Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-25
Great Salt Lake.

Among tue 5Iehl HdtuId cuiiosNiVo VI
North America, the great saline body o.
water in Utah Territory, known rs Great
Salt Lake, stands in the first order. The
lake itself is not individually SO great a
curiosity as when viewed in come ction
with surrounding correlative indications,
which give us combination of natural
wonders truly astounding. The water
marks show that the lake is now mere
remnant of what was one of the mighty
water collections of the earth-perhaps
of body of water that spreads itself
throughout the whole Utah basin. Provo
Lake, body of water distant perhaps 70
miles from the great lake, is surrounded
by indications of like character, that
directly point to an early period when its
individuality was lost within the limits of
A mighty sea that absorbed both itself
and Great Salt Lake. Along the base
Of the mourtlin walls of the valley, if
we may so term the limits of the BASIN
are distinct water marks, of various ele>
vations. They are clearly discernabe at
a distance of twenty Eve nailee, the aaere
elevated order being from seventy-fve to
one hundred feet above the level Of the
valley. They are almost conclusive evil
dence that great sea once existed in
Utah valley, whose breakers have left
the marks of their power indented upon
the rocky front of their mountain con-
fines as a monument Of their power. The
different elevations of these water-marks
show the gradual declination of this sea
from body of water covering, it may
be, tens of thousands of square miles, to
the present salinous body Of about sixty
miles in length and forty or fifty in width.
This presumption is strengthened by the
existence throughout the entire valley, of
aquatic deposits, such as shells, petriGed
fishes, water worn rocks, etc. Upon thi,
theory, the inference may be drawn that
Great Salt Lake is gradually diminish
ing, but this is not the case; it is now re-
duced TO basin Of fixed causes. which
will give it perpetuity in its present ex-
tent The moisture of the atmosphere
Of these laitudes is sufficient to always
keep it supplied with a uniform quantity
of water. The melting snow Of the
mountains swels the rivers in the spring
and summer that empty into it, and when
this melting is prevented by the GOODNESS
of the fall and winter, those rivers fall,
and by evaporation the lake rapidly de.
clines-the evaporation carrying of more
water than the streams deposit. 1t is in
this declining condition that coarse salt is
obtained from the beach OF the lake IN
quantities ad infnitum. Now, so long as
the meteorological system prevails, the
lake must continue the same.
No theory is settled upon by scientific
men as 20 the cause of the salty nature OF
the lake. We have an opinion of our
own, which we believe to be rational.
The rivers emptying into it-Canaan,
Jordan, Weber, Malade, aud numerous
smaller streams-head in the mountains,
where they are supplied by myriads of
mountain brooks, some of which uhdoubt-
eddy have their source in salt springs.
These brooks impregnate the great wa
ter carriers of the lake with salt-to so
small an extent, though it be, that it is
not perceptible TO the taste; and they
carryit into tue lake, where it must for
ever remain and accumulate, as evapora
ton increases the proportion of the salt
TO the water. The salt may have been
carried to the lake over hundred miles.
dhd IL mas ptAudpS bCtH dCCuHluldlln3
there for thousands of years; and thus il
must continue to accumulate through all
time if the supply should be inexhausti-
bic.
The volcanic indications surrounding
the lake are peculiarly impressive, and
could well be made the subject of the
natural philosophers study. The whole
face Of the country appears to have pas
sed through caloric influences of the in>
tensest character. Enormous rocks fringe
ITS margin, which are charred as black as
ebony from the operation OF the heat, and
their fragmentary condition bespeaks the
mighty convulsions which they have pas
sed through. Near the lakes centre there
is quite large island, upon which these
volcanic eruptions are equally emphatic
This island is very fertile, and is owned
by the Church, which institution holds it
for the exclusive purpose of grazing. Ali
the stock which comes into the tithing
office-all Mormons are compelled to pay
one-tenth of everything that they make
OF raise to 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 pi,catory life is
impossible. Its average depth is fifty
teet.-Portland (Oregon) NevS.