57 



EIO TTEGEN. 



This river, having its source in the central part of Utah, flowing southwest for a long distance, 

 lined here and there witii Mormon settlements, was met by our parties at the mouth of the Muddy, 

 some thirty miles above where it enters the Colorado. Its sandy bed, widened by each successive 

 freshet, changeable on account of quicksands, carries its channel now to the one, now to the other 

 side with a tortuous elasticity, and most of the crossings are uncertain because of changes in the 

 banks and beds of quicksand. The volume is not great at this season of the year (October.) Head- 

 ing toward the Colorado and traveling for five or six miles the famous Salt Mountain is readied, 

 noted for its crystals of very pure rock-salt. This is the property of the IJyko Silver Mining Com- 

 pany, and is used by them in their mining operations in the Pahranagat District. 



Some notion had been entertained of freighting the ores from this enormous deposit via the 

 Colorado and water transportation to a market, but will doubtless bo abandoned, since the expense 

 of placing the ore at the mouth of the Virgin Eiver would be nearly as great as the cost per pound 

 of salt at any point where there is a large market. Still following the river and coming to within 

 eight miles of its mouth, on the left bank a salt mine is found, not so pure as the crystals found 

 and mentioned above, but running as high as 80 per cent., while the other reaches as high as 90 

 per cent. 



On an extensive mesa, quite near the mouth of the river, is a salt well apparently of great 

 depth, not large in diameter, and having the surface of its water about 40 feet below the level of 

 the mesa. The water, though very clear, is terribly saline, as is also that found segregated in small 

 pools along the river-wash, which " alkalis" animals, as it is termed, so badly that a few draughts 

 prove fatal. This well is probably the recipient of drainage, not alone from these pools and the 

 bed of the river, but possibly from the salt luines themselves. Below this mesa and on the banks 

 of the fast-flowing Colorado a hut was found, inhabited by two Mormon tishermen. They looked 

 upon themselves as the nucleus of a civilization to be established on the banks of the Colorado, 

 and by following the same active industry evinced in many of their semi-desert towns, they may 

 perhaps establish a little settlement here. 



TIMBEE. 



The locations at which timber, of any size, can be found throughout Southern 5?evada, are few 

 in number and of simple description. 



Along the Humboldt range, from Camp HaUeck to AYhite Pine District, no timber of any size 

 or large amount appears. A small mill in Ruby Valley, some ten or twelve miles above old Camp 

 Kuby, was at work sawing out narrow boards from a variety of short-leaved yellow-pine, something 

 between the ordinary scrub and the long-leaved or yellow southern pine ; the tcuuks being of 

 irregular size and very full of knots. 



On the western side of the mountains, facing Railroad Valley, from twenty to thirty miles 

 below Hamilton and near the source of Currant Creek, several mills had sawed out, for building- 

 purposes about the AVhite Pine District, large quantities of a similarkindof lumber, but of generally 

 better average quality. In the vicinity of the Robinson District the true yellow-pine is found in 

 large quantities, extending over a considerable area ou the eastern slope of the I-lgan range, inter- 

 spersed here and there with patches of mountain-fir. 



The next we encounter is to the north and east of the Patterson District, and about eight or 

 nine miles distant, near the source of Benson's Creek. A small steam saw-mill was at work at this 

 place, as also at the Robinson District, upon Murray's Creek. 



Directly to the north of the Shoshone District, and on the western slope of the Snake range, 

 some of the ravines are thinly studded with piue of good growth, interspersed with fir, also spruce 

 and hemlock. The quantity in this locality is not large, but sufficient in amount for all local pur- 

 poses connected with the development of the mines in the vicinity. 



Going south on the lino farthest east, the only timber along the route, prior to reaching the 

 Colorado, was found in ravines to the south and east of Clover Valley. A small mill was steadily 

 employed at this point furnishing lumber for the various Mormon settlements within a radius of 

 fifty to seventy-five miles. 

 8 w 



