Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-29
THE GREAT SALT LAKE.-CAPT sTANsBURY's
RECONNAISSANCE.

/
THE GREAT SALT LAKE.-CAPT. STANSBURY'S
RECONNAISSANCE.
After an interval Of six months, during which the
party were completely isolated by the impenetrabe
SHOWS of the surrounding mountains, intelligence
has at length been received from Capt STANsBuRY,
of the Typographical Engineer Corps, who is en-
gagged in an examination of the Valley Of the Great
Salt Lake, and photographic survey of that sin
the whereabout Of his party was dated in October
last. The present dispatches come down to as
late as the 18th of March. Capt. STANsBURY says:
The winter here has been long and very severe
about the middle of November. To-day Feb
ruay 26) the mountains white with snow, and in many
of the pronounced kanyons) it is upwards of fifty
feet Deep reaching to the tops of the aest trees Although
only in the latitude of 400 49, has than equaled in
every the winter of last year in Philadelphia which
unusual one, and is quite uncertain when it
will terminate"
Again, he says, writing on the 18th Of March:
The mountain passes fuller of snow than Yes
teday morning found thai five inches of had fallen
during the night and last night nearly much This is
the plains in the mountains the fall is from four six times
greater the condensation Of the atmospheric vapor being there
much more rapid and complete AT thsmomen while the
is shining brightly the plains, it is showing uriously
among the peaks"
After completing the reconnaissance of Cache Valley we
returned to camp on Bear river When Col. PORTER
returned to his post the provision train dispatched down
the east shore of the Salt Lake, under Lieut. HowLAND Of
the Rifles with orders to report to Lieut. GuNNIsoN, whilst
accompanied by Dr. BLAKE with party of four and
sixteen mues addressed myself to make the around the
side Of the Lake. This trip was by many the old
mountaneer considered rather hazardous especially that
late of the year. Many of them had tried it. but none
had succeeded in achieving it, The country repre-
sented to be barren in the extreme and almost if entirely
destitute of fresh water. In addition to which, disturb
and i'll feeling had taken place between the whites and
the Snake shoshonee Indians arising out Of gross out.
rage which had been wantony inflicted upon the latter by
band of unpncped emgans in which several Of their
killed and violated and murdered was deter
mned however, proceed and having provided ourselves
with india rubber bags for packing water in
necessity the 10th of October commenced journey
We also provided with one soldiers tent and wal
tent for protection from rains but they of little
but in two instances could poles be procured fo
stretching them, utterly destitute Of timber the regor
through which passed. The journey occupied unit
the 9Th of November.
We found that the whole western shore Of the lake
consists of immense level plains of soft mud inaccessible
within many miles of the waters edge to the feet Of
mules horses being raversed frequently by meandering
s Of salt and sulphur water apparently sink and seem
Undue and the whole soil, rendering mry and
reacherous These plains but little elevated above the
present level Of the lake. and have, without doubt, at
time not very long since, formed part of it for is evil
dent that rise of but few inches will at once cover the
1rI
again. do not think hazard much by saying that rise
of foot in the Lake would nearly if quite double its
present
"The plains are, for the most part, entirely denuded Of
vegetation, excepting occasional patches Of Aemesia and
"grease-wood" and they glitter in the sunlight presenting
the appearance Of water perfectly that it is almost mpos-
sbe for convince himself that he is not the mme
date shore Of the lake ITSELF This is owing the crystal
zaon Of minute portions of salt the surface of the mud
and the oozy slime occaoned by the complete sauraon of
the soil with moisture From this cause also arises mirage,
which is greater here than witnessed elsewhere; dis
tong objects in the most grotesque manner and giving rise
to optical illusions almost beyond belief anticipate serious
annoyance from this cause, in making the tranguaton"
'In estimated distance Of hundred and fifty miles,
on part of the route fresh water and grass found
only IN one spot about midway of this stretch and were
obliged to subsist animals that k to keep life in them by
serving them out pint Of water EACH night and morning.
taken from the nda-ubber bags packed upon their backs
The first part Of this desert about sevenyfve miles in
extent and occupied days and half to it, ira
yelling all day, and the greater part Of the night walking
great portion Of the way relieve the mules which began
to sink under the want of susenance and water. i
in the latter portion of this rs desert crossed field
Of solid SALT which lay encrued upon the level mud plain,
thick thatt bore mules loaded with their packs perfectly
that they walked upon had been sheet of solid ice
slightly covered with The whole plain level
floor We estimated this field to be at the least ten miles
length, by in width and the thickness of the salt at
from onehalf to three quarters Of inch strip of
three miles in width had been previously crossed but it
not thick hard enough prevent the animals from sink
ing through it into the mud at every step. The salt in the
solid field perfectly crysalzed and where it had not
become mixed with the soil was white and fine the best
specimens Of Sana table salt Some Of wascoected and
preserved ....
"Aer crossing the field Of salt struck upon fine little
of running water, with plenty of grass lying at the
loot of range of mountains which seemed to form the
boundary of the immediate valley of the Lake. Here
we obliged to halt for three days 10 give animals
opportunity to recruit The latter part Of the desert was
about seventy miles in extent and passed in days.
prolongng marches far into the night Had we not
ound grass and water midway Of this barren waste both ami
nails and men must have persisted.
"We have every to believe the first par
Of white that succeeded in making the entire cir