The nitre beds of the United States. Report on the deposits of nitrate of soda found in the counties of Inyo and San Bernardino, state of California

Forney, J. M.· 1892 · Historical

California mining, adding another mineral, heretofore unknown on this Northern Continent, to the wealth of our State.

This 1892 document, The nitre beds of the United States. Report on the deposits of nitrate of soda found in the counties of Inyo and San Bernardino, state of California, is preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library for research and reference. Original source: archive.org.

/

The

Nitre Beds

Of The

United States.

Compliments Of

W. A. Vandercook,

Eos Angeles, Cal.

The Nitre Beds of the United States.

On The

Deposits

Nitrate Of Soda

Found In. The Counties Of

/

Inyo # San Bernardino,

State Of California.

Copy

iY

J. M. 'Forney,

Mining Engineer and Examiner of Mines.

Santa Monica, Cal.

Copyright 1892 , by IV. A. Vandercook. All rights reserved.

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No. A

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San Scrnaroino County' %

No. R ?

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California

C On Tainimg S 6 00 Acre S

2760 ACRES LOCATED IN INYO COVNTY 3840 ACRES LOCATED IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Cal.

SURVEYED INTO LOTS OF 160 ACRES EACH ANO fractional PARTS tmEREOT

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a.w.unthank C.E.

May 1892

Scale I Inch To The Mice

Santa Monica, Cat., August i. 1892.

W. A. Vandercook, Esq., Eos Angeles, Cal.

Dear Sir: — In compliance with your request to explore and examine into the Nitre Deposits said to exist in the vicinity of Death Valley, along the line of the proposed Salt Eake & Eos Angeles Railway, I have the honor to submit herewith my obser vations and report:

History.

The existence of Nitrate of Soda in the low rolling hills on the Armagosa river, has been an open secret for many years, and is consequently no new discovery. The first locations of these Nitre beds were made some nine years ago, by settlers living in the neighborhood, at the instigation of a traveling chemist, who first found this mineral in the pursuit of his investigations into the resources of this region. Very little importance seems to have been attached, however, to such a valuable discovery, and as no paying quantities of it were found at that time, the locations were neglected and allowed to lapse.

Subsequent investigations at different times, by other parties, shared the same fate; being abandoned on account of their failure to find much of value. Very little intelligent prospecting appears to have been done by anyone, being mostly confined to sampling the hills in a superficial way, have assays made, and if the results did not come up to the standard of their expectations, to pro nounce the deposits as worthless.

Had these slender clews, obtained from the different assays, been properly followed up, these beds would have undoubtedly been discovered and worked years ago. The lack of time and money, perhaps, played an important role in this connection, however, with nearly all the locators, as explorations of that nature are rather expensive, taking capital to back such enter prises.

The exploring party, fitted out by your direction, consisting of mining and civil engineers, chemist, photographer, and assis tants (nine people all told), thoroughly organized and equipped for scientific work, left Eos Angeles April 28th, 1892, returning June 5th; the whole investigation, including preliminary exami nation, covering a period of two months.

The success of this expedition in search of the Nitre beds and the ultimate demonstration of the existence of extensive and paying deposits of this valuable salt, found on the surface, marks the first step towards developing one of the grandest coming industries on this Coast, and opens a new era in the history of

California mining, adding another mineral, heretofore unknown on this Northern Continent, to the wealth of our State.

Travelling through this barren and uninviting region, one can scarcely conceive that millions of dollars could lay there, scattered all over the surface of the hills, passed unnoticed by thousands of men, hunting fortunes in the dim distance beyond, while right in their path, gold lay thick beneath their feet.

Geography.

These Nitre Beds are situated in the northern part of San Bernardino county, and extend across the boundary line into the southern part of Inyo. The nearest point of communication is Dagget, a small station on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway, in San Bernardino county, and from there, following the old over land wagon road to Garlic Springs, a distance of 35 miles, consti tutes the first day's travel for all teams. The water supply of this spring, collected from seapage of the hills, is ample for all purposes, the whole year round. Elevation 2455 feet above sea' level .

