The Washington herald., 1909-07-04

Guthrie. Okla, July 8 - Wells and
springs containing salt water are found
throughout the Redbeds area in Western
Oklahoma, and in the eastern part OF the
State and IN certain regions the water
from the springs is so salty as to warrant
the popular phrase salt springs" or salt
plains.
There are two salt plains along the
Cimarron River, between Woods, Wood
ward. and Harper counties; two in North
western Greer County. and one each IN
Alfalfa, Blaine. and Beckham counties.
These plains are widely separated and
vary greatly both in size and amount OF
water which flows FROM them. While all
the salt springs come from the rocks Of
the Redbeds, they do not all issue from
the same geological horizon. The Alfalfa
County plain is located thirty miles or
moro from the Gypsum Hills. but al the
other plains are in these hills. The c.
marron River plains and Blaine County
plain are supplied by springs that issue
not far below heavy gypsum members
and the Bickham and Greer counties
plains are found near the base OF gypsum
lodges
Alfalfa County Plain.
This Is the largest Of the Oklahoma salt
plains and the only one that contains no
large salt springs. 1t is four miles east
Of Cherokee. south Of the Salt Fork Of
the Arkansas IN the eastern part OF Al
falfa County. and IS about thirty miles
from the nearest point OF the Gypsum
Hills. II includes an area Of approxi-
mately sixty square miles extending
about ten miles north and south and six
10 eight miles east and west. The plain
Is as level as a floor and on ordinary oc-
casiOns as white as a snow field from the
incrustatiOn Of salt crystals which cover
It II IS barren Of vegetation, with only
here and there a scattered bit OF drift
wood 10 break the mOnotony.
Origin Is Obscure.
The origin Of the salt on this plain IS
somewhat obscure. About the margin Of
the plain are a few weak salt springs.
but they rarely furnish sufficient water
10 form a running stream. on digging a
hole a few feet deep in any part OF the
plains salt water begins 10 run IN and in
ten minutes the hole viii fill up TO a
point within six inches of the top. The
plain IS composed Of loose reddish-brown
sand and clay which IS apparently every
where saturated with salt water
The surface evaporation Of this water
gives rise 70 the white salt incrustations
which render the surface Of the plain
white, except after a rain, when the salt
crystals are dissolved.
The best explanation Of the origin Of
the salt water is TO suppose that IL comes
from large number Of small springs
which issue from the Redbeds beneath
the plain.
There IS a theory in the community
that the plain Is uuderlaid with rock salt.
There IS no evidence to support this the
Ory. however. and IL seems more reason
able 10 suppose that the shale beneath
the plain is impregnated with salt and
that water penetrating this shale dis
solves the salt There is no way or esti-
mating the amount from these plains. but
there is doubtless enough 10 supply a
hundred salt plants None Of II IS being
utilized.
CimHrrOn River Plains.
Along the Cimarron River between
Woods. Woodward, and Harper counties
are two salt plairs. fed by springs which
issue from red shales 50 70 100 feet below
a heavy ledge Of gypsum. Locally these
plains are known as Big Salt Plain and
Little Salt Plain. the latter being just
south Of the Kansas line, where the
Clmarron River first breaks through the
line OF Gypsum Hills The Little Salt
Plain is two 20 three miles long and a
mile or more wide.
The Big salt Plain IS fifteen or twenty
miles farther down the CimarrOn, ex-
tending eight miles or more along the
river. In width It varies from half a mile
70 two miles. On the south bank the
bluffs OF red shale and sandstone, capped
with gypsum, rise directly from the edge
Of the plain 10 a height OF 100 feet or
more North OF the plain these hills are
not so steep and are al a distance OF half
& mile or more from the plain, but even
here the sinuCus white line OF gypsum
may be traced along the tops OF the bluns
as far as the eye can reach. In other
words, the plain lies in a broad canyon
OF the Cimarron River, inclosed on both
sides by gypsum-capped hills
Plain Flat and Dry.
The plain is fat except for few mean
dering channels of the Cimarron River.
which in wet weather contain small
streams Of water, but ordinarily dry.
After a rain sometimes a stream OF con-
siderable volume flows down the channel
across the plain, but during the summer
months nearly all the water either evap-
crates. or sinks into the sand. In places
where a small stream still runs down the
channel the water is often so salty that
e thin crust Of crystal-white salt. resen-
bling a sheet OF ice, forms on the surface
OF the stream. The entire plain, except
just after a rain. IS covered with a thin
incrustation Of snOw-white crystals. which
in most places do not exceed an eighth OF
an inch in thickness. but reflect the sun
light Ike a snow field.
In large cove among the gypsum-cov /
cred hills at the mouth Of Buffalo Creek.
near the south side Of the plain proper, I
there are q number Of salt springs which
boil up from the fat surface Of the plain.
The water is crystal-clear, and Il some
times requires more than ocular PROOF TO
convince one that Il contains nearly 20
per cent Of salt There are scores. per-
haps hundreds. OF these springs on an
area OF a few acres, some Of which fowl
streams as large as mans arm.
Salt Crystals Mark Springs.
The presence OF a spring is always
marked by a conspicuous white incrusta-
ton Of salt. which forms around the
spring and along the sides OF the little
stream that flows from H. Particles OF
grass or weeds blown into these springs or
streams soon become covered with white !
salt crystals. thus forming strings which |
are often an inch or more IN diameter |
and look Ike rock candy In places the |
incrustatiOns around the springs are so /
thick that the salt may be scraped up
and hauled away. In former years freight /
ers came for hundreds Of miles 70 haul !
this salt away for stock and for domes- /
tic use.
Beds OF rock salt are reported from |
this plain. but their presence has never |