The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-07
The Great salt Iake-Cspt. Stansbury's



Aner an interval of six months, during which the
party completely Isolated by the impenetr able
SHOWS OF the surrounding mountains intelligence has
mt length been received from Capt StsAsbury OF the
Typographical Engineer Corps, who is engaged in an
examination Of the Valley of che Great Salt Lake and
photographic survey OF that singular sheet of water
The last previous of the whereabou Of his psrty
dated in October last. The present dispatches
come down to as late as the 10th OF March Capt
StansbuIy says The winter season here has been
long and very severe, commencing about the middle
of November To-day, Februry 2e) the mountains
white with snow, and in many Of the csnons pro
nourced "kanyons0 it upwards of fifty feet deep,
reaching TO the tops Of the tallest trees Although
only in the latitude of 40 deg 40 min il has
than cqused in severity the winter Of last year
in Philadelphia, which an unusual and 1t is
even now quite uncertain when it will terminate
The mountain passes are fuller of snow than ever
Yesterday morning we found that five inches of snow
had fallen during the night; and last night nearly
much This is the plains in the mountains the
fall is from four to six times greater the conden
sation OF the atmospheric vapor being there
much more rapid and complete. At this mo-
ment, while the sun is shining brightly the
plains, 1t ia showing furiously among the peaks.
After completing the reconnaissance Of Cache Valley,
we returned to eur camp on Bear river When Col.
Porter returned to his post, the provision train
he'd down the east shore of the Salt Lake
der Lieut. Rowland OF the Rifles with orders To report
TO Lieut. Gunnison, whilst l, accom- panied by DR..
Blake, with party Of four and sixteen mules ad
dressed myself to make the tour around the western
side of the Lake. This trip Was by many OF the old
mountsineers considered rather haza dous especially
at that late season OF the year. Many OF them had
tried it. but none had ever succeeded in achieving it,
The country was represented to be barren in the
tcme and almost, II not entirely destitute OF fresh
water, In addition to which, some disturbances and
i'll feeling had taken place between the whites and the
Snake or Shoshonee Indians arising out of gr.ss
outrage which had been wantonly inflicted upon the
latter by a band Of unprincipled emigrants in which
several of their killed, and women violsted
and murdered l was determined however to pro-
coed; and having provided ourselves with some India
rubber bags FOR packing water In case OF necessity,
on the 18th Of October we commenced our journey
We also provided with soldiers tent. and
wall tent fly for protection from rains; but they
nkp ~
poles be procured tor stretching them utterly dest
tute OF timber the gon through which passed
The journey occupied us until the Sth of November
We found that the whole western shore of the lake
consists OF immense level plains of soft mud insccess
BILE within many miles of the waters edge, to the feet
OF horses or mules, being traversed frequently by
meandering ris Of salt and sulphur water, which
apparently sink, and seem t. Undue and saturate the
whole soil. rendering IL miry and treacherOus The
plains but little elevated above the mt level OF
the lake and have without doubt at time not far
distant formed part OF it; for it is evident that
portion Of these extensive areas of land with water
again. do not think l hazard much by say
ing that a rise of foot in the lake would
nearly, not quite, double its present area
The plains are Tor the most part entirely denuded
ofyegctaton except occasionally patches of arteme
sia and wood and they glitter in the sunlight
pTCarbng the appearance Of water peril city that
IL H. almost impossible for to convince hmsclfthst
he il not on the immediate shore Of the lake itself
Ihis owing TO the capitalization of minute portions
OF salt on the surface of the mud ard the oozy slime
occasoned by the complete saturation of the soil with
moisture. Prom this cause also arises a mirage,
which ia greater here than have witnessed else
where. distortng objects in the most grotesque
nor and giving rise To optical illusions almost beyond
belief anticipate serious annoyance from this
In making the tranguation. In estimated dis
tapce of 100 miles part Of the route. fresh
ter and grass we're found only in spot about mid
way Of this stretch and obliged to subsist
animals that H. 60 keep life in them by serving them
out pant Of water each, night aud morning taken
from the lnG arubb~r bags packed upon their backs.
The first part Of this desert about IS miles In ex
tent ana occupied us two days and half TO cross ~
travelling all day aud greater part OF the nlBnt
walking a great portion Of the way 60 relieve the
mules ho were sinking under the want Of sustenance
and water. la the latter portion Of this first desert
'.ofscd field Of solid salt; which lay encrusted
upon the level mud plain thick that IL bore the
mules loaded with their packs perfectly that thoy
walked upon Ii " il had been sheet OF solid ice,
slightly covered with SNOW The whole plain WA. as
level as floor We estimated this plain TO be- ut the
least ten miles Ina length To seven in width aud the
thickness Of the salt at from one half 10 three quar-
t,rs OF an inch. "trip of some three miles in
width had been previously crossed, but IL was not
thick or hard enough to prevent the animals from
hd VAS perfectly cbrystaliEed and where IL had not
become mixed with the sOil white and fine
tie hnest specimens Of sainA table salt. Some Of IL
collected aud preserved After crossing the field
Of talt struck upon fine little strsam Of running
water With plenty 81 ing at se foot Of range
Of mounaBs which seemed TO form he western bOun-
dairy o. the immediate valley Of the Lake Here we
were obliged 60 halt Ter three days TO give animals
Opportunity recruit The latter part of the de-
about seventy miles IN extent aud va. passed
In two days by Irulongng cur marches far into the
this barren waste, both anmsls and men must have
porished. We we're, 81 have rea on To believe, the
hrt party q white that succeeded Ia making
the entire circuit q the lake by land have under
sood that Il once circumnAvigatei by csnoes, in
early tn by ppeTs in search uf beaver but
no susmFt by land has ever been successful. FROM
the know ledgu gained by this expedition, | am VI
opinion that the OF the lake has been much exag
grratedi and from observation and what have learn
ed from the MormOns, who have made cue or two
cursobH upon u In small tki1 am iaduCed to be
lieye that ts depth has been much oycrrasd That IL
has no outlet. l. now dsmOnstraied beyond doubt;
d " hat Inya naeu m.