From Garlic Springs to the Caves, a distance of 30 miles, composes the second da3's drive. Here the water has also been collected from seapage, by tunneling into the hill and sinking shafts, an abundant supply being thereby obtained. Elevation 3970 feet.

From the Caves, the road leads on a sharp down-grade of 12 miles, to the foot of Death Valley. The elevation at this point is 580 feet.

The main Overland goes from here, by Saratoga and Resting Springs, north to Pioche, while a less traveled road turns easterly and follows the partially dry bed of the Armagosa river some 22 miles to Evan's Ranch, which, 011 account of its favorable geo graphical position and fine water supply, forms the pivot of all operations.

Under the head of "Water" and "Ranch," a more detailed description will be given.

Survey.

The total acreage surveyed by Mr. A. W. Unthank, C. E., surveyor in the field of this expedition, and to whose map, attached to this report, reference is hereby made, comprises an area of 6600 acres, laid out in quarter sections of 160 acres each, and fractional parts thereof,

The starting point selected by him, as an initial, and by which every location is governed, defining its proper position on the map, is the boundary monument between the counties of Inyo

and San Bernardino, on the Armagosa river, erected here, by official survey, in 1876.

Reference maps of the work done in each county, were also made and filed for record, with the notices, at their respective count}' seats, in order to avoid any controversy that might arise in the future, as to their proper position and location.

The accomplishment of the whole survey in the short time alloted, owing to the many difficulties and obstacles encountered, reflects greatly to Mr. Unthank's credit, for his constant and un tiring work, from start to finish.

Geology.

First, General Observations: —

Descending from the Caves, and entering the southern part of Death Valley, the geological features of which have never been satisfacorily described by anyone, and, I presume, never will be, as climatic conditions prevent lengthy observations, one cannot fail to notice the essentially volcanic character of this whole region. Although the metamorphosedcondition of the rocks composing the hills, classes them among the older formations, yet the many evidences of a more recent state of intense igneous action, observed in the cones and little hills of lava and basaltic trap, show them to have been pushed up through fissures in the surface of the plain by strong subterraneous disturbances of a later date, con firming my belief that, after the close of the Jurassic period, when the most prominent mountains had already been lifted and assumed their position in the geography of this great basin, strong subsequent volcanic forces caused the strange geological condition everywhere observable in the jumble and confusion of the dif ferent rock masses.

The aspect of this valley, viewed from any prominent point, where the eye can have uninterrupted sweep, presents perhaps one of the most striking panoramic scenes of utter desolation and majestic loneliness imaginable. Like a grand silhouette, the sterile mountains and hills, clear and well-defined, appear to rise, phantom-like, from the depression of the valley, seemingly with out any connection of slope with the plane upon which they stand. The elements seem to have combined with nature to destroy and blight with a withering touch all semblance of organic life, mak ing it a region of grand eternal silence, thoroughly deserving of the name of Death Valley, so fittingly applied.

During explorations of this valley in 1874-6, crossing over from Cerro Gordo in Inyo County, my observations in June, 1874, computed the lowest point at 127 feet below sea level, the

whole depressed area covering about 600 square miles — 60 in length by 10 in width.

Countless ages of erosion, the collection of detritus by great floods, the accumulation of sedimentary deposits by water of this former inland sea, each in their turn, have as yet failed to fill this enormous chasm, and, what we now call Death Valley proper, was once, in my opinion, the grandest fissure on this continent. Almost "C"-shaped in form, with a general trend of about north 18 degrees east, walled in on both sides with lofty mountain chains, rearing their peaks from eight to ten thousand feet, alike in characteristics, formation and evidences of origin, my asser tion of the forming of this fissure, between these rock barriers, might yet be confirmed by future investigations. The significant fact that 60 miles due west from the north end of the valley, on the same latitudinal plane, the highest peak of the Sierra Nevadas rises to the height of 15,000 feet, must not be overlooked or underestimated in this connection.

