The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-06

the water flows from the side of the
mountain ut temperature of abont 1O2
f.; but this is reduced to about 80 F.
when it reaches the baths. Large num-
bers, both strangers and Mormons, battle
here every day, and nothing is pleasanter
than bath of about fifteen minute8 in
those health. giving waters. To remain
longer than that, however, seems to de-
bilitate very much, as one of our party
learned to his sorrow. The spring .ouse,
however, has an apartment for ladies,
aud the day we were there twelve of the
Presidents daughters were enjoying q
bath. They tell me the waters were
once much warmer than now, and TINT
when the ''gold fever" was high in Cali
fornia. II party of miners, OH their Jour
| ney Westward, stopped over night near
the springs, and one Of the tennis stcrs.
having heard that the springs we're used
| by the Mormons to preserve themselves
in perennial youth, resolved to try tile
| experiment on himself. When he reached
the water, he found it much hotter than
! he expected, but he said he could stand
any thing Mormon could and plunged
in. He came out instantly, however,
looking like boiled lobster, and in u
condition to be easily haycd
We spent delightful day Mt Great
Salt Lake-the Dead Sea of America
and found it all that had been represent
ed. 1t is, indeed, one Of the wonders of
the world. 1t has no visible outlet, aud
Ia, doubtless, the remains of some vast
sea, for the water marks are still visible
high mp ON the sides of the mountains
which surround it. It has a number Of
| rocky islands, upon one Of which the
nrOf Hof 1e.h r. 10 ~
be about 1875 miles long by forty i've
wide, without living thing in its waste
of waters; nothing to give vibration to
it's currents or one life.liko throe to its
briny bosom. It is absolutely dead, and
lies there in the sun shine like field Of
FURNISHED silver. Everything around it
| is utter desolation, aud reminds one 80
forcibly Of ruin and death that the heart
grows faint as the eye wanders over its
motionless surface. Along the shores
bnshel after bushel of salt cln be seen,
| aud the Mormons cart it off to the city
aud use 1t for preserving meats. &c
When the rates over tho railroad are re-
dnced, it will become source Of con-
siderable revenue to them, and trey
have now put up some watts near tho lake
shore to increase the supply. They
claim it's waters will make nenrly pound
Of salt to the gallon. It is certainly
buoyant enough to retain the human
body, for. after sinking to about the
neck, we walked in the water for long
distunce, without any trouble or difficult
ty. The beach, at what is called Black
Rock, about twenty miles from the city,
is the best place to bathe, as the descent
is gradual and the bottom filed with
small white sand. The shores of the
lake in some places are literally covered
with very small black flies, which appear
to live on the salt or salt weeds. They
rise up when you approach in perfect
clouds, and it requires the most vigorous
brushing to keep them out of your ears,
are here in larger numbers this year than
ever before. The rivers Jordan, which
we crossed, and in whose waters we dip
ped our hands. Weber, Bear and other
small streams flow into the lake, and it is
said to be a weil-known fnct that while
the water does not become fresher it's
volume is constantly increasing, there
| being greater depth now by twelve feet
than there was twenty years ago. Some
say that in time it will cover the entire
valley, as it did in former days, and
drown out the whole Mormon settle
ment. This assertion, however, is made
by "Gentiles," as they are called The
Mormons do not seem to apprehend any
such result, and regard the rising of the
water with much Indifference.
The Mormons raise wheat. rye, oats
corn. potatoes, nearly oil the vurions
vegetables, and, with their orchards, can
supply every want; and when we remem-
ber that in l047. when they arrived here
this place and nll tho other settlements
were wild and unbroken country, it be-
comes a matter of great astonishment
that they have made such progress aud
attained such eminent prosperity. All
| their crops are made by means of irriga.
ton, and the amount Of labor required
to produce them would startle South
efn planter if he had to employ negroes
to do the work. Yet these people, year
after year, in spite of many adverse cir
cumstances, SOW and reap, laying up in
their .'Fithing House" immense Qunnti-
ties of grain and other things. Some
times the grasshoppers destroy their
crops, and they have several times been
reduced to the verge Of starvation; but
now that the railroad is open, such q
condition is no longer feared. They tell
mo that when they planted their first