pass the salt on the way to guadalupe peak

about 100 miles northeast of san eli is guadalupe peak.  right before you get to the peak is a handful of salt lakes.  back before they pumped water and oil out of that part of the state, capillary action would bring high quality salt to the surface.  the san elians found it very useful in preserving meats, and viewed the area as a commonwealth.  the state and u.s. law, on the other hand, was giving away privates rights to the area.  as you can tell, problems are on the way...