Seco7id: The Ceay Beds —

Following the branch road to the east and north, up the Armagosa river, leaving Death Valley behind to the south, a gradual change is noticeable. For a distance of some ten or fif teen miles the river has cut a wide channel into the alluvial gravel drifts piled up ou both sides to considerable depth. The eruptive hills disappear, and the whole country assumes the shape of a vast corrugated inclined plain, fringed by mountain chains denoting its limits.

This great gravel-covered plateau, and where the clay depos its containing the Nitrates are found, contains about from five to six hundred square miles, and comprises the whole of the area encircled by the Kingston mountains on the east, the "Resting" Springs on the north, and the Armagosa chain on the west, taper ing to the open south, in even ratio of descent until it merges into Death Valley.

This gravel, spreading like a mantel over the whole country, covering and completely hiding the underlying strata, was carried there during the great Champlain period to the depth of from one to one hundred and fifty feet. It is only where the erosive forces of nature have washed away the top cover of this alluvial, that the clay beds appear below. How far they may extend under neath the gravel, their depth and condition is conjectural and cannot be definitely stated at present. As only the exposed parts of the Nitre bearing hills came under my immediate observation, I will confine my remarks exclusively thereto.

The formation of these clay deposits in this great plain oc curred, undoubtedly, in the Eocene tertiary, during the long interval of subsidance, characteristic of that period, and are the results of sedimentary marine deposits slowly accumulating layer after layer of fine clay to the depth of 800 feet, bedded on the upturned eruptive rocks beneath, in perfect horizontal strata, show ing no sign of having undergone any disturbance since their deposit.

The first series of exposed hills are met with about seven miles below Evans' ranch, to the right of the wagon road, and about half a mile east, distinctly visible for a long distance on account of their peculiar creamy or chocolate color, contrasting strongly with the darkish gray of the alluvial drift surrounding and partly covering them.

For convenience sake of description, I will refer to these clay hills as the "lower Nitre beds," in contradistinction of the "upper beds" at Evans' ranch, to which reference will be made in proper order hereafter.

Third: Lower Nitre Beds.

Entering a small gap between two gravel ridges close to the river a series of low conical-shaped hills, some detached, others connected, rises, terrace-like, from the plain towards the main ridge, of which they once formed an integral part. They are entirely destitute of any traces of vegetation, lightly covered yet, in some places, with drift boulders, and vary in height from four to five hundred feet.

Atmospheric action, rains and floods have cut into and eroded the original beds, serrating, rounding, and shaping them into their present peculiar form. The perfect stratifications, reposing conformable in their original position, show the different layers to be from six inches to ten feet in thickness. The appar ent tilt that some of the hills assume, has been accomplished solely by the action of running water underneath, undermine their base, and forcing them to lean over, as they filled the cav ities thus produced.

The clays in their dry state, are very hard and compact, but when water is applied, they melt and slum away very quickly, due, of course, to the great amount of soluble saline matter they contain. This action is very plainly visible in the depression of the ridges connecting the hills, where the collected water, finding no outlet, has cut its channel almost perpendicularly down into their very center, like a shaft sunk by hand, coming out at the base in tunnel-like openings. I have seen some of these water-made shafts several hundred feet deep.

Fourth , Origin: —

The mud beds of the Eocene carried and contained the enor mous amount of animal and plant life, the decomposition of which, after the water receded, made the Nitrates of to-day. Nitrification is the process of fermentative oxidation, which always sets in when moist nitrogenous animal or vegetable matter is left to itself, in the presence of air and any basic substance.

The oxidation of the nitrogen of the atmosphere, is also pro moted thereby, and associates itself readily with any azotized decomposed organic substance, adding its portion to the mystery ous chemistry of nature. The artificial Nitre farms of Europe are proof that this theory regarding the origin of Nitrates is, in the main, correct.

As organic life was not evenly distributed throughout all the different strata of these mud beds, it will naturally follow that some layers of clay will simply show traces of Nitre, while others, perhaps above or below them, will yield a marked percentage.

