The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-06

L'eny wal, L.0py Mr. and Mn: Sheppard and :hiIS
Mar,hslL J. M. Maxwell, w. Mitohsll, Jne. Nichols,
Dr. r Ery.s Mr. Mussrs,s 9isi. J. w K n w.
D. Aver Mr. MoNolta, J. Z. Musssr J. 8. Robinson,
D. Bri,tol. g. Millilen, Z. s. johnson. j. T: Ro-
Wielching, d. Br'ggs, J. s. Sprasus, Mr.. Woodruff,
w. M. Jacobs James duncan, J. Cleveland, George
H. Smith, W. F. Smith. J. r. johnson, w. @. Esson,
Mr.. Waters, and Mrs. Galloway and son.-Total 81.
The following named gentlemen, residents of
Dallas county, LETT Cahawba, Tuesday last, for
DR.. Thos Hunter. Josiah W. Ransom, Patrick R.
Powers, David A. Browne, Napoleon Loder.-Mont.
somery (.4iG) Flag Jan 27.
THE MoRMoNs-sALT LAKE-THK DISCOVERY OF
GOLD, &c.
From the Pittsburgh Gazette, Feb al
Well we have seen California gold ,.tet it, "heft-
| ed" II, as the Yankees say. 1t was brought to
this city by Mr. E. Whipple, ono of the leading
men of the Mormon settlement in the neighbor-
| hood of the Great Salt Lake The parcel we saw
| contained about one ounce. 1t a nearly pure
state, being composed of scales OF about l-l6th of
an inch IN diameter. 1t was obtained from the
| valley Of the Sacramento, by some Mormons. who
arrived at the settlements just before Mr.. Whip
Mr. Whipple left the Great Salt Lake settlement
on the 18th OF October, and arrived at Fort Kear-
! ny, the Missouri, IN 81 days The settlement
| OF Mormons with which he Is connected, ID loea-
ted In beautiful valley the borders of the
Great Salt Lake, IN the northeastern part of Up
| per California.
The Great Salt Lake Is about $50 miles long, BY
| 90 broad, and contains nothing living. 1t Is 30
salt that three barrels of water will make one of
salt. The shores of the lake, IN the dry season,
are encrusted with salt ii. tor use. 1t has out
Nearly south of the Salt Lake is fresh water
| lake, called the Utah, which empties Its waters
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, tor the information
of those who have not access to late maps, stu-
ated the western slope OF the Rocky Noun
talns, near the head waters OF the River Platte,
which runs into the Missouri, the Colorado, which
EN- ties into the Cult OF California, and the Co.
lumbla, which empties into the Pacific. The wa
tiers 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. Be-
tween these lakes and the California mountains,
IN which the Sacramento rises, Is a vast valley or
basin, supposed to consist principally of sandy
plains, about 400 miles wide from east to west
and some GOO to 700 miles long from north to
south. From this immense basin no egress for
water has been discovered, the rivers losing them
selves In the sand.
The valley In which the Mormon settlements
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. It gradually
is folmed1no stenoes. From various gorges in the
mountains, Numerous fresh water stream pour
their waters into the Jordan, affordlng fae water
power No TIMBER grows in the valley, but an
abundance supplied by the valleys OF the streams
in the mountains. " consists OF tr, pine, hem
lock, and sugar maple.
In this delightful valley, about 1000 miles from
Missouri the east and 700 from the gold Dig
glngs 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, the olher-the Mormoas have at last
found resting place. About 900 persons, OF all
ages and both sexes, are now collected In this val
ley. They commenced arriving IN the valley IN
| July, lS47, and last season they raised hae
crop OF wheat, corn, and other productions, suti.
| cient tor 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 tour saw mills 10
operation, and have laid out several villages, and
town on an elevated platte, which overlooks the
| whole valley aud lake. They are building substan-
tial houses, and surrounding themselves with many
comforts. They expect a large emigration this
season from their brethren in the nelghborhood OF
| Council Bluffs, where there are some thousands
| coDgreg gated.
The road to Oregon and California, by the North
Fork OF the Platte River, and the South Pass, pass
some sixty miles TO the north OF the settlement;
route by the. woy of the Salt Lake can be
taken, which will not take the traveller out OF his
way more than forty or fifty miles. The Mormons
viii be able to supply fresh mules and oxen. and,
|
ENGRAVING to California.
Mr.. Whipple says the road Is very good, all the
! way from Independence to west OF the mountains.
In le47, about 1000 wagons passed over 1t. and
last year some $50. The trail 10 so well defined,
that no danger from losing it need be feared Mr..
| Whpple recommends oxen In preference to mules,
| and says they will make just as good time Emil
grants usually make about fifteen miles day. On
some portions OF the route there is scarcity OF
| grass. For about five hundred miles, buffalo meat
can be obtained IN abundance.
Mr.. Whipple represents the valley of the Salt
| Lake as perfectly healthy and the journey to that
| r. gion attended with no dangers, 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 rlvers--so that
| no hindrance to emigrants, from that cause, need
| now be feared
No gold has yet been found IN the neighborhood
| of the Salt Lake, or anywhere east OF the Sierra
| Nevada, as far as Mr.. Whippe is informed.
| What has reached that region, was brought
there by the discharged Mormon soldiers, VINO
had returned from the Placer to visit their fami-
With reference to the story, that the Mormons
had claimed a redemption right to the dlggIngs,
and Were demanding per centage on the gold
found, Mr. Whipple gives the following account
The first discovery OF gold was made by Mormons,
discharged soldiers,) In digging mill race tor
Mr.. Suffer. As the discovery was on his ground,
he gave them the liberty OF digging gold, on con-
diuon of pay ing HIM a certain per centage. THIS
they agreed to do, but soon started off TO explore
Tor themselves, and having found SEINE rich spots,
| they demanded II per Centage from new corners
for digging in their ground to which they claimed
a right of discovery. This practice Is general in
the mines; and the Momons, Mr. Whippe says
no more claim the whole OF the mines than they
| do the whole OF California.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT PROM THE GOLD REGION.
BREWER, Feb l, 1919
EDITOR OF THE BANGOR WHIa:-
The interest felt In anything pertaining to the
gold region, induces me to place at your disposal
the following extract of letter received this morn
ing, from my brother at the Sandwich Islands.
The extract is composed chiefly OF an extract OF a
letter from a gentleman who had been on the
ground two months. Yours truly,
NATHAN Dole
PUNAuoN, Nov. 2, l8iS
received letter last week from =,
| dated Oct. 3D. He wrtes-active dIgglngs are
| now going ON over tract more than 200 miles
In length by 10 to 40 in width 5000 or 5000 pro-