The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-07-07

ern hills, it rises again to the surface,
and pursues its way thenceforth above
ground as If ignorant Of subterranean
percolation. A teamster assured me that,
SO early as the lst of June, be dug down
fully eight feet in,o the sandy bed which
the water had deserted and found nothing
10 quench the thirst of his perishing OK
en-. Passing westward hundred miles
or so, you cross the most motherly afflu-
ent of the Arkansas, (Which heads fur
ther northward than | ever saw laid
down on map J and this stream also
shows, quite early in June, a perfectly
dry. wide bed OF coarse sand for miles
in length, covered at intervals for quite
a distance with that whitish incrustaion
or efflorescence which on so many Wes-
tern water-courses proclaims the vicin-
age of vast alkaline deposits, whereby
lakes and springs of seemingly delicious
water are made waters of death to the
reckless men, or animals that imbibe
thereof. Written cautions against drink
ing at these treacherous pools are not un.
common and was especially impress.
ed, when very near the South Pass Of
the Rocky Mountains, with the appear.
ance of aperfect gem Of a lakeet, in an
emerald setting Of grass, without track
leading down 10 ii from the beaten, dus.
ty way over which so many hungry,
thirst madden cattle were constantly
passing. The aspect was most inviting !;
but sad experience had long since prov
ed the deadly qualities OF the transparent
fluid and now oil hurried By i, in quest
Of more healthful though scan,ier nour-
ishment ahead.
The Pacific Railroad will doubtless
strike the Platte near Fort kearney, and
follow it westward to its forks where
think il will bend southwestward, either
following the South Platte TO Denver or
leaving il near the mouth of the Cache
lie Poudre or some other Western tribu-
tarv, which it will follow into and partly
through the Rocky Mountains, ill it in
teilocks with the White or the Yampa
tributary Of the Green River branch Of
the Colorado. The route up the only
other considerable Western sflluent Of
the South Platte, known as Z" Lodge Pole
Greek, seems more direct and facle on
this side but ii is open to the main OBJ
| lection of the North Platte or South Pass
route, that it carries the road too Tar
north. making it longer than il need be,
and takes it over the high and difficult
ground, intersected by very deep water
courses, which separates Fort Bridger
from the valley Of the Bear River OF
Utah. There are of course difficulties to
| be overcome on any route, but am con
fdent a more southerly and direct way
can be found that viii be less expensive
than any which traverses the South Pass
(of itself easy enough, but with serious
i obstacles at either end or crosses the
high ridges westward and southwark ot
Bridger.
Water will be procured beyond doubt
though not without cost, on any route
for Utah and its surroundings are noun
famous, and mountains breed springs
| think there are few valleys between Tho
crests of the Rocky Mountains and those
OF the Sierra Nevada in which water
might not be brought TO the surface b,
f the Artesian process, boring less than on,
hundred feet through soft aluvium, ant
never touching rock. The furlheres
apart found springs or running streams
in crossing the continent was fifty mile
in Utah. 100 TO 80 miles southwes
Of Salt Lake and this was late in July
| Low mountains abound Throughout, an,
am confident tha, water might hav
/ been cheaply and quickly had by borini
in nj leas, ten places along this fft
E miles. Springs among the mountain
and at their bases are by no means rar
r throughout Central Utah-are scarces
4 along the failing Humboldt, an
= thence across the strip of sandy deseI
: which separates the "sink " Of ih
stream from the kindred shallow estua
/. les whose thirsty beds and borders driu
n up the waters at intervals flowing dow
| the eastern slope Of the Sierra Nevada.
j | Judge that One Million Dollar
d wisely expended. will supply the Pacii
4 Railroad at or just below the earth's su
:. face, with all the water il will nee
"A But wood is scarce for most Of the wa
n. take what route you please; and t
IN road must be located with n view TO
er cihtate for obtaining IT, In the Roe
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada,
~ deed, the supply is inexhaustible. a
- though mainly eyergreens or the Pine