Show BOULDER LAKE ENDS ANCIENT INDUSTRY SnIt Salt Mine Isolated by Rising Waters Behind Darn Dam Las Vegas Waters Nev-Waters ot of Lake Mead slowly piling up behind Boul der dam are wiping out an indus indus- industry Industry try which thrived as far back as A D The old St Thomas salt mine with its mountain of salt feet teet high said by scientists to have been worked by Pueblo Indians as early as the start of the Filth century is beginning to disappear Eaten away by the man made lake residents are wondering if the great pile of salt will contaminate the waters to any extent Several years ago the ancient salt mine attracted scientists from afar when evidences were discovered that man In the dawn ot of history had engaged in industry there Dig Dig- Digging ging tools fashioned from rocks tied together with leather thongs were dug up They proved slid said that the mine was the base ot of one of at the principal workings of the Pueblo Indians who inhabited the territory about A D until bout about 1200 A D The more modern history of the mine started in our own early west west- western western ern days when the first ot of the Do- Do Bonelli Donelli nelli family emigrating from Swit- Swit Switzerland Switzerland settled in the St Thomas section and became influential in its development There the according to old timers organized the Virgin Riv Riv- Riv River er Salt company and operated the mine and a salt mill for tor many years Finally the VIrgin River company died and the mine was worked intermittently by various residents of the area During the thelast thelast last few tew years thousands of at tons ot of salt have been taken out The old mine lies at the base ot of the salt mountain but already the rising waters of Lake Mead have covered the road over which mil mil mil- millions lions ot of tons have been hauled through 14 centuries and today the ancient workings are Isolated ap ap- ap approachable only by boat |