German Date Cake

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
2 cups buttermilk
2 tsp. allspice
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. nutmeg
1 pkg. dates (cut up)
1 pkg. chopped pecans

Dissolve soda in butter and sugar. Sift dry ingredients and add to butter and sugar along with buttermilk. Add chopped dates and nuts. Bake in 13x9x2-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.