Issued April S, 1912. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



BUREAU OF SOILS CIRCULAR No. 62. 

 MILTON WHITNEY, Chief of Bureau. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OK AGRICULTURE, 



Washington, D. ('., January 27, 191^. 



SIR' I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript of a report covering 

 investigations of the Lyon nitrate prospect near Queen, N. Mex., by E. E. Free, of 

 this bureau, and to recommend that it be published as Circular No. 62 of the Bureau 

 of Soils 



Respectfully, MILTON WHITNEY, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



REPORT OF A RECONNOISSANCE OF THE LYON NITRATE PROSPECT 

 NEAR QUEEN, N. MEX. 



By E. E. FREE. 



The prospect is located in Dark Canyon on the eastern slope of 

 the Guadalupe Mountains in Eddy County, N. Mex. It is 44 miles 

 up the canyon (west) from the ranch of W. E. Tliayer, and is about 

 miles due east (no direct road) from the post office of Queen, N. Mex. 

 It is probably in township 24 south, range 23 east, New Mexico 

 principal meridian, but this is not certain, as time was not taken 

 for the finding of corners or the running of accurate surveys. So 

 far as known the prospect is on public land. It has been located 

 and monumented as a placer claim. The prospect is probably a 

 mile or two inside the eastern boundary of the Guadalupe National 

 Forest, though this is uncertain. The elevation, as determined by 

 aneroid from the railway at Carlsbad, is 5,250 feet above sea level. 



The prospect is reached by road from Carlsbad, via the main 

 road to Queen, N. Mex., as far as the mail box of W. E. Thayer, 10 

 miles east of Queen. From here one follows a private road to the 

 Thayer ranch (1| miles) and then a private road or trail up Dark 

 Canyon for about 4i miles. The distance from Carlsbad by road is 

 39 miles, of which about 30 miles is good road and 3 miles more is 

 fair, while the last 6 miles (after leaving the main road) is very bad. 

 The last half mile must be traveled horseback or afoot. It would 

 be possible, however, to make a fair road at comparatively small 

 expense. 



Where the prospect is located Dark Canyon is cut into the exten- 

 sive series of light-colored limestones and sandstones covering the 



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