The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-09
1ermoo settlement in California;

The Pittsburgh Gazette contains some in
teresting and apparently reliable particulars
of the Mormon settlement within the great
basin Of Upper California. They are de-
rived from Mr.. E. WHIPPLE, leading mem
Der Of the Mormon Society, now in Pitts
burgh. The Gazette says: =
Mr.. Whipple left the Great Salt Lake
settlement on the 18th Of October, and ar
rived at Fort Kearny, on the Missouri, in
81 days. The settlement Of Mormons with
which he is connected, is located in beau
tiful valley on the borders Of the Great Salt
Lake, in the north eastern part Of Upper
California.
The Great Salt Lake is about $50 miles
long, by 30 broad, and contains nothing liv-
ing. 1t is so salt that three barrels Of water
will make one Of salt, The shores of the
Lake, in the dry season, are encrusted with
salt fit for use II has no outlet
Nearly south OF the Salt Lake, is fresh
water Lake, called the Utah, which empties
its waters into the former. In this Lake,
fish, the mountain trout, are found The
river which connects the two Lakes, the
Mormons call the Jordan. The valley in
which they are situated, slopes from the
mountains to the river, on both sides
These Lakes, we may state, for the nior-
nation Of those who have not access to late
maps, are situated on the western slope Of
the Rocky Mountains, near the head waters
Of the river Platte, which runs into the Mis-
souri,; the Colorado, which emptes into the
Gulf Of California, and the Columbia, which
empties into the Pacific The waters of the
Platte and the Colorado almost unite, by
means Of the Sweet Water river, which
heads west of the Rocky Mountain chain,
and runs into the Platte through the famous
South Pass. Between these Lakes and the
California mountains, in which the Sacra-
mento rises, is vast valley or basin, sup
posed to consist principally Of sandy plains,
about 400 miles wide from East, to West,
and some 600 or 700 miles long from North
to South. From this immense basin no egress
for water has been discovered, the rivers
losing themselves in the sand.
The valley in which the Mormon settle
ments are, is about fifty miles long, and forty
broad, and is surrounded on three sides by
high mountains, and on the north side by the
lake. 1t gradually slopes from the noun
tains to the river Jordan, and is formed into
steppes. From various gorges in the noun
tains, numerous fresh water streams pour
their waters into the Jordan, aHording fine
water power. No timber grows in the val
ley, but an abundance is supplied by the val
leys Of the streams in the mountains. 1t con-
sists Of fir, pine, hemlock, and sugar maple
In this delightful valley, about 1000 miles
from Missouri on the east, and 700 from the
gold diggings Of the Sacramento, on the
west-the Rocky Mountains being barrier
on one side, and the great basin, and the
Californian, or Sierra Nevada range, on the
other-the Mormons have at last found a
resting place. About 1000 persons, of all
ages and both sexes, are now collected in
this valley. They commenced arriving in
the valley in July, 1917, and last season
they raised fine crop Of Wheat, corn, and
other productions, sufficient for their own
consumption, and of those Of their faith who
are yearly coming in. After next harvest
they will have provisions to dispose Of
They have two grist mills and four saw mills
in operation, and have laid out several vii
lagos, and town on an elevated platte,
which overlooks the whole valley and lake
They are building substantial houses, and
surrounding themselves with many comforts
They expect large emigration this season
from their brethren in the neighborhood OF
Council Bluffs, where there are some thou
sands congregated
The road to Oregon and California, BY
the North Fork Of the Platte River, and the
South Pass, passes some sixty miles to the
north Of the settlement, but route by the
way Of the Salt Lake can be taken, which
will not take the traveller out Of his way
more than forty or fifty miles The Nor
mons will be able to supply fresh mules and
oxen; and, after next harvest, provisions
to those who are emigrating to California
Mr.. Whipple says the road is very good,
all the way from independence to west Of
the mountains In ls47, about 900 wa
gons passed over it, and last year some $50.
The trail is well defined so that no danger
from losing it need be feared Mr.. Whip
pie recommends oxen in preference to mules,
lind says they will make just as good time
Emgrants usually make about fifteen miles
day. On some portions Of the route there
is scarcity Of grass For about FIVE thou
sand miles, buffalo meat can be obtained in
abundance
Mr.. Whipple represents the valley Of the
Salt Lake, as perfectly healthy, and the jour
ney to that region as attended with no dan
gers, and but little fatigue. He returns
again in the spring
The Mormons have established Ferries
over the only rivers which are not fordable
on account Of high waters--the Platte and
Green rivers that no hindrance to en-
grants, from that cause, need not be feared.
No gold has yet been found in the neigh
borhood of the Salt Lake, or any where
east Of the Sierra Nevade, as far as Mr..
Whipple is informed.
What hasreached that re gion, was brought
there by the discharged Mormon soldiers,
who had returned from the placer to visit
their families.
With reference to the story, that the Nor
mons had claimed presumption right to
the diggings, and were demanding per cen
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