Fifth , Description of the Nitre: —

The Nitre itself, a very soluble white crystalline salt, perme ating the clay, was found to cover the hills from apex to base, ranging in thickness from five inches to two feet, overlaid by about six inches of loose decomposed slum, the residue of bleached-out clay, of the water-washed strata.

In the gradual process of erosion, and the wearing away of the clays by periodical rains and floods, the Nitrate, upon solu tion in the upper layer, would immediately be taken up and held by the strata below it, and so on in rotation, through the long period of years, thus making the hills themselves concentrators on a grand scale, never allowing one iota of this salt to escape, until the hills were either leveled with the plain, or the Nitre lying on the slopes would come in contact with the flow of water at their base, in which case it would be dissolved and swept away. The tenacity of this clay to hold and retain the Nitre, is shown by the fact that the surplus of any strata, as soon as dissolved, and flowing down the slopes, would be greedily taken up by every clay seam it came in contact with, thus covering, at differ ent angles, all the horizontal layers of the hills; the loose matter on top protecting and preserving it, never allowing the rains to come in direct contact with the salt. These " Eower Nitre Beds" are a fine exemplification of this concentrating process, and I may safely state here, that there is not a single hill in this whole area of 2720 acres, that does not carry paying quantities of Nitrate.

The best and plainest illustration, perhaps, of this whole problem, in a nutshell, and one that grasps the situation at a glance (homely though it may be), is the comparison of these Nitre-bearing hills to a sugar-coated cake, with a napkin thrown over it. Remove the covering, which, in this case, constitutes the few inches of top slum, and the Nitre appears below as the frosted matter, while the cake itself represents the body of the hill.

Sixth , The Upper Beds: —

The clay exposures in the immediate vicinity of Evan's Ranch, four miles north on an air line from 'those below, are, in fact, only their continuation, heavy gravel deposits filling the intervening space. Although these exposures here are larger and grander, comprising 3880 acres, the concentration of the dif ferent Nitre strata has been more difficult, on account of the steep declivities of the hills, and their perpendicular slopes. While the general characteristics are the same, and apply, in fact, to all exposed surfaces in this great belt, erosion is here more marked, besides presenting different geological features, not met with in the lower beds.

The river has also played an important part in the shaping of these clay beds, having cut its channel through to the depth of three hundred feet. About one mile west of the ranch, large flats were made, by the melting away and leveling process of the clay strata, the water having evidently been backed up for a long period, until it could cut its way through what is now known as Merrell mountain, a short range of highly eruptive rocks, that rise some two hundred and fifty feet.

Wherever the sloping is more gentle and the hills present a rounded appearance, indicative of slower erosion, Nitre is sure to be found in largely paying quantities. The accumulation of this mineral on less favored slopes could not be expected to exist there; the clays having been torn from their bedding by strong dynamic forces, cutting the hills almost in two, leaving deep, wide water courses, and sharp, steep sides. Whatever Nitre might have been concentrated there, was evidently washed down the precipitous slopes to the bottom, dissolved and lost with the flowing water.

The stratification also seems to be coarser and stronger, its' color of a more whitish gray, and, in my opinion, containing less organic life than the chocolate hills of the lower beds. Tne lay ers here attain a thickness of some twenty feet, strata of sand stone, strongly impregnated with lime appear between, while in some places layers of tufa, from three to six feet, will alternate with the clays to the height of several hundred feet, capped by

alluvial drift. This tufa has evidently been deposited at the same time, but has no bearing upon the Nitrate, containing mostly silica. It is of the pumiceous variety, and the result of commin uted volcanic rocks. In color it is a dead white, somewhat oolitic in structure, very light, making a good building stone for which purpose it is largely used by the settlers. The nature of this vol canic conglomerate is well understood, and represents the remains and fragments of lava knitted together by aqueous action and deposited as a sediment during submersion. In some places, num erous strata of gypsum cross and re-cross the clays in all directions, forming sometimes distinctly traceable ledges, six inches thick, of transparent plates called "selenite."

