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


THE GREAT SALT LAKE.-CAPT. sTANSBURY'S
RECONNAISSANCE.
After an interval of six months, during which the
party were completely isolated by the impenetrable
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 canons pronounced kanyons is upwards of fifty
feet deep, reaching to the tops Of the taes trees Although
only in the latitude of 400 49, has than equaed in
everiy the winter of last year in Phladelphia which
unusual one and it is even now quite uncertain when
will terminate"
Again, he says, writing on the 10th 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
the plains in the the fall is from four six times
greater the condensation Of the atmospheric vpor being there
much more rapid and complete. AT moment while the
is shining brightly the plains, it is showing fuousy
among the peaks"
After completing the reconnaissance Of Cache Valley, we
returned to our camp Bear river. When Coll Porter
returned to his post the provision train dispatched down
the east shore of the Salt Lake, under Lieut.. ROWLAND
the Rifles with orders report to Lieut. GuNssos, whilst
accompanied by Dr. BLAKE, with party of four and
sixteen mules addressed myself make the around the
western side Of the Lake This trip was by many of the old
mountanee considered rather hazardous especially that
late of the year. Many of them had tried it. but
had ever 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 Of gross out
rage which had been wantony inflicted upon the latter by
band of unpncped emgants in which several Of their
killed and violated and murdered was deter
mined, however, proceed and having provided ourselves
with india rubber bags for packing in
necessity the 10th of October commenced journey
We also provided with soldiers and wal
tent y for protection from rains but they Of little
but in instances could poles be procured fo
stretching them utterly destitute of timber was 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 aversed frequently by meanderng
rs of salt and sulphur WATER which apparently sink and
to Undue and the whole SOIL rendering my and
treacherous 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 the
greater portion of these extensive areas of land with
again. do not think hazard much by saying that rise
of foot in the Lake would nearly quite double its
present
"The plains are, for the most part, entirely denuded of
vegetation, excepting occasional patches Of Atemesia and
greasewood," and they glitter in the sunlight presenting
the appearance Of water perfectly that is almost impos-
sbe for convince himself that he is on the mne-
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 occasoned by the complete sauraon of
the soil with moisture. From this cause also arises mirage
which is greater here than witnessed elsewhere dis
tortng objects in the most grotesque MANNER and giving
optical illusions almost beyond belief anticipate serious
annoyance from this cause, in making the ranguaton
SIN estimated distance Of hundred and fifty miles,
on one part of the route, fresh water and grass found
only IN spot about midway of this stretch, and
serving them out pint Of water each, night and morning.
taken from the ndaubber bags packed upon their backs
The first part Of this desert about sevenyfve miles in
extent and occupied days and half it,
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 sustenance and water.
Sin the latter portion of this hrst desert crossed field
Of solid SALT which lay encrused upon the level mud plain
thick that bore mules loaded with their packs perfectly,
that they walked upon if it had been sheet Of solid ice
slightly covered with snow The whole plain level
floor We estimated this field be the least miles
length by in width, and the thickness Of the salt at
rom onehalf to three quarters of inch strip of some
hree miles in width had been previously crossed, but
not thick hard enough prevent the animals from sink
through into the mud at every STEP The salt in the
od field perfectly crysalzed, and where had not
ecome mixed with the soil was white and fine the best
pecmens of Sana table salt Some Of it wascoected and
preserved.
Aer crossing the field Of salt struck upon fine little
tream of running water, with plenty Of grass lying at the
DOT Of range Of mountains which seemed form the
boundary of the immediate valley of the Lake. Here
obliged to halt for three days give animals
pporuniy recruit The latter part Of the desert was
proonging marches far into the night Had we not
,und grass and water midway Of this barren waste both ami
,als and men must have persisted.
eve were have every believe the first par
white