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Show ACouiiiry Farf-irly a-d Wontler-filly Wontler-filly made. Inoorios Varied a3 His Sweet Will of Womin. but -:oiij of Tiiem Plausible. Th Town and Its Poinld. Silver Reef, March CO, '79. Editors Herald: Tho geological formation aud mineral deposits cf no mining district on the cojst have puzsled thescieiitiit so much as these of this southern EIDoraJo of Utah. Theories a? numerous a3 ocean sands and as varied as the sweet will of woman have been brought forward to account for the presence of silver iu our gre.it sndatono reefs, but the coirectnees of not one of them can be demonstrated j each bsiue found defective upon i Ikorough investigation. No one will dispute th-.'.t the foundation is sedimentary, sedi-mentary, that the rock was formed by aqueous action, but tlio way in wbicli certain portions ol it became impreg nated with silver will likely remain a mystery to be explained only by the wisdom of future agej or the light o! ' revelation. Tho appearance ot the country is as remarkabio as tho character of the mines. It is fearfully fear-fully aud wonderfully made, and judging from the irregular, distorted dis-torted and altogether marvellous conformation cf this section of the basin, nature at some time must havo beau aHlicted with convulsions ui iub ujuak violent uuu irciutuiiuus character. The mountains, composed com-posed of bright red sandstone, devoid de-void of every semblance ol soil or vegetation, aud rearing themselves jagged, flaming and precipitous in tho sky, are picturesque to the limit of couception. In tbe lower regions, black volcanic rock is abundant, adding the charm of contrast to the; feature of novelty. Tho whole surface sur-face of the country looks like the bed rock of the infernal regions, or like the scene of some stupendous conflagration con-flagration duriug which everything animate wae consumed and nothing left save this great furnace of fiery sandstone, which seems to be still at a red heat. One of the countless theories aa to Ihe origin of the mineral deposits ia that this portion of the territory -was once tbe bed of a vast fresh water lake, in which the mineral now being mined was held in solution. During tho existence of this lake a great surface sur-face depression occurred, permitting tbe inflow of tho 86a, wheu its saline properties, forming eome chemical reagent, precipitated the metallic wealth cf the freshwater body.andthe citizens ot bilver Reef are now getting the benefit of the precipitation. Another theory is that tho mineral came from below, being forced upwards up-wards in gaseoua form during some period of voloauic action. The moat plausible theory, however, and the one most popular with the best-posted Lau in the camp, is that the manner in which the silver was deposited is beyond the rAach of mortal kon, that the expert doesn't live who can givu any plausible explanation of its presence, pres-ence, and that all other theories aro but vague, unsatisfactory and wildj , imaginings. I j But not only ia tho manner in which tiie silver was deposited a mystery, mys-tery, the character of the ore gives' rise to equally varied expressions of opinion. It is unlike all other ore, aud all the experience which miners have gaiued in other camps in deter-: mining the quality of ore from its appearance ap-pearance provpo Tclueitda in examiu-thn examiu-thn r r i-rmimfr rocK ot this, district. Tbe rock sharp who pronounces a1 pieco of barren-looking sandstone fit only to be thrown over the dump is quite likely lo fiud that same samole ' r 4nnn in iu Much of this has every appearance ol ordinary flagstone, but it is being mined and milled for its metallic wealth and the result of the operation is making men rich. However, no all the oro is sandstone. Sea shells, vegetable petrifactions, wocd and coal are frequently found incruatcd and impregualed with- horn and native na-tive silver. Wood sella for ;10 per cord in Salt Lake. That Uken from Silver Reef mines, if found in sulli-cicnt sulli-cicnt quantities, would sell readily for as many thousands. Coal, the market value of which is $8 in northern Utah, possesses an aesay value ot from $-1,000 to $0,000 when extracted from our bouanzas. It is not generally used for fuel in this district. THE TOWS. Silver Reef is a model mining oamD. It is well located, well watered and populous. The business houses nre eubdlanlUl and mauy of them fireproof, the whole appearance ol the town evidencing the tact that tho citizjui have come hero to stay. I', is the livlicit mining district in the territory ter-ritory and has more and better miues than any other dislrict, for not only is the average value of tho rock higher but it is mora easily mined and lesa expensively milled tbau any other ore. Tho Reefers are a prosperous 1 and happy oommunity. Every other buildiug ia a saloon and the intervening interven-ing houses aro stores which also di--pf-KSB the soul inspiring liquid. Wo luve likewise a newspaper, Mason's ,ind Odd Feilow's lods, a bospiul rsfcciation, a lull set oi" minstrel per-loi per-loi uiera, a firo coiiipany, a Catholic church, adrzen f.iro banks, a liberal proportion ot C.iincsn, a hurdy house und a population of the whitest minors min-ors ou the Pacitio coast. However, How-ever, many of them have a weakness lor the dance house which is crowded nightly with herooi of the Blcdge hammer and tiio pick, all enjnr to try tho light fantastic with tbe angel Terpsichore and to pay them each four-bits and a treat for that proud privilege. THE MINES to which a subsequent letter will be riiivotcd, are, with perhaps one ex-ccplion, ex-ccplion, looking marveously well and though litigation has lately retarded operation to some extent, most oi l!.e li'fttline -properties are being worked ! with the usuai enercy and success aud ; are yelJinc a mouth iy bullion product of over ifiCO.COO. Silver Reef: |