The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-07-31
Fhe Great Salt Lakc.-Capf. STAINS
buPy'S lsecOmnOisa nee.

which tho party were completely insulated
by the mpeneTable SHOWS of the surround
ing 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 a photographic
survey Of thai singular sheet of water. The
last previous news of the whereabouts of
his PARTY was dated in October last. The
preaent dispatches came down 10 as late as
the 10th Of March, Captain Slansbury SAYS:
"Ihe WINTER season has been here long
and very severe, commencing about the
middle of November. To-day, February
I26,l the mountains are white with snow. and
in many of the cannons pronounced kan
.yons) il is upwards Of fifty feet deep, reach
ing to the tops of the tallest trees. Although
Ion'y in the latitude of 40 deg. 46 M, it has
more than equalled in severity the winter Of
last year of Philadelphia, which was nm un,
usual one. and is even now quite uncer-
tain when it will terminate"
Again, he says, writing on the 10Th March:
"The mountain passes are fuller of snow
tnan ever. Yesterday morning we found
that five inches of snow had fallen during
the night, and last night nearly MS much
This is on The plains; in the mountains the
fall is from four to six times greater, the
condensation of the atmosphere vapor be.
ing there much more rapid and complete.
At this moment, while lhe sun is shining
brightly on the plains, il is showing furously
among the peaks"
After completing the reconnaissance of
Cache Valley, We returned to our camp on
Bear River When Col. Porter returned 10
his post, the provision tram was dispatched
down the east shore of the SaltLake, under
Lieut.. Rowland, of the Rifles, with orders 10
report TO Lieut.. Grandson, whilst |, accom-
panied by DR.. Blake, with a party of four
men and sixteen mules, addressed myself to
make the tour around the western side of the
Lake. This trip was, by many of the old
mountaineers, considered rather hazardous,
especially at that late season of The year. -
Many of them had tried it. The country
was represented 10 be barren in the extreme,
and almost, if not entirely, destitute of fresh
water. In addition TO which, some dstur~
Dances and i'll feeling had taken place be-
tween the whites and the Snake or Shosho,
nee. Indians, Using from gross Outrage which
had been wontonly inflicted upon the latter
Gy band ofunprinciped emigrants, in which
several of their men were killed, and women
violated and murdered was determined,
however, TO proceed, and, having provided
ourselves with some Indian rubber bags for
packing water in case of necessity, on the
18Th Of October we commenced our Journey
We we're also provided with one soldiers
tent and one wall tent fly, for pro- ec,ion from
rains; but they were of little use, as bu, in
one or two instances could poles be procured
fGr stretching them, so utterly destitute of
timber was the region through which we
passed. The journey occupied US until the
| Sth of November.
We founl that the whole western shore of
the lake consists of immense level plains Of
soft mud, inaccessible within many miles of
tho waters edge TO the feet of mules or
horses. being lraversed frequently by mean>
derng rils of salt and sulphur water, which
apparently sink and seem to imbue and sat
Iurate the whole soil, rendering il miry and
reachcrous. These plains are but little ee
yated above the present level of the lake, i,
and have without doubt at one time, not
very long since, formed part Of it, for il is
evident that a rise of but few inches will
at once cover the greater portion of these
extensive areas oil land with water again.
do not think hazard much by saying that
rise of one foot in the Lake would nearly
| if moi quite double its present area.
The plains, are for the most part, entirely
denuded of vegetation, excepting occasional
patches of Artemesa and ''greesc- wood 81
and they glitter in the sunlight, presenting
the appearance ofwater so perfectly that il
is almost impossible for one TO convince
himself that he is not on the immediate shore
of The lake itself. This is owing to The
capitalization of minute portions of salt on
the surface of the mud, and tho oozy slime
occasoned by the complete saturaton of the
soil with moisture. From this cause, also,
rises a mirage, which is greater here than
ever witnessed elsewhere; distorting objects
IN the most grocsque manner, and giving rise
to optical illusions amos beyond belief.
anticipate serious annoyance from this cause
IN making the triangulaton.
! In an estimated distance of one hundred
and fifty m les, on one part of the route
fresh wafer and grass were found only in one
spot, about midway of this stretch, and wc
were obliged to suosist our ANNALS, that is, tC
keep life in them, by serving them out PIN
Of water each, night and morning, tOker
from the india rubber bags packed upon lhei
backs. The first part ol this desert wnl
about seventy 6Ge miles in extent, md oc.
cnpied us two days and balf to cross il
travelling all day, aud tine greater part OF the
night; walkinga great portion ofthe way tC
relieve the mules, which began To sink unde
The wan, of susenance and water.
i In the latter portion Of This FIRST desert w
crossed field Of solid salt, which lay en-
crustcd upon the level mud plain, so thici
that il bore up The mules loaded with tbei
packs so perfectly that they walked upon !
Ius if il had jcen a sheet Of solid ice, slgh,ly
covered with snow, The whole plain wa
leVelas floor. We estimated Il is field Il
be at the least ten miles in length, by sever
in width. and the thickness ofthe saltat from
one half to troc quarters of an inch. A siiI
J, viOusiy crossed, but il was notihick nor hOn
, enough 10 prevent the animals from sinking
(, through ii into the mud al every steps. Tb
! salt III the solid Geld was perfectly crystal
ized, aud where il had moi bccomc nike
) with the soil was as white and fneas the bes
specimens OF Salina table salt. Some Of
! was collected and preserved. WA ~
) A(lor crossing the fcld Of salt wo nlruc