Another variety, "satin spar," pure white, and delicately fibrous, is also met with in nearly all the beds in small quantities; this gypsum, together with common and glauber salt, being the ever accompanying elements of the Nitrates. Traces of free iodine are also found, but not sufficient to warrant attention.

In confirmation of every evidence as to real age of these de posits, the valuable discovery by Mr. Unthank of the remains of a mammal, embedded in the clay, forms a very important factor. It was found about one-half mile west of the ranch, in a dry water course, on the side of a worn-away stratum. The body of it had disappeared, and only the head remained, whose enormous dimensions were still plainly to be seen in the space it had once occupied, but the decay of ages had done its work so thoroughly as to leave nothing but a fine dusty powder behind; the few crumbling pieces of the skull and jaw, two incissors, and four large molars, was all that could be recovered, and they were care fully packed up, and preserved for future reference.

This animal, according to standard authority on that subject, is called a Palaeotherium and belongs to the Herbivores of the early Eocene, forming the connecting tie in the serial line of pro gression and marking the pedigree of the horse family of today, holding equal claim of being the true progenitor of the Tapiroids.

Mining.

Establishing the fact, after many vexatious experiments and trials, that the Nitre was deposited superficially over the hills and could only be looked for on the surface where Nature had con centrated it, my next step, in order to determine its extent and depth, was to run trenches on the different hill-sides. The num ber of cuts opened up in the lower Nitre beds by the working party amounted to one hundred and two exposures and, as stated before, Nitre in paying quantities was found on almost every hill

and undulating surface of this whole bed. This salt is readily seen and recognized with the naked eye ; the clay containing it is full of whitish flakes and crystals coating the sides and filling the pores of the different strata. Below it, is what I call bedrock, a hard clay, barren in appearance, containing no crystals and as readily recognized as the nitre itself.

In the upper beds, about one hundred and forty-eight cuts showed Nitre in the major portion of them, but the acreage of paying territory could not be fully defined and ascertained. The highest percentage, however, was obtained here on the lower fringes of the hills, in deposits of almost two feet in thickness. Perhaps, when the value of this whole area has been fully dem onstrated, it will compare very favorably with the more uniform deposits of the lower beds.

The working problem for profit; that is, the extraction of the crude material for reduction, is perhaps the simplest of all meth ods in the range of mining; classing with borax, and other efflo rescent salts found above ground.

With pick and shovel one man can easily loosen and handle seven tons daily, allowing the utmost limit of twenty-five cubic feet in place to represent one ton of 2,000 pounds.

Horse scrapers and plows, where they can be used to advan tage, especially on the low, gently sloping hills, would yield still better results. The six inches of loose clay on top should first be removed by scraper and discarded, as it contains but one or two per cent, of Nitre. The plow should then be employed to loosen up the whole of the Nitre-bearing ground, when it can then be scraped down the slope, loaded in wagons and carted off to the reduction works.

Any man of ordinary intelligence will be able, after a few days' practice, to thoroughly understand what is required. Teams can drive around the base of the hills to almost any part of the beds. The dry water courses afford natural roads which will require but very little work to make them answer all purposes.

Tabor is plentiful, and can be procured anywhere without difficulty. White labor commands $2 per day and board, while Chinese can be hired for $1.25 per day and board themselves.

Metallurgy.

The metallurgy, practically called the art of making money out of ore, is as simple a process as its mining. The crude reduc tion as employed in Chili is here given for illustration: The Nitrous clay is worked in kettles for about one-half hour, extract ing the salts with hot water, and allowing the suspended earth to

settle. The clarified liquor obtained is then transferred to another vessel, where it deposits part of its chloride oi sodium at a high temperature. It is then drawn off to vats where, on cooling, it yields its crystals of purified Nitre.

A great many suggestions might here be made, in reference to the most advantageous method of working the crude clay and the plant required to obtain the greatest results at the least possible outlay, for instance: —

First: — The simple boiling of the clay in large tanks, say of a capacity of ten tons each, to dissolve all the salts, and then, after settling, draw the liquor off in vats and evaporate by solar heat.

