Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-02-25
9.c,,e,. L. tie Rscky .hfo,sstctns.

7tavels to the Isscky sno,,ssotns.
We have before mentioned volume OF
.Trayels ia the Great Western Pfalries, me
Anahuac and Rocky Moatains. aud IN the Ure.
ron Territory. :" which has recently been issueu
from ti,e Press in his village. The autnoi y
THOMAS ]. FReeMAN, Esq. and in the WORK pc
| fore us he has proved himself TO be tel'ciiious
| IN the description Of the manners and customs
of the Indians who inhabit the extensive cou1-
try through which he travelled, as wen q "sp-
nv in describing the country itselI. anu ru1
numerous incidents which beteiI MN. W
| have read the work with interest, ana comn.cnu
| II 10 the perusal of the reader. we copy Hon
| il description Of the Soda Springs found near
the Great Bear River:
The immediate neighborhood OF our encamP-
ment is one Of the most remarEaDle ~ 'ne
Rocky Mountains. The facts ti'at Inc '1di' 20
Oregon and California will forever OF necessl-
~. pass within 800 yards OF the place Waele
our camp FIRE is burning; that near TINS sPo'
must be erected resting place Tor the 'ons
lines Of caravans between the haroors OF me
pacifc and the waters of the Missouri, would
OF themselves interest all who are witnessing
tho ;,resis,able movements Of civilization upon
,ha American continent.- this spot has
other objects Ct interest: Its Geology and its
Mineraloay, and | might well say the Chemls-
trv of il. Tor there are laboratories and gases
here in the greatest profusion, will hereafter
occunv the attention Of the lovers Of these
sciences. The Soda-Springs, called BY the fur
objects If the kind within my knowledge.
Thew are situated on the north west side OF The
river. few rods below agrove of shrub cedars'
and about 900 wards from the shore. Ihere
are six groups Of them; or in other words,
there are six small hollows sunken about 2feef
below the ground around, Of circular from or
q feet in diameter, in which there are number
of fountains sending up large quanti''es o.
cass and water, and emitting noise resemo-
! ling the boiling Of immense caldrons. These
pools are usually clear, with graveIIy bottom.
| In some Of them however, grow boys or mas
socks of course grass, among which are many
little wells. where the water dubbed SO merrl-
" that / was tempted to drink at one OF them.
But as proceeded to do so the suiiocating
properties of the gass instantly drove me from
INV purpose. After the rebuff however, made
another attempt at more open fountain, and
drank with little difficulty. The waters APP
peared TO be more highly impresnated with
soda and acid then those Iof Saratoga, were
extremity pleasant 10 the taste, and fumed from
the stomach like the soda water OF the shops.
Some of them threw off at least gallons Of
gas a second. And although they cast up
large masses Of water continually. for which
here appeared no outlet, yet at different times
| Of observation could perceive no increase or
dimunition Of the quantity visible. There are
! FIVE or six other springs in the bank Of the
river lust below, whose waters resemble those
| l have described.-One Of them discharges
about 40 gallons minute.
| One fourth of mile down stream from The
Soda-spriug, is what's called "The steamboat
| spring." The orifce from which it casts its
water is in the face Of perpendicular rock on
| the brink Of the stream, which seems to have
been formed by the dispositions Of the fountain.
1t is eight inches in diametcr.-Six feet from
this, and on the horizontal plain Of the rock,
is another orifce in the cavern below. On
approaching the spring. deep gurgling, hiss
| ing sound, is heard underground. 1t appears
| to be produced by the generating OF gas in
cavernouse receiver. This, when the chamber
is filled, bursts through another cavern filled
| with water, which it thursts froathing and foa-
ming into the stream. In passing the smaller
| orifce, the pet gas escapes with very much
the same sound as steam makes in the escape
pipe of a steam boat. Hence the name. The
times, they occur once in two, at others once
| in three, four or five minutes. The force Of
its action also is subject 10 great variation.
Those who have visited it often. say that its
noise has been heard 10 echo far among the
hills. When visited it, could not hear it
at the distance of 900 yeards. There is also
said to be difference at different time in the
temperature of the water. When ] examined
it, it was little above blood heat. Others
have seen it much higher.
This most remarkable phenomenon connected
with these springs, remains yet TO be noticed.
The whole, river, from the Steamboat spring
to the Soda-springs, distance Of more then
foursh of mile, is sheet Of springs, (thou-
sand in number,) which, bursting through two
feet of superintendent running wates, throw
their foaming jets. some six inches, and some
less, above the surface. The water is much
the same in its constituent qualities, as that of
the Soda springs.
There are in the immediate vicinity Of the
Steamboat spring, and on the opposite bank Of
the river, numerous rocks with ori6ces 10 their
centres, and other evidences of having been
formed by intermittent springs that have long
ago ceased to act.
The scenery around these wonderful foun-
tains, is very wild. To the east northeast,
opens up the upper valley of Grea, Bear River,
walled in on either sid by dark primitive
mountains, beetling over the vale. and tower
ing on the sky. To the south southwest
sweeps away the lower valley. On either
side Of it. rise lofty mountains Of naked rocks,
whose wild sublimity contrasts strikingly with |
the sweet beauty Of the stream and vale be-
low. I
And although statements in regard to what |
shall transPire in the future. are always work |
more BETTING seer than journalist, vet |
cannot forbear expressing the belief that the |
healthiness and beauty of the locai,y-the
magni6cence of the scenery on the best ron,es