The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-02-16

ard plains which receive and deserve tn,
name ofdesert. Such is the general str,ic
ture Of the interior of the Great Basin, NOR.
Asiatic than American in its character, ant
much resembling the elevated region be.
tween the Caspian sea and Northern Per
STA. The rim Of this basin is massive ran
I ges OF mountains, Of which the Sierra Ma
vada on the west, and the Wah-satch ant
Iimpanogos chains on the east, are thu
most conspicuous. On the north il is sepa
rated from the waters ofthe Columbia by &
branch oi the Rocky mountains, and from
the Gulf OF California, OH the south by bee
OF mountainous ranges, OF which the exist
rnce has been only recently determined
Snow ahOunds on them all on some in
/ their loftier parts, the whole year, will
wood and grass with copiOus streams O
water, sometimes amounting to considera
BILE rivers, flowing ihwards. forming lake,
or sinking in the sands. Belts or benche,
OF good alluvioh are usually found at then
base.
Lakes in the Great Basin.-The Grea
Salt Lake and the Utah Lake are in thi.
Basin, towards its eastern rim, and con.
s'itute IFS most interesting festure---one, q
saturated solution of common salt---the 9th.
| es, iresh--the Utah about one hundred fee
above the level of the Salt Lake, which j.
itself 4 200 feet above the level of the sea
and connected by a strait, or river, thirty
five miles long,
! These lakes drain an area Of ten OF
twelve thousand square miles, and have
on the east, along the base of the mountain
the usual bench of alluvion, which extend.
TO distance of three hundred miles, with
wood and water, and abundant grass The
Mornons have established themselves on
the strait between these two lakes, and will
find sufficient arabic land for large settle.
inent-imporant from IFS position as inter
mediate between the Mississippi valley and
the Pacific ocean, and on the line OF com
munication to California and Oregon.
The Utah is about thirty-fve miles long
and is remarkable for the numerous and
bold streams which it receives, coming
down from the mountains on the southeast,
A u fresh water. although large formation
oSSock salt, imbedded in red clay, is found
within the area on the southeast, which it
d aims The lake and its aliluen,s afford
/; rye front and other fish in great numbers,
IS hich constitute the food Of the Utah In-
ians during the fishing season. The Great
So It Lake has very irregular outline,
en- atty extended at time Of melting SHOWS.
1t II about 40 miles in length both lakes
rama ing nearly north and south, in confor-
unity to the range Of the mountains, and is
remarkable for its predominance Of salt.
The whole lake watars seem thoroughly
saturated with il, and every evaporation of
the waller leaves salt Lehi,d. The rockey
shores o. the islands are whitened by the
spray, which leaves salt on everything j.
touches, ana, a covering like ice forms over
the water, which the waves throw among
the rocks. The shores Of the lake in the
dry season, whS1 the waters recede, and
especially on the south side, are whitcned
with demonstrations of fine white salt: the
shallow arms of the lake, AT the same time,
under a slight covering Of briny water,
present beds Of salt for >failes, resembling
softened ice, into which the horses feet sink
to the fetlock. Plants, and bushes, blown
by the wind upon these fields, are entirely
encrusted with orystallized salt, more than
an inch in thickness. Upon this lake Of
salt the fresh water received, though great
in quantity, has no perceptible effect. No
fish, or animal life Of any kind, is found in
it; the iorrG on the shore being found
to belong TO winged insects. A Geo
logical Examination Of the bed and
shores of this lake is Of the highest interest.
Five gallons Of water taken from this
lake in the month Of September, and rough.
ly evaporated over fire, gave IA pints Of
salt, part Of which being subjected 10 an
alysis. gave the following proportions
Chloride Of sodium, common salty $3.50
Chloride Of calcium, O.6l
Chloride Of ma gnesium, 024
Sulphate Of soda, 0.23
Sulphate Of lime, liz
10000
Southwark Of the Utah is another lake Of
which little more is now known than when
Humboldt published his general map of
Mexico. Ii is the reservoir Of a handsome
river, about two hundred miles long, rising
in the Wahsatch mountains, and discharg-
ing considerable volume Of water. The
river and lake were called by the Spaniards,
Serero, corrupted by the hunters into Sercre.
On the map, they are called Nicohet, in
honor Of J. N. NIcoLLET, whose premature
death interrupted the publication of the
learned work on The physical geography OF
the basin Of the Upper Mississippi, which
five years Of labor in tho field had prepar-
ed him TO give.
On the western side of the basin, and i'm.
medately within the first range Of the Sier.
RI Nevada, is the Pyramid lake, receiving
the water of Salmon Troxt river. II is 50
miles long, between 1000 and 5000 feet
above the sea, surrounded by mountains, is
remarkably deep and clear, and abounds
with uncommonly large salmon trout
Southwark, along the base of the Sierra
Navada, is a range Of considerable lakes,
formed by many large streams from the
Sierra. Lake Walker, the largest among
these, affords great numbers Of trout, SINH.
lar to those Of the Pyramid lake, and is a
great place Of resort for Indians in the fish.
ing season.
There are probably other collections Of
water not yet known. The number of
small lakes is very great, many Of them
more or less salty, aud all, like the rivers
which feed them, changing their appear
anCe and extent under the influence OF the
season, rising with the melting of the snow,
sinking in the dry weather, aud distinct
ly presenting their high and low water
mark. These generally afford some fertile
and well.watered land, capable Of settle
ment.
Rirers Of the Great Basin.--The most
considerable river in the interior of the