Second: — A still simpler way might be to make use of the water power of the Armagosa, running a io-inch pipe line of about four miles to get sufficient pressure, and wash the Nitre off the hills, first into wide, flat reservoirs and evaporate without further trouble as before.

Third: — A portable electric plant of sufficient capacity might be used, perhaps, to better advantage in the rolling foothills than the hydraulic method just mentioned. In fact, there are many ways to extract the salts from the clay, but in refining for market this crude material, although an excellent fertilizer as it is, must be boiled at a high temperature in order to rid it of its chloride of sodium. The most practical manner of working these deposits with the resources on hand will naturally suggest itself when work actually commences. Personally, I am strongly in favor of an electric plant, which, although costly at first, will eventually prove to be the cheapest in the end.

Mr. M. Iy . Wade (of the firm of Wade & Wade, of Los Angeles), the chemist in the field accompanying this expedition, whose accurate and reliable work is a guarantee of its correct ness, gives the ge?ieral average from samples of crude salts extracted by boiling at 8.26 per cent, of Nitrate of Soda.

From a careful computation of all the assays furnished me from different sources, I place the working results of the nitre bearing strata at about 12 per cent, of Nitrate of Soda.

A complete analysis of certain samples of clay was made August 24th, 1887, by the California State Mining Bureau, which I herewith append as reference: —

Insoluable

Matter.

Sodium

Chloride.

Calcium

Sulphate.

Sodium

Sulphate.

Nitrate of Soda.

Moisture

1—

2—

Average 19 percent. Nitrate of Soda.

These samples were taken from the upper beds by Mr. Lowry Silver, in June of that year, at the request of Mr. S. Heydenfeldt, Jr., Vice-Chairman of the Bureau at that time.

The Nitrate of Soda commonly called Salt-petre is the only Nitre of importance, from a commercial standpoint, being the best producer of acids. The Nitrate of Potash found in India is infer ior in this respect, while the Nitrate of Lime found in Kentucky and Tennessee is of little practical importance.

In the calculation of these deposits or the reduction of the whole problem to dollars and cents, I have taken the lowest pos sible figures consistent with facts, in order to avoid the error so common among mining men, first, by deceiving themselves, sec ond, by deceiving others.

The percentage may not be as high as the deposits of Chili in their palmy days, yet the unsurpassed advantages met with here, requiring hardly any outlay of capital, and the unlimited home market for its product, counterbalances in a great measure what ever superiority might be claimed by that country.

Taking the lowest possible average of thickness to be six inches, then one acre is equal to 21,780 cubic feet. Allowing twenty-five cubic feet in place to produce one ton, each acre will yield 871 tons. Assuming the average of 11 per cent, of Nitre, it will take in round figures about nine tons of crude to produce one ton of refined Nitrate, or 97 tons per acre. This, at the low- . est market value of $31 per ton, makes each Nitre bearing acre worth $3,007 in United States gold coin. Nitre in Los Angeles at this date is quoted at $50 per ton, wholesale.

From outside sources I have learned that the Chilean beds are already showing signs of exhaustion and that their present average percentage ranges even below the figure assumed in my calculation.

Water Supply.

The Armagosa river, heading in Lincoln county, Nevada, runs in a general north and south course till it sinks in the sand and gravel-wash at the south end of Death Valley. On both sides of this stream, for a distance of about six miles, following its meandering line, the greater portion of the Nitre beds are situ ated. For about nine months of the year, and in its normal state, the river carries about eighty miners' inches of water, measured under a 4-inch pressure equal to discharge of 96 cubic feet per minute, but in rainy season it becomes a large, turbulent stream, overflowing its banks. It has an average fall of twentyseven feet per mile, measured by Aneroid barometer, which, however

, is not altogether reliable. Rather brackish to the taste, containing borax and different alkalies in solution; both men and animals, however, can use it in case of necessity without harm. This water power will naturally be a great factor in the reduction of the Nitre, and, as wood is scarce in that country, electricity will have to supply its place, generated by dynamos driven by Pelton wheels, put up at the most convenient place and trans mitting power or heat from there by wire to any point desirable.

