Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-03
OUR UTAH LETTER.
DescriptI on of salt Lake -Excite-
ment Among the Mormsns aad
Petition to Congress.
HEBER CITY, Feb. "a, 1882


DEAR JOURNAL The Great Salt Lake
from which Salt Lake City derives it's
name, is peculiar and interesting body
OF water, short description of which
may prove interesting to your readers.
The lake is 100 mi les long from north
to south, and 80 to 35 miles broad from
east TO west, and at an altitude Of 1000
feet above the sea level. 1t has no visible
outlet. Its greatest dcbth is about 60
feet, bur it is generally quite shallow, in
many places being only to feet. 1t is
supposed TO have covered vast extent of
territory sometime in the past. The
water is very clear and very salty. In
low water ii contains as much rs % per
cent oil chloride Of sodium, strong enough
TO hnat an egg. There nre several
islands in it, he largest being Is miles
in length. They are all mountainous and
present grand and picturesque appear
nnce. One ia called Church Island, the
Mormon Church owning and keeping q
lnrge amount of cattle and horses on it,
where they obtain their living summer
and winter. There are several beautiful,
clear springs of fresh water on this island
No timber of any kind grows near the
lake. l have never heard OF any animal
or fish of any kind living in it. A man
will hoat on the surface as beuyantly az a
cork in fresh water. 1t is almost impossi-
ble to swim in ii, as every time you un.
dertake to initiate the frog, you find your
self kicking The air. The trouble ia 10
keep beneath the surfnce, yet il is very re-
freshing to bathe in, but one must look
out for his eyes and keep his mouth shut.
AfIer bathing it is necessary TO use fresh
water to get the salt off the body.
Salt is formed by the lake Overlooking
its banks in high wa ter, then receding and
leaving ponds full Of the salt water where
il gradually dries away, and, in the
months Of September and October, the
bottoms OF these are covered with beauti'
fully granulated salt, varying in thickness
from inches To 2 feet. Most OF these
ponds are now claimed; but salt is very
cheap, delivered in Salt Lake City, at
cent per pound, often cheaper.
There are n great many iresh water
streams flowing into this lake, and the
curiosity IN Why ~ never Beb iiesh VI iui''
This lake was first made khown TO the
white race some 200 years ago through
some Western Indians.
A memorial TO Congress, signed by several
thousand OF Ulsh's young men, will be
sert to Congress next week, demonstrating
against the passage Of the Edmond's
bill. and asking for a Republican form OF
government; declaring that recent legis-
lation on the Mormon question tends TO
destroy the rights and privileges of
law.abiding and persecuied community.
The petition, denies that celestial mar
riage pOllules or debases any community,
&C., &c.
There is considerable anxiety mani
tested by the Mormons, and they are ex-
pecting trying times, according 10 the
prophecies OF Joseph Smith, and others
"when all shall bs tried as gold, seven
times tried and the chat separated from
the wheat and only few will be lef, t'
bear OFF the kingdom" There is no doub
but thai many will die. II necessary ,rathe
than yield. We may look for trying
time in Utah ere long.
Mofe anon, WILD OATS.