National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-12
A PRODUCIIVE VdLLEY.
Everything that is Wanted Plenty.

Virginia (Ney.) Enterprise.
Captain Rhodes, Of Esmeralda County, ar
rived in this city yesterday aud will remain
OH the Comstock day or two lie is owner
of what Is known as Ri odcs's Salt Marsh but
il is much besides salt marsh--it Is a perfect
laboratory Of mineral wealth. The valley
owned by Captain Rhodes contains 4,l4O acres.
1t is quite level and is surrounded on all sides
with high volcanic mountains. 1t is situated
about fifteen miles northwest OF Columbus and
some six miles northwest Of Bcleville. In this
little valley is sufficient amount of salt to
supply oil the markets of the United States,
II not the world. A foot or two below the
surface is found q solid floor of pure rock salt,
as firm and as transparent as ice. Indeed,
when the sand that covers the surface il
stripped Off the salt below bears a very close
resemblance to field of ice. In many places
little streams Of water bubble up through tho
mass of salt, and very frequently deep pools
are found which look just like the air holes in
a frozen lake. The salt made at the marsh is
perfectly pure. When tract of ground has
been stripped of the surface soil tho salt water
rises over the bed of rock salt to the depth OF
a foot or two. Then crystals OF salt begin TO
form on the surface of the water, and as they
form they sink to the bottom. Ii tho salt is TO
Dc fine, for table use, workmen stir these crys-
tails about with shovels as they settle TO tho
bottom, thus breaking them up. For use in
working silver ore coarse salt Is as good as fine,
and the solid formation may be dug up with
picks If necessary, but the loose crystals are
moro readily handled, and as much salt of
that kind Is formed as can be disposed of. Not
only are there inexhaustible stores of salt in
the valley, but immense stores of borax. This
bOraX is of the finest quality known, and two
or three cents per pound more can be obtained
for it In Europe than for any borax sent 10
that market. Splendid specimens OF tincal, OF
natural crystals of borax, are found in the
marsh Embedded in the clay near the surface
Immense quantities of suphate of magnesia
EPSON salt aud sulphate OF soda (glaubcr
salt in pure state are also found. Nitrate
of potassa (saltpetre) is found, but the extent
of the deposit Is not known. Common potash
is found in great abundance, aud among
tho curious specimens to b. obtained
are what are called cotton balls"
(boreate Of lime) aud fbrous crystal
limo bOaX. Also there is found an abund-
anOe of an unknown mineral. II is something
described in none of tho books. 1t does not
appear in the shape of crystals, yet has "a regu.
lar form of its own, presenting the appearance
of branches of coral. 1t is thought that this
may be some new salt II may prove to DO
more valuable than anything yet found in tho
valley. a quantity of IL will shortly DO sent
East for examination. Tho proposed branch
railroad to BOdie would pass within twenty
five miles Of this wonderful valley of minerals,
and u side track would then give an outlet to
the markets of tho world for all the products
that have been named.