The fresh water supply for all other purposes comes from two springs on Evans Ranch, having a flow of ten miners' inches the year round, equal to a discharge of 129,600 gallons in twentyfour hours, and is designated on the map as Willow Creek, emp tying its surplus into the Armagosa river about three-fourths of a mile below.

Ranch.

The narrow strip of land forming the southern outlet of Tecopah Canon in the very heart of the Nitre beds, like an oasis in the desert, is, perhaps, one of the most fertile and productive spots in the whole country for many miles around. This ranch, owned by Mr. Evans, comprises a quarter-section, of 160 acres, 80 acres of which are level and susceptible of cultivation. The soil is a sandy loam and produces enormous crops of alfalfa, corn, wheat and barley with little irrigation, while all of the deciduous fruits flourish and ripen to perfection very early in the season. The whole of the cultivatable ground has been highly improved and surrounded with shade trees.

While the adjacent mines were in operation, thousands of dollars yearly were realized from the sale of its fruits and vege tables. The mean elevation of twenty different readings places this ranch at 1397 feet above .sea level.

Fuel.

This supply is limited to the product of the ranch and its immediate surroundings — about fifty cords of willow wood and some ten cords of mesquit will constitute the whole total, ample, however, for all ordinary purposes. Wood from outside sources cannot be procured for less than $9 per cord. Coal is found in great abundance on the line of survey of the L. A. & S. L- R. R., and will in time come into market as the cheapest fuel obtainable.

Meteorology.

The climate of this region, with its pure dry air, possesses the same advantages as any other parts of the semi-tropics. Out door work can be pursued the whole year round, with the exception

of perhaps two or three weeks during the rainy season. The annual rainfall amounts to about eight or ten inches.

Although the thermometer during the summer months be comes ambitious, and sometimes rises above the ioo° mark, yet these warm spells seldom last over two or three days, being tem pered by strong southerly winds and cloudy days. The nights are ever cool and pleasant, at least, I found them so during my whole stay. Observations during the month of May, give the mean thermometer reading at 990 in the shade at noon.

Lowest temperature,

Cloudy days, -

Clear and windy,

Warm days,

Heavy rains sometimes occur

in August and September,

while the ordinary rainy weather embraces the months of January and February, those seasons, however, being very irregular.

Railroad.

The advent of the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railway will be a great incentive in the development of this section of the country. The line, as surveyed and staked, follows the Armagosa river nearly the whole length, passing through the center of the Nitre beds. This route, according to the report of the engineers, has been pronounced the most practicable of the different lines pro posed, and will undoubtedly be finally selected. The party of engineers now in the field looking up the resources along the proposed road, have met with such encouraging offers from the miners and ranchers, that its construction at an early date is almost a foregone conclusion. I have informed the chief of that party by letter of the value and extent of this new find, which, in connection with the others, will add considerable weight to any argument in favor of building the road as now proposed. Hun dreds of tons of Nitre will be shipped monthly to different parts, when once this industry is in full operation, almost warranting the building of a railroad on its own merits, without outside aid to swell its freight receipts.

Conclusion: The magnitude of the discovery of this valu able mineral, and its importance as a competitive factor in the markets of the world, from a commercial standpoint, can hardly be estimated at present. As the true extent of this great deposit is as yet unknown, and may embrace a still larger area than my limited explorations gave credit to, I have no hesitancy to state that when further search in that direction reveals the real situa tion of things, Nitre may not only be found superficially on the

hills, but many other unlooked for places, and under conditions not yet demonstrated. The different locations, as shown on the map, cover, however, all the exposed Nitre-bearing hills — the cream, so to speak, of everything found of any value at present.

The unsurpassed advantages that these deposits possess over all competitors, either in Chile or India, as regards favorable location, cheapness of mining, magnificent water power and un limited home market, place them foremost in the great show window of commercial enterprises, furnishing a safe channel for conservative investment of solidity and merit.

