The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-06-02


} The seeneBalong the south side Of North
Fork, some 1875 miles above its junction
with the South Fork, is truly wonderful. -
A lofty, Seminence emefges from the plain
called Court-hou Rock, and is the firstob-
served by the wanderer westward. Hapr
|peat in the distance exactly like the Capitol
at Washington, with wings and domes COM
Lplete. 1t is about $50 feet high and presents
front of equal magnitude. Near it is an
,eminence that affords nearly an exact com
.parison with the description given by travel
ers Of Cleopatria's Needle at Cairo in Egypt.
Some Is or20 miles farther west brings
the traveller to 'sChimney Rock" q perpen-
'dicular efninence above $50 feet high, 1t
stands on pyramidal base and Is a column
measuring about 20 feet wide by 10 thick,
land can be seen for 60 or70 miles, tits a
beautiful land mark. In the vicinity OF
Chimney Rock are numerous mounds and
|castle-like rocks, that remind the travelerxery
|forciblyof the ruins Of some gigantic Castle,
compared with which, the stupendous ruins
lof the ancient cities would dwindle into in
significance. II appears as though race of
lmighty giants had once made this their capi-
Itol and adorned it with mountain-like edifi
ices, which the stronger arm of time had
lprostrated with the earth.
Some 20 miles further west bringus to
lScotts Bluffs, a continuation of those mag
inificent mounds and imaginary grand ruins
, A short distance from SCOTS Bluffs brings us
l in sight of Laramie Peak, one of the Black
Hills or spurs Of the Rocky Mountains Its
latitude is very great and its top covered
with snow most Of the year and sometimes
lquite the year round. The traveller through
this region, particularly for some 200 miles,
| finds himself almost totally deprived of
wood for fuel, and dependant exclusively on
"Buffalo Chips for the means OF cooking
his food. This is not only tolerably good
fuel, but source that seldom if ever fails.
500 miles from the Missouri River bring
us to Fort Laramie, temporary fortification
made Of sun-dried bricks, and erected for the
purpose of overawing the Sioux, and refrac-
tory Indians in the vicinity. 1t garrisoneu
by the fragments of three companies of dra-
goons who inhabit huts in the immediate
vicinity. Fort Laramie is situated on the
south bank of the North Fork of the Platte,
near where the Laramie River empties into
it from the southwest. The route Of the
emigrant westward from the Fort is exceed
ingly rough. His way lays over lofty hills
and deep valleys until he arrives at the up
per Platte Ferry, 1870 miles from the Fort
From the Ferry to "Independence Rock" the
distance, 46 miles, is comparatively over an
even road, Independence Rock" rises alb
ruptly out of the plain and is not far from
300 yards long and $50 feet high. 1t is a
solid mass of Granite, almost perfectly COW
cred by the names Of emigrants.
Near this rock we first touch Sweetwatel
River, beautiful stream that we cross fire.
quently in our westward course. This Rive
runs eastwardly and is tributary of thu
Platte. 1t lies in the midst of a beautifu
grassy plain, ranging from A to 8 miles ii
width, and bordered by lofty Granite heights
varying from $50 to 1900 feet high. Thos
on the south side of the valley are covered
usually with snow.
On the north side of the valley along tho
FGranite heights, 5 miles west of Indepen
dence Rock, is a peculiar fissure througl
which the River passes. The defile is YER
narrow and the perpendicular Granite rock
are full 400 feet in height. The scene
strange and grand, and the pass is called tn
Devils Gate. AS the emigrant proceed
westward up the Sweetwatcr he at length ar
rives at the south pass, 27O miles from For
Laramie. This is not as has been suppose,
a narrow defile between two mountains, bu
a beautiful grass covered plain, 20 miles wide
At this point we find springs within stone
throw Of each other that are the fountain
of streams flowing to the opposite oceans.
A short distance further west brings us t
the Pacific Springs, which are numerou
fountains of excellent water from whence is
sues a considerable stream that ultimatel
becomes tributary of the Colorado. Tb
mountains on the north are called the Win
River Mountains. They are lofty heights
and are constantly covered withsnow Thos
on the south are also exceedingl gly high. Th
temperature of this region is very low in
: deed. Ice full half an inch thick has bee
frequently seen as the effect of one nigh
temperature of the atmosphere.
Our journey westward from the Sout
Pass, was over mountains, valleys, plain
barrens, and through deep defles and acroi
sundry streams until we reached the Uta
> Mountains that bound the basin of the gre,
! Salt Lake on the east. Our descent dow
!, these mountains was very rapid, and pr
] sented us with scene the most wild, stranf
/ and picturesque.
t After descending into the Great Basin, "
s soon reached the city of the Mormons, Il
streets of which we found to be eight rot
wide and running due east, west, north ar
/ south, cutting each other at right angles ar
making the city appear like a great checke
oard-having l6 tiers of lots or squar,
i from north to south and % from east to ives
{ making 352 squares or blocks. Each squa
!, contains 10 acres exclusive of the street, an
! g building lots of Ii acres each, that beir
i the amount allowed to every resident head
/ a family, which is amply sufficient for builC
3 ing and garden purposes. The streets a
bordered with beautiful streams that are col
! Quoted from the mountains by bitches dr
for the purpose, and afford tile inhabitan
excellent water not only for culinary pu
+ flposes, but an indispensable article in irrig,
/ tting their gardens. They can raise nothir
s in their gardens except by irrigation. A
] the wells they have made produce water th'
is too salt for any purpose except salt boilin|
} The Mormons contemplate adjoining the fol
, lsides Of every square in their city, with tre'
, from the four grand divisions Of the worlC
Their houses are exceedingly small, and low
and built Of Adobies or sun-dried bricks.
/ - IA IL.