Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-06
The Great Salt Lake.

The Utica Herald CLEANS the following facts
from Stansbnry's Report, recently published
Experiments upon the properties Of the wa
Ter q The Lake for preserving meat, were mads
by Nlr. SIansbury and his associates. A large
piece Of fresh beef was suspended from cord
and immersed in the Lake for over twelve
hours, when il was found to be tolerably well
cured. After this, Mr.. 5. states that all the
meat they wished to preserve was packed into
barrels without any salt whatever, and the yes
sels were then filled with the Lake water. No
further care or preparation was necessary and
the meat remained perfectly sweet, although
constantly exposed to the atmosphere and sun.
They were obliged TO mix fresh water with the
lime 10 prevent the meat becoming too salt for
present use.
An analysis Of the water Of the Lake shows
that il contains rather more than 20 per cent.
of the pure chloride of sodium, and not more
than per cent. Of other salts, forming one Of
the purest and most concentrated brines in the
world. Its specific gravity is about LII, but
this slightly varies with the seasons, being
probably affected by the immense foods of fresh
wafer which come rushing down into il from
the mountains in the spring, caused by lhe
melting Of the snow in the gorges.
The western shore Of the Lake for cOnsids
cradle distance, is lined with a substance some
what resembling in appearance the brown,
dried sea-weed of the ocean. Under the mag
nifying glass, however, it was found to consist
Of the Larvae, or dried skins Of a dipterous in-
sect. They Comprised stratum some six in-
ches in thickness, and had evidently been driven
upon the shore at different periods some ap.
pearing fresher and of different texture from
others, the insects having been Of larger size
Where these larvE originated may furnish
theme for curious speculation. Nothing living
, has ever yet been detected in the Lake, and
only few large insects in The brackish springs,
which do not al all resemble these remains
either in shape or size. That they have exis-
ted in almost incredible numbers is evident, as
the shores are lined with their skins, and the
bottom in many Instances for long distance
from the sh1re, is covered win them. In
some places they lie OH 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 solid salt, which was beautifully cryS-
talized upon the sand about half an inch thick.
The crystals were from one to two inches in
diameter, and glittered in the bright sunshine
like bed Of diamonds The evaporation Of
the shoal water between the island and the
main shure has left this beautiful deposit of
salt.
There are some large Islands in the Lake,
the principal ones being GUnnisOn, Antelope
and Stansbury Islands. The latter is twenty
miles long and fifty-seven in circumference. Il
is high rocky ridge, and attans a maximum
elevation Of nearly three thousand feet.
The buoyant properties of the waters of the
Lake are very remarkable. Mr.. Stansbury
says that man may float stretched al full
length upon bis back, having his head, neck,
both his legs 10 the knee, and bath his arms To-
/ the elbow out Of the water. If sitting posi-
ton be assumed, with the arms extended to
preserve the equilibrium, the shoulders will
remain aboys the surface. The brine 10 so
strong that the least particle getting into the
eye causes the most acute pain. Upon one oc-
casoB one Of The party fell overheard, and al
though good swimmer the immersion csssed
him 10 swallow some mouthsfu Of water before
rising to The surface. The effect was most
/ violent paroxysrn Of sirangling and vomiting,
and The man was Sn6t for duty for some time
afterwards.
| II is almost impossible to find water 6t for
The ordinary purposes Of life along the western
shore of Ihe Lake; and yet such is Ghe delight
fulness Of The climate, that one may sleep in
the open air with perfect imPunity.
On or near the eastern shores Of the lake ara
a number of hot and cold springs. They issHs
al the foot Of f1anking tower of hills, and have
executed for themselves circular hole fifteen
feet deep, with sloping sides, and deep chan
mel leading into the Meadow. There are cur
rents issuing between different strata Of con-
glomeraie and limestone, within few feet Of
each other, Of which one is a hOi sulphur,
second warm aud SALT and the third COOL drink
able water. At Numerous places fine salt il
brought up, and jets Of gas emitted; the salt
forms an imerustatiOn around the hole, and is
fine enough far table use. Three miles from
The Sat Lake City is hot spring. From the
hot spring 10 The city are numerous warm foun-
lains, that deposit gypsum and other sulphates.
These waters give delightful baths, and destroy
The fertility Of the soil.
The soil on the banks of the several rivers
on the eastern shore of the Lake is very pro-
ductve. Lieut.. Gunnison states that contfn-
nous field can be made from the Tempenagos
bottoms 10 the Wa-ke-te-ke Creek, and the
Utah Valley made to sustain population Of
more than hundred thousand inhabitants. At
dfF.ren, points along the rivers are magni6cen1
water powers.
The shore-lins Of the Lake, exclusive Of off
Gets. extends 29l miles.
We have seen no statements as to the depths
&c the Great Salt Lake.
We once heard Vermonter express his
opinion Of person ia the following style OF
classics could take said be, the little
a,d .f cn,hing vhiftie II down TO a point,