The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-06-05
Great Salt Lake.

Among The great natural curiosilies of
North America, the great saline body OF
water in Utah Territory, known as the Great
Salt Lake stands in the first order. The
Lake itself is not individually so great a
curiosity as when viewed in connection
with surrounding correlalive indications,
which give US combination Of natural
wonders truly astounding. The wafer
marks show that the lake is now a mere
remnant of what was one of the mighty
water collections of the earth-perhaps of
body of wafer that spread itself through
out the whole Utah basin Provo Lake,
body of water distant perhaps rs miles
from the great Lake, is surrounded by indi-
cations of like character. that directly point
10 an early period when lis individuality
was lost within the limits of a mighty sea
that absorbed both Itself and Great Salt
Lake. Along the base of the mountain
walls of the valley, if we may so term the
limits of the basin, are distinct waler-marks
of various elevations They are clearly
discernible at a distance of 25 miles, the
more elevated order being from IS TO loo
feet above the level of the valley. They
are almost conclusive evit ence that great
sea once existed in Utah valley, whose
breakers have left The marks OF their power
indented upon the rocky trout of their
mountain confines as monument Of their
power. The different elevations of these
water marks show the gradual decIension
OF this sea from body of water covering,
may be, tens Of thousands of square miles,
10 the present salinas body of about 90
miles in length and 10 or so in width This
presumption is strengthened by the exis-
lerce throughout the entire valley, of equa.
tic deposits, such as shells, pelri6ed fishes,
water-worn rocks, eIc. Upon this theory
the Inference may be drawn thai Great Salt
Lake is gradually diminishing but this is
not the case il is now reduced 10 a basis
of fixed causes which will give it perpetui-
iy in It's present extent. The moisture OF
the atmosphere of those attitudes is suffi-
cient 10 always keep il supplied with uni
form quantity of wafer. The melting snow
of the mountains swell the river in the
spring and summer that empty into IT, and
when this melting is prevented by the cold.
ness OF the fall and winter, those rivers fall,
! and by evaporation the lake rapidly declines
the evaporation carrying off more wafer
than the stream deposits. 1t is in this de-
cning condition that coarse salt is obtain.
/ ed from the beach OF the lake in quantities
ad i'yfnittrt Now, SO long as the same
meteorological system prevails, the lake
must continue the same as now
No theory is settled upon by scientific
men as 10 the canse of the salty nature of
The lake. We have an opinion of our own
which we biieve to be rational. The rivers
emptying into it-Canaan, jordan, Webber,
Malade, and numerous smaller streams
head in the mountains, where they are sup
piled by numerous mountain brooks, some
OF which undoubtedly have their source in
sali springs. These brooks impregnate the
great waller carriers of the lake with salt
10 so small an extent, though il be, that it
is not perceplible TO the taste and they
carry il into the lake where it must forever
remain and accumulate, as evaporation ih
creases the proportion Of the salt TO the wa
ter. The salt may have been carried to the
lakes over d hundred miles, and it has per
haps been accommodating there a thousand
years and thus it must continue 10 accu-
mulale forever should The supply be mex
hauslible.
The volcanic indications surrounding
the lake are peculiarly impressive, aud
could we'll be the subject o. the natural phi
Iosopher's study. The whole face of the
country appears TO have passed through
caloric influences of the intensest character
Enormous rocks fringe It's margin, which
are chared as black as ebony from the op
Grafton of heat and their fragmentary con-
dilion bespeaks the mighty vulsions which
they have al some time passed through
Near The lakes centre is quite a large island
upon which these volcanic indications are
equally emphatic. This island is very fef
tile, and is owned by the Church, which
institutions holds it for the exclusive pur-
pose of grazing All the stock which comes
into the tithing office [all Mormons are
compelled 10 pay onetenth of everything
that they make or raise 10 the Church) are
taken TO this island, and there must be
thousands OF head upon it. 1t is reached
by small sailing vessels. So extremely
salt is the water of Salt Lake that piscatory
life is impossible. lis average depth is 80
eet.-POrtiand OregOn) Nslrs.
no.-,,,I i, II. A. ;,J,v,d,ot mr.