The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-16

Among the places Of interest that
should be visited In Utah Is Great Salt
Lake, situated about 20 miles west Of
Salt Lake City, and accessible BY the
Utah Western Railway Ia the sum
sner season excursions ara common on
the lake by steamer, the General Gar
fleli.e The various Islands can be Wis
lifted, efroshments can be- obtained on
board and music and dancing are in
order. The size Of the lake is about 80
miles from east to west by 100 miles
from north to south. Small parties
may enjoy themselves on the water in
boats, which may be hired for the oc-
casion, and bathing may be INDUCED
in without any danger of sinking by
reason Of the buoyancy OF the water.
The water is, in fact, a strong brine, in
which common table salt, chloride of
sodium, ID. the principal constituent.
The lake Is situated at the lowest level
Of Great Salt Lake Basin, and Is the re-
ceptacle Of all the water that Is brought
down the mountain. The names OF the
rivers are the Jordan, which flows
through Salt Lake Valley from the
south, the Weber, which flows through
q canyon on the east Of the lake, and
Bear River, which empties into it on
the north. Thel lake has no outlet. Its
waters are gradually carried of by
evaporation. OF late years the water
brought down has exceeded in guam
tity that carried of by evaporation, for
which reason the waters are higher
than usual. During the last year an
elevation Of Is inches was Indicated by
the gauge erected by the university Of
this city for the purpose of recording
any changes Of level. The size OF the
lake varies according to the amount of
fain-fall and evaporation.
BY recent exploration at one point |
Of the western shores it is found that
the lake has extended itself about Is !
miles inland beyond the lines marked |
at the time Of Stansbury's survey in
l649. lNnf a 44.unn4 49,
There are no forms Of life in tho lake,
except small creatures three-quarters |
Of an inch in length, resembling the !
brine shrimp. These are found in the |
warm season in great abundance. There
IS also species Of weed that floats
about in the heavy waters, that abounds
10 minute insectllife. The tiny shrimp
alluded TO IL an object OF much interest
70 visitors and the naturalist, by whom
. Is called Artemoa fertilis. Obserya-
tiops are now being made by scientists
with view TO determine the various
Iorms OF life which have their origin in
his Lakeland It Is highly probable that
I will be found that this body Of water
will no longer merit the name OF the \
= Dead Sea Of America
When these valleys were first settled
BY the Mormons the level Of the lake
vas SO low that people could walk over
Rom the present shores to the adjacent
sland ut y place where there is now IA
eet of water. That was in 1S47. From
1852 to 1856 the waters rose some six
eet. From that date to 1861 the waters
subsidized and the lake became contract
ID TO its usual size. From that date
here has been an upheaval tendency,
Until in lS74.75 the waters had risen
ome IL feet. In consequence OF this
many thousand acres Of valuable farm
md pasturage lands were covered by
he water, and continue to be so. Dur
NJ the last year the further rise OF l3 !
inches has caused large quantity OF !
and to be covered on the east shores Of
he lake.
The mean elevation of Great Salt
AXE above the sea level, as given in
he Governments reports, is 1900 feet
that OF This city, at the base line, is
800 feet; SO there is no danger OF an
lundation here, except in the lower
ards Of the city, where the lands are :
ow occasionally flooded for a season. !
1hen the snow in the mountains is :
,elting rapidly. 1t has been suggested I
hat an outlet might possibly be made Z
n the western shores for conveying {
way the surplus waters, where they a
'ould be absorbed and dissipated on 4
ie great Western desert which exists 2
iere. The recent exploration made I
as not carried far enough to ascertain
neither this is practicable or not.
he principal Inconvenience sustained
present by the uprise and expansion {
the area of the lake is the destruction r
valuable lands on its margin, and the =
Bnse fogs, which envelep the lake and q =
J banks at times by the partial con- 3,
ensation Of the evaporating waters in a
vapor.-SaH Lake Tribune. .
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