Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-01-07
Great Salt Lake.

ties of North America, the great saline
body of water in Utah territory, known
as Great Salt Lake, stands in the first
order. The lake itself is not individu-
ally so great curiosity as when
viewed in connection with surround
ing correlative indications, which give
us combination of natural wonders
truly astounding. The water marks
show that the lake is now mere rem.
nant of what was one of the mighty
water collections of the earth--per-
haps body Of water Tat spread IT.
self throughout the whole Utah basin.
Provo lake, body of water distant
perhaps seventy-five miles from the
great lake, is surrounded by indica-
tions of like character, that direct.
~ point to an early period when it's
individuality was lost within the lin
its 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
water marks of various elevations.
They are clearly discernible at dis
lance of twenty-five miles, the more
elevated being from seventy-hve to
one hundred feet above the level OF
the valley. They are almost conclu-
sive evidence that great sea once
existed in Utah valley, whose break
ers had left the mark Of their power
indcnted upon the rocky front of their
mountain confines, as monument OF
their power The different elevations
of the watermarks show the gradual
declination Of this sea from body of
water covering, may be. tens of thou
sands 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, pctrified fishes, waterworn
rocks, &c.
Upon this theory the inference may
be drawn that Great Salt Lake is
gradually diminishing /; but this is
not the case !; it is now reduced to a
basis of fixed causes which will give
it perpetuity in its present extent.
The moisture Of the atmosphere OF
those ATTITUDES is sufficient to always
keep it supplied with a uniform guam
tity of water. The melting snow of
the mountains swells the rivers in the
spring aud summer, that empty into
it. and when the melting is prevented
by the coldness of the fall and winter,
those rivers fall, and by evaporation
the lake rapidly declines-the evapo.
ration carrying eff more water than
the streams deposit. 1t is in this de.
clining condition that coarse salt is
obtained from the beach Of the lake
in quantities ad infnitum. Now, so
long as the meteorological system pre-
walls, the lake must continue the same
as now.
No theory is settled upon by scien-
tiic men as to the cause of the sultry
nature Of the lakes. We have an
opinion of our own, which we believe
to be rational. The rivers emptying
into it-Canaan, Jordon, Weber, Ma
lade aud numerous smaller streams
head in the mountains, where they
are supplied by myriads of mountain
brooks. some of which undoubtedly
have their source in salt springs.
These brooks impregnatc the great
water-carriers of the lake with salt
to so small an extent. though it be,
that it is not perceptible to the taste
and they carry'it into the lake,
where it must forever remain and ac-
cumulatc, as evaporation increases
the proportion Of the salt to the water.
The salt may have been carried to the
lake over a hundred miles, and il has
perhaps been accommodating there for
thousands of years and thus it must
continue to accumulate through all
time, ifthe supply should be inexhaust-
ible.
The volcanic indications surround
ing 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 passed through caloric infldD
ence Of the intensest character. Enor-
nous rocks fringe its margin, which
are charred as black as ebony from
the operation Of heat, and their frag-
mentary condition bespeak the mighty
commissions which they passed
through. Near the lakes center there
is quite large island, upon which
these volcanic Indications are equally
emphatic. This island is very fertile,
and is owned by the church, which in
stitution holds it for the exclusive
purpose of grazing. All the stock
which comes into the tithing Office
all mormons are compelled to pay one
tenth of everything that they make or
raise to the church--are taken to this
island, and there must be thousands
Of heads upon it. 1t is reached by
small sailing vessels. SO extremely
salt is the water Of Salt Lake that
piscatory life is impossible. It's aver
age depth is fifty feet.-PorAand Ore
gon) Neps.