The time is not far distant when these California beds will be a dangerous rival of our little sister republic, which now sways, controls and holds in its hand the balance of power of the Nitre trade.

I remain, dear sir, very respectfully yours,

J. M. Forney, Mining Engineer.

Appendix.

Extracts Concerning Nitrate of Soda Manufacture.

The Province of Tarapaca, formerly a part of Peru, but ceded to Chile, in 1881, as a war indemnity under certain condi tions, and the Province of Antofagasta, acquired by Chile from Bolivia and joining Tarapaca on the south, contain the largest deposits of crude Nitrate of Soda yet discovered. These tracts of land are perfect deserts, lying within the rainless region, ex tending Irom the northern part of Peru to the main cordillera of the Andes, a distance of about ninety miles. The point on the slope of the mountain where the deposits of "caliche" or impure Nitrate are found is some 500 or 600 feet higher than the valley, but the deposit diminishes in quantity and richness as the valley is approached and disappears entirely at the bottom. An exam ination of the workings of these beds shows, first that the surface to the depth of eight or ten inches is covered with a layer of fine loose sand; that underneath the sand is found a conglomerate of various substances cemented by sulphate of lime into a hard, compact mass to a depth of six to ten feet, called the "costra," or crust; and that it is invariably just below this crust that the caliche is found. The caliche is quarried by blasting with a coarse-grained powder, of which as much as 150 pounds are used at a single blast. Neither dynamite or nitro-glycerine is used, as either would shatter and pulverize the caliche so as to occasion a serious loss. After being brought to the surface, the caliche is carefully assorted by experts called "particulars," broken into pieces double the size of an orange, and carted by rail to the refinery establishment. These refineries are generally situated on the sea coast where water and fuel can be more conveniently obtained, — the fuel coming from the bituminous coal beds of Southern Chile, and the water being taken from the sea and con densed. This condensation of sea water is necessary because of the scarcity of other water in that section.

The impure caliche is first dissolved in the water at a high temperature in long tanks. Then, in order to extract the iodine held in solution (of which there are 50 grams in every 1 50 kilo grams of impure Nitrate), the solution is drawn into a separate tank and charged with sulphate of soda, the resultant chemical change forming the iodine of sodium, precipitating the iodine, which is then refined and sublimated by condensation. The re maining original solution is carried in pipes to enormous shallow pans and the water evaporated by artificial heat, leaving the pure

Nitrate to become crystallized. The vapor caused by this evapo ration is condensed and saved for further use.

Some figures given by Consul-General Walker showing the magnitude of this Nitrate trade will cause surprise. The export of Nitrate of Soda from the ports of Tatal, Antofagasta, Iquique, Pisagua and Topilla (Iquique furnishing two-thirds of the whole) for the ten years ending the 31st of December, 1888, was 4,574,440 English tons, valued at $231,41 1, 183, upon which export duties were collected at the rate of $1 per 100 kilograms, to the amount of $87,470,622. During the same period, the exports of iodine amounted to 1,588,074 kilograms, with a total value of $19 333,- 757, upon which the government collected in export duties $1,172,576.

Chile collected in export duties on Nitrate during 1889 over $19,000,000.

Of the large export of Chilean Nitrate during the year 1888, Germany took 284,000; Holland, 33,400; Belgium, 84,800; France, 156,500, and Great Britain 104,800 tons. The price in the English market varies from £9 10s to 10 per ton.

Importation of Nitrate of Soda into the United States for ten months of the present year, 1891-2, amounted to 176,370,880 lbs. valued at $2,681,426.

The chief use to which it is applied in European countries is as a fertilizer; in Germany and France largely in the cultivation of the sugar-beet. Very considerable quantities, however, — as much as 30 per cent of the whole, perhaps, — are consumed in the manufacture of nitric acid, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gunpowder, etc. In the preparation of the last named article, the soda nitrate is first converted into the nitrate of potash, on account of the latter being less absorbent of atmospheric moisture.

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