Show california NITRE DEPOSITS mines and minerals national attention will be centered on california during the coming inquiry into the niter resources of that state which the united states geology cal survey will begin some time the coming fall chile has supplied niter for the civilized world for many years and has in f fact act deen the reliance of all armies and navies for the material which forms the basis of gunpowder senator perkins has called the attention of the army and navy departments depar mants of the united states to the n anter ter deposits of california the senator basing his representations on information supplied by state mineralogist aubury of california if the expectations of state mineralogist aubury are fulfilled it will be demonstrated not only that california has enough niter to supply the united states for many years but also possesses sufficient tre to enable it to compete with chile for the trade of the world nearly all the niter beds discovered in california are in the northern part of san bernardino county and extend across the border into the southern part of inyo county they are found along the shore line of old beaches that mark the boundary ot of death valley as it was during the eocene times the outlying beds are located along the beach lines of dried up lakes the nitrates are found in rounded knobs butter and riders that range in height from 50 to feet the resemblances between the california and chilean niter fields are marked and numerous the interesting estimate given by the state mining bureau of the quantities of niter that may be found in the discovered niter districts of california is a total of about acres containing more than tons |