Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-11-04

Captain Stansburv, who was sent out in
the season of 1S49 to make military re-
connoisance of the Salt Lake region, has
transmitted very interesting dispatches to
Washington, from which the Intelligencer
makes some extracts. His clAef object was
to make an exploration on the West side Of
the great Salt Lake, which has never been
done. Col. Fremont and other explorers
have traversed the Eastern shore. Ths
West was literally terra incogn'ta-and,
so far as discoveries had extended, was
known to be the most uninviting desert in
America. In the course Of this terrible
journey of 200 miles, he relates:
sIn the latter portion of this first desert,
we crossed field Of solid salt, which lay
encrus'ed upon the level mud so thick that
it bore up the mules, loaded with their
packs, so perfectly, that they walked upon
it as if it had been sheet Of solid ice,
slightly covered with snow. The whole
plain was as level as floor. We estimat-
ed this field to be, at least, ten miles in
length by seven in width, and the thickness
Of the salt is from one halfto three quarters
Of an inch. A strip of three miles in width
had been previously crossed, but it was not
thick or hard enough to prevent the ami
mails from sinking through the mud at eve
ry step. The salt in the solid field was per-
fectly crystalized, and where it had not be-
come mixed with the soil, was as white
and fine as any Sa inc table salt. Some
Of it was collected and preserved.
After crossing the field Of salt, We struck
upon fine little stream of running water,
with plenty Of grass, lying at the foot Of a
range of mountains, which seems to form
the western boundary Of the immediate val.
ley Of the lake. Here we were obliged to
halt for several days, to give our animals
an opportunity to recruit. The latter part
Of the desert was about seventy miles in ex-
tent, and was passed in two days, by pre-
longing our marches far into the night.
Had we not found grass and water midway
Of this barren waste, both animals and men
must have perishsd. :
lieve, the first party of white men that ever
succeeded in making the entire circuit Of
the lake by land. l have understood that
it was once circumnavigated by canoes in
early times, but no attempt by land has ever
succeeded. s@g..- ....... ....
From the knowledge gained by this ex-
pedition, am Of opinion that the size Of
the lake has not been much exaggerated !;
and from observation, and from what have
learned from the Mormons, who have made
one or two excursions upon it in skiff,
am induced to believe that it was not much
overrated. That it has no outlet, is now
demonstrated beyond doubt; and I am con-
vinced, from what have seen, that it can
never be Of the slightest use for the purpose
Of navigation. The water for miles out
from the shore, wherever have seen it, is
but a few inches in depth; and if there is
any deep water it must be in the middle.
The Utah river Cor the Jordan, as the Nor
mons call it, is altogether too crooked and
too Insignificant to be of any use CONNER
cially. The greatest depth Of the Utah
Lake, that we have found, is sixteen feet;
so that, for the purpose Of a connected line
of navigation, neither the river or the lake
can be. Of the slightes, utility. Such at least
is my present impression. Further exami-
nations Of the Salt Lake may perhaps mod
ify this opinion in regard to the latter. The
river connecting these two lakes is forty
eight miles in length.
For one hundred and fifty miles they
could not get drop Of fresh water. They
had to carry the water for their animals in
India rubber bags. Had they not struck
this little stream beyond the salt field, they
must have all perished. The journey was
made in the month of October last. n