part Of the for
tunate discoverer. 1t soon proved to
be an enormous lagoon or deposit Of
crude borax, two and half miles
wide, and five or six in length. 1t
was more than one man could proper
ly manage, so a brother was sent for,
and the two (now widely known as the
Smith Brothers of Nevada and New
York. worked with a will, sparing
neither time nor money until the
whole deposit was their property. and
its wealth being developed. They at
once obtained boiler tanks, crystalli-
zers, etc, frol1 Chicago, and com
menced operations. The result is
that, in the course Of three or four
years, the brothers have perfected an
immense establishment and are pro-
ducing an enormous quantity of
chemically pure article OF bora1, which
stands first, and is in demand in every
household, to whom it is supplied by
grocers and druggists throughout the
country. So important has this new
industry become that the eminent
house of W. T. Coleman & Co., New
York, and San Francisco, some time
ago became the sole agents for the ar
ticle, and they are now pushing its
sale in all parts Of the world. We
are indebted to them for the foregoing
particulars.
The most wonderful part of our sto-
ry is that the vast deposit of bora1 in
Teel's Marsh reproduces itself avery
two or three year0, so that the supply
will continue mex hdustible.-SctentE
&c american.