Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-08-02
The Great Salt Lake Country.

a SOLID FIELD or SALT FOR Miles
Capt. Stansbury, who was sent out in the
season Of 40 to make a military recon
uoisance of the Salt Lake region, has
transmitted very interesting dispatches
to Washington, from which the Intelli-
gencer makes some extracts His chief
object was to make an exploration of the
west side Of the Great Salt Lake. which
Lad never before been done Col Ere
mont, and all other explorers, have trav-
ersed the country on the eastern shore
The west was literally terra jnc2enita
and so far as discoveries had extended
was known to be the most uniuyiting dcs-
crt in America. In the course Of this
terrible journey Of 200 miles lie relates
In the latter portion OF this desert
We crossed q field Of solid salt which Law
oncrusted upon the level mud plain 50
thick that it bore up the mules, loaded
with their packs, SO perfectly that they
walked upon it as if it had been q sheet
OF solid Ice, slightly covered with snow
The whole plain was as level as g floor
We estimated this field to be. at the least,
ten miles in length by seven in width
and the thickness of the salt at from one
half to throc-quarters Of an inch 4
strip Of some three miles in width had
been previously crossed, but it was not
thick, nor hard enough TO prevent the ami
mails from sinking through 1t into the
mud at every step The salt IN the solid
field was perfectly crystallized, and where
it had not become mixed with the soil was
as white and fine as the best specimens Of
Salina table salt Some Of it was collect
ed and preserved
after crossing the field Of salt we
struck upon a fine little stream of run
ming water, with plenty Of grass, lying at
the foot Of range Of mountains, which
seemed 20 form the western boundary Of
the immediate valley Of the Lake. Here
we were obliged to halt for three days, to
give our animals an opportunity to re
crult The latter part OF the desert was
about seventy miles in extent and was
passed in two days, 10y promulgating our
march far into the night Had we not
found grass and water midway Of this bar
rem waste, both animals and men must
certainly have persisted
." We were, as have every reason to
believe, the first party of white men shat
ever succeeded in making the entire cir
cult Of the Lake by land. | have under
stood that it was once circumnavigated by
canoes, in early times, by some trappcrs
in search of beaver, but no attempt to
land has ever been successful
From the knowledge gained by this cg-
petition, / am of the opinion that the
size Of the lake has been exaggerated !.
and from observation, and what ] have
learned from the M0rmous, who have
made one or two excursions upon it in a
small skiff, l am induced to believe that
It's depth has been much oyerrated. That
il has no outlet, Is now demonstrated be
yond q doubt; and | am convinced. from
what [ have seen, that it can never be Of
the slightest use for purposes Of naviga-
ton The water for miles out from the
shore. wherever [ have seen 1t. is but few
inches in depth; aud if there be any
deep water it must be in the middle
The Utah river, TOR the Jordan, as the
Mormons call it, is altogether too insig-
nifcant and too crooked to be Of auv use
commercially. The greatest depth Of
the Utah Lake that VIC have found Is six
teen feet; SO that, for the purpose Of a
connected line of navigation, neither tie
river nor the lakes can be of the slightest
utility Such, at least, is my present i'm
preston Further examination Of Salt
Lake may perhaps modify this opinion
with regard to the latter. The river con
Meeting these two lakes isforty-eight miles
in length.
For $50 miles. they could not get
drop Of fresh water, They had to carry
water for their animals in India rubber
bags Had they not struck the little
stream beyond the salt field, they must all
have pcrishcd The journey was made
in the month Of October last HIS