Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-03
The Great Salt Lake.

The Great Salt Lake.
The Utica Herald CLEANS the follow
ing from Stansbury's Report, recently
published
Experiments upon the properties Of
the water Of the Lake for preserving
meat, were made by Mr.. S.snsbury and
his associates. A large piece Of fresh
beef was suspended from cord and i'm :
mersed in the Lake for twelve hours,
when it was fouad to be ,olera bly, well
cured. After this. Mr.. s. states that
all the meat they wished to preserve was
packed into barrels without any sal,
whatever. and the vessels were ,hen FILL
ed with the Lake water. No further
care or prepara ton was necessary; and
the meat remained perfectly sweet, al
though constantly exposed to the atmos-
phere aad sun. They were obliged to
mix fresh water with the lime to pre-.
vent the meat from becoming too salt
for present use.
An analysis Of the water Of the Lake
shows that it contains "a her more than
20 per cent. Of the pure chloride Of So
dium. and no. more than 2 per cent. of
other salts, forming one of the pures,
and most concentrated brines in the
world. Its specific gravity is about l /,
l z, but this slightly varies with the
season, being proba bly, affected by the
immense foods of fresh water which
come rushing down into it from the
mountains ia the spring. caused by the
melting Of the snow in tho gorges.
The western shore Of tha Lake for q
considerable distance, is lined with q
substance somewhat resembling in sp.
pearancs the brown, dried seaweed Of the
ocean. Under the magnifying glass,
however. it was found to consist Of the
lsrva, or dried skins Of dipteross in
sect. They comprised a stratum some
six inches in thickness, and had evident>
ly been driven upon the shore at differ
ent periods; some appearing fresher and
OF a different texture from others. the
insects having been Of . larger size
Where these larvn originated may fur
nisha theme for curious speculation.
Nothing living has ever yet bocn de-
tect~d in the Lake. and only few large
insects in the brackish springs, which
do not at all resemble these remains
either in shape or size. That they have
existed in almost incredible numbers is
evident, as the shores are lined with
their skins, and the bottom in many in
stances for long distance from the
shore. is covered with them In some
places they lie on The bottom of the
Lake foot thick mixed up with the
oozy mud.
, On the flats near the west shore of
the Lake. Mr.. Stansbury and his party
discovered large field of salt, which
was beautifully crystalized upon the
sand about half an inch thick. The
CRYSTALS sparkled in the bright sunshine
like "bed Of diamonds" The eyapo.
ration Of the shoal water between the
Island and the main shore has left this
beautiful deposit Of salt.
There are some large Islands in the
Lake, the principal ones being Gunni
son. Antelope and S.ansblry Islands,
The latter is twenty miles long and
twenty seven in circumference. Itisa
high aud rocky ridge and at,sins max
imum elevation Of nearly 5000 feet.
The buoyant properties Of the waters
OF the Lake are very remarkable. Mr..
S. says thata man may float. stretched
at full length upon his back. having his
head, neck. both his legs to the knee,
and arms to the elbow. out Of the wa.
ter. liza sitting position be assumed.
With the arms extended to preserve the
equilibrium, the shoulders will remain
above the surface. The brine is SO
strong that the least particle getting in
to the eyes causes the most acute pain.
Upon one occasion one Of the party fell
overheard, and although good swim
mer, the sudden immersion caused hin
to swallow some mouthfulls Of water
before rising to tho surface. The effsc,
was most violent paroxysm Of strang
ling and vomiting, and the man was
unf, for duty some,ine afterwards:
1t is almost impossible to fnd water
fit for the ordinary purposes Of life along
the western shore Of the lake; and yet
such is the delightfulnsss Of the climate,
that one may sleep in the open air With
perfect impunity.
On OF near the eastern shores of the
Lake arc number of hot and cold
springs. They issue At the foot Of q
tower Of hills. and have eAe-
.uied for themselves . circular hole
fifteen feet deep, with sloping sides, and
! deep channel leading into the
Meadow. These are currents issuing
Between different strata Of conglome-
.ate and limestone within few feet ofl
ZACH other. OF which Que 10 hot sul-
,hur. q second warm and salt. aud the
hird cool. drinkable water At numer.
,us places fine salt is brought up and
cts Of gas emitted; the salt forms an
ncrustation around the hole, and is fine
enough for table use. Three miles from
he Salt Lake City 10 hot spring
from the hot spring to the city are nu'
nerous warm fountains, that deposit
gypsum and other sulphates. Their
waters give delightful baths, and destroy
he fertility Of the soil.
The soil on the banks of the rivers
IN the eastern shore Of the Lake is very
Lieut.. Gunnison states that
continuous 6eld can be made from the
bottoms 10 the Wake ts-
re-. Creek, and the Utah Valley made 10
population Of more than a
hundred Thousand inha bitsnts. At diff.
erent points along the rivers arc mag.