Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-12-16
EXPLORATIONS IN UTAH AND
ARIZONA.

The Salt Lake Tribune of December 7
GAYS of the discoveries made by the Bald
win Exploring Expedition:
This expedition, which was organized
With Major NJ. A. Baldwin as chief, Thos.
y Blossom, 4. NJ, as mineralogist and
assayer, and W. Il. Broadman, engineer,
for the purpose of exploring the middle
and southern portions of Utah, and the
northern part of Arizona, did not confine
its investigations to the mineral resources
of the country, but also made complete
Geographical examination of the region
passed over During the progress of the
expedition a number of natural curiosi-
ties were examined. On the west side of
San Pete Valley, at the base of range
of mountains running parallel with it,
solid conglomerate wall, nearly six miles
in length, three hundred feet thick,
hundred feet in height, and almost per-
pendicular, was found. This natural
rampant extends across the country like
the work of some gigantic artisan. and
has several immense gateways opposite
the mouths of the canyons which de-
bonch into the plain, and have evidently
cut through the obstruction. These open
ings are from one hundred to two hum
dred feet in width, and present the ap-
pearance of entrances through an i'm
mense fortifcation. Between the wall
and the base of the mountains there
is narrow plateau, and seen through
the gateways, the perspective view
Of the country on either side, is
described as magnificent in the ex-
ueme, and entirely unique in its
character Scenery of a remarkable
character is also found in the noun
tains around Coal Creek Canyon, near
Harmony, in Iron county. The noun
tains are Of bright red sandstone, and
nearly perpendicular, and five immense
projections upwards of 1900 feet in
hight, stand out like walls at regular
intervals at right angles, forming, as it
were, six gigantic stalls, against the side
of the mountain. These projections be-
ing also of red sandstone, entirely bare
and perpendicular, produce startling
effect, and constitute one of the wonders
in the scenery of Southern Utah. In
fact, the members of the expedition speak
in glowing terms of the natural attrac-
tons Of Iron county. and predict that
when the county is opened by railroad,
1t will become an attractive place of sum-
mer resort. Perhaps the most remark
able natural discovery made by the ex-
petition was that Of an ice spring in q
burning desert. This strange phenome-
non is situated about eight miles west of
the town of Fillmore, in Millard county,
and is located in bed of lava which has
flowed from volcano called Crater
Mountain, about four miles distant, but
which is now extinct. The lava is from
ten to twelve feet thick, and very porous.
The spring is three feet in diameter, and
is surrounded by solid ice. On hot
day in August, when the expedition Wis
tied the spot, the thermometer on the
desert not twenty feet distant from the
spring stood at 100 degrees. while the
water in the spring stood at freezing. 1t
is matter of conjecture whether the ice
is formed by rapid evaboration of
water through the porous lava, or
whether it is winter ice deposit, pro-
tected by the superintendent lava
bed through the Summer. The summit
OF Crater Mountain is 600 feet above the
plain. and its form is that OF the frustrum
of cone. Several OF the members of
the expedition assembled to the top and
clambered down into the extinct crater
$50 feet or 80 feet below the level of the
plain at its base. There are marks OF vi
olent volcanic action everywhere, and the
lava flow has extended for miles over the
surrounding country. The ascent of
Mount Nebo was made by Major Bald
win, Mr.. Blossom and two others. This
mountain, which is the highest in Utah,
isin Juab county, is Il, ,s65 feet high, and
is covered with perpetual snow. The
party started upon the undertaking at 2
o'clock one Saturday afternoon, with sad
die and pack animals, by way of North
Canyon, and advanced as far as possible
for the animals, when they camped for
the night, and the next morning at three
O'Clock proceeded on foot Upon reach
ing the summit the view afforded amply
repaid them for their labors. The whole
OF Utah seemed mapped out at their feet.
Toward the East was beheld San Pete
and other valleys, and the Wasatch
range, westward for a distance of nearly
two hundred miles the desert plains and
salt beds of Nevada were distinctly visi-
Die, while to the north Utah Lake and
Salt Lake glistened in the sunshine, and
the range of vision was only limited by
Promontory mountains. A complete
record OF observations was kept during
the progress of the expedition, with ele-
Vations, assays of ores, natural features
and characteristics of the country, which,
when published, will reflect credit upon
The leaders of the expedition and contain
Invaluable information concerning the