Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Sift flour, salt, baking soda in separate bowl. Add butter milk and orange juice to egg mixture one at a time beating each one to blend. Add flour mixture 1 /3 at a time and blend together. (this makes the mix very creamy and moist!). Fold in the orange rind, nuts and dates to the batter. Pour into a buttered and floured pan. This makes one large loaf, one medium and one small or two large loaf pans or one angel cake pan.