Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-02-18

and which now became a Characteristic
rock along our future road, In about SIX
miles travel from our encampment, wei
reacsed one Of the points 10 our journey
to which we had always looked forward
with great interest,-the famous Beer
Springs, basin OF mineral waters en-
closed by the mountains, which sweep
around circular bend Of Bear river, here
at its most northern point, and which from
a northern, in the course of few miles
AGO iires southern direction towards the
Great Salt Lake. A pretty little stream
OF clear water enters the upper part OF the
basin, from an open valley in the noun.
tains, and passing through the bottom, dis.
charges into Bear river. Crossing this
stream, we descended a mile below, aud
made our encampment in grove Of ce-
dar Immediately at the Beer springs, which
on account of the ehervescing gas and acid
taste. have received their name from the
voyageurs and trappers of the country,
who, in the midst Of their rude and hard
lives, are fond of finding some fancied re.
semblance to the luxurles they rarely have
the fortune to enjoy.
Although somewhat disappointed in the
expectations which various descriptions
had led me to form of unusual beauty of
situation and scenery, found il altogether
place of very great interest; and the
traveller for the first time ID volcanic re-.
gion remains in a constant excitement,
and at every step is arrested by something
remarkable and new There is a confu-
sion Of interesting objects gathered toge-
Their in a small space. Around the plac e
of encampment the Beer springs were nu-
merous; but as far as we could ascertain,
were entirely confined to that locality in
the bottom. In the bed of the river, in
front, for space OF several hundred yards,
they we're very abundant; the eflervescing
gas rising up and agitatng the water in
countless bubbing columns. la the vi
cinity round about were numerous springs
Of an entirely different and equally mark
ed marked mineral character. In RAJ
ther picturesque SPOT, about 800 yards
below our encampment, and Immediately
on the river bank, is the most remarkable
spring Of the place. In an opening on the
rock, white column of scattered water /.
f thrown up, in form like jet.d'edu, TO a
variable height of about three feet, and
though it is maintained in a constant sup
ply, lis greatest height is attained only at
regular intervals, according to the action
of the force below. 1t is accompanied by
a subterranean noise, which, together with
the motion Of the water, makes very much
the impression OF steamboat in motion
and, without knowing that it had already
been previously so called, we gave 10 il
the name of the Steamboat spring. The
rock through which il is forced is slightly
raised in convex manner, and gathered
al the opening into an urn mouthed form
and is evidently formed by continued de.
position from the water, and colored brigh
{ red by oxide OF iron. An analysis OF tbi,
deposited rock, which suDjoin, will give
you some idea of the properties OF The
water, which, with the exception Of the
Beer springs, is the mneraI water Of the
place. 1t is a hot spring, and the water
, has pnngent and dsagreeable metallic
taste, leaving burning effect on thu
/ tongue. Within perhaps two yards oil th,
jet d'edu, is a small hole OF about an incl
in diameter, through which, at regular in
| tervais, escapes a blast Of hot air with
light wreath OF smoke, accompanied by ,
regular noise This hole had been notices
5 lby DIR. Wlszenus, gentleman who seve
I raj years since passed by this place, AM
/; who remarked with very nice observation
! that smelling the gas which issued iron
! the orifice produced sensation OF glddl
, ness aud nausea. Mr.. Preuss and m sci
/ repeated the observation, and were 50 wei
3 satisfied with its correctness, that we dc
I not find il pleasant 10 continue the expert
9 ment, as the sensation Of giddiness which
3 it produced was certainly strong and de-
: cided. A huge emigrant wagon, with
. large and diversified family, bad overiakel
!. US an halted 10 noon at our encampment
) and, while we were sitting AT the spring,
band OF boys and girls, with Two or Tire,
A young men, came up, one of whom ! ask
Q ed 10 sioop down and smell the gas, desi
rous to satisfy myself further Of ITS effects
r But his natural caution had been arouse
y by the singular and suspicious features Q
/, The place, and he declined my propose
y decidedly, with a few indisIinct remark
b about the devil, whom he seemed 10 cons
J. der the genus loci. The ceaseless motto
IS and the play Of the fountain, the red rocl
!. and the green trees near, make this pic
!. turesque spot.
Q The Beer or soda springs which hav
IT given name 10 this locality, are agreeable
g but less highly favored than the BoilIn
|. springs at the foot Of Pixies peak, whc
d are Of the same character. They are ',
10 ry numerous, and half hidden by tufts
81 ,r,ss which ,va amused oitrselpns IN r,