The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-03-28
JHi5rrllaarull5.
The Great Salt Lake.

from Stanbury's report recently published
Experiments upon tie properties of the wa
ter of the Lake for preserving meat were
made by Mr.. Stansbury and his associates. Z
large piece of fresh beefwas suspended from a
cord and immersed in the lake for over twelve
hours when it was found to be tolerably well
cured After this, Mr. S. states that all the
meat they wished to preserve was packed III
to barrels without any salt whatever, ana the
vessels were then filled with the Lake water.
No further care or preparation was necessary
and the meat remained perfectly sweet, AL
though constantly exposed to the atmosphere
and sum- They were obliged to mix fresh wa
ter with the lime to prevent the meat oecom-
ing too salt for present US.
An analysis of the water Of the Lake shows
that it contains rather more than twenty per
cent of the pure Chloride cf sodium, and not
more than per cent of other salts, forming
one of the pnrest and most concentrated brlncs
in the world lis specific gravity is about
1T, but this slightly varies with the seasons,
being probably affected by the immense floods
of fresh water which come rushing down into
it from the mountains in the spring, caused by
the melting of the snow in the goreeS.
The western shore of the Lake, for c"nSi-
erabe distance is lined with substance some
what resembling in appearance the brown dry
sea weed of the ocean. Under the magnify
ing glass. however it was found to consist OF
the larvp or dried skins Of dipterous insect.
They comprise a stratum some SIX inches III
thickness, and has evidently been driven upon
the shore at different periods; some appearing
fresher and Of a different texture from others,
the insects being of alarger SIZE Where these
larvae originated may furnish a theme for curl
Gus speculation Nothing living has ev, been
detected OH the Lake. and only a few large M
sects in the brackish spriags, which do not at
all resemble these remains either III share or
size. That they have existed in almost i't'rrd,
:be uumbers is evident. as the shores are !l"".'
with their skins. and the bott"m III many II
stances, for a long distance from the sh"r' Is
covered with them. In some places they tie "'
the bottom of the Lake foot thick, IllNrd up
with the oozy mud.
On the fats near the west shore "t the Lake
Mr.. Stan>bury and his part! di>""vcr"'i II lag"
field of srlid salt, which beautifully crNs
talized upon the sand about IN INCH thI"h.--
The Cr, stalls we've from one To- two inches in
diameter. and '.gIittered in the bright sunshine
the shnal water belw cen the island and the
maine shore has letr this beautiful del"slt "f
salt.
There are some large islands in the LnNe,
the principle ones being Gnnnis"n, Antelope
and Stan<bury Islands. The latter Is twenty
miles long I'd fifty seven in circumference 1t
is high rocky ridge and a'tains Il maximum
deviation of nearly three thousand feet.
The buo, ant properties "f the waters of the
Lake are yer, remarkable. Mr.. s. says that
a man NAV float stretched at tull length upon
his back having his head, neck, both hi lrg~ |"
the knee and b''th arms t. the elbow out "s
the water. lfa sitting position is assumed,
with the arms extended t" preserve the cqn'
lbriuu. the shoulders will remain above the
surface, The brme is so strong that the least
particle getting into the eyes causes the most
acute pain. Upon one OCCASION one 1T the par
ty fell overheard, and although good swim
ner, the sudden immersion caused him TO Swal
low some month>fuI of water before rising to
the surface The effect WAS Il most violent par.
oxy>m of sirangling and vomiting aud the man
was unfit for duty for some time afterwards. -
1t is almost impossible to find water fit for the
ordinary purposes of life along the western
SnOre OF tle Lake ana EeI N"ch - 'He "'''S"'
funeSs of the climate, that one may sleep III
the open air with perfect mpunity.
On or near the eastern shores OF the lake are
number Of hot and cold springs. They issue
at the foot Of flanking towerot hills, and have
excavated for themselves a circular hole fifteen
feet deep, with sloping sides, and deep chan
mel le"dng into the meadow. There are cur
rents issuing between different strata of con.
gomerare and limestone, within few feet OF
each other, of which one is hot uphur, Sec
ond warm aud SALT aud the third COOL drinka
bic water.
At numerous places fine salt is brought up,
and Jets of gas emitted, the salt forms "n in
crustaton around the hole, and is fine enough
for table use. Three miles from the Salt Lake
City is hot spring. From the hot spring 10
the city are numerous warm fountains, that de-
post gypsum aud other sulphates. These VA
ters give delightful, baths, and destroy the fer
tility of the soil.
The soil on the banks of the several rivers
on the eastern shore of the Lake is very pro
duclive. Lieut.. Gunnison states that con.
tinuous field can be made from the Tempena.
pos bottoms to The Wake te-ke Creek, and the
Utah Valley made to sustain population of
more than hundred thousand inhabitants.-
At different points along the shore are mag
nifccnt water powers.
sets, extends 2Sl miles.