Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-06
THAT INVESTIGATION
In Relation TO the Salt Lands Around
Garfield Beach.

The further hearing Of the land
contest case, the United States and
Thomas J. Amy, Thomas L.
Jeremy, Jr., and Levi Reed trad
ing as Jeremy & CO.., VS.. Alfred
Thompson, claimant, was continued
this morning at 10 O'Clock, ut the
United States Land 0ffice. The
slme counsel as before were again
in attendance.
When the NEWS went 10 press
yesterday afternoon, Mr.. J. Fewson
Smith, c. E., WAS still on the stand.
In the course Of further cross
examination witness said that when
his survey was made in October,
1857, there were three dams upon
the disputed lands, and some six or
seven upon those outside Of them.
They were what were called earth
and brush dams, constructed by
driving stout poles or stakes into
the ground, weaving willows or
other brushes amongst the same,
and filling the interior between the
lines Of poles with brush, earth,
reeds, and bags filled with sand.
The sand was hauled from
considerable distance, in
some instances from the shore
Of the lake, the mud in some cases
being taken from the line Of the
dam. When he spoke Of earth he
referred to the immediate mud flats
from which il was taken. The
whole mass Of what witness desig-
mated earth was not mud; some Of
the material forming the upper
layer OF the dam had been hauled
from the higher ground away from
the dam. He knew this from the
evidences Of excavations made 100,
200, or 800 feetaway. He found these
excavations pretty much in all OF
the dams. He presumed they were
there now. He did not think he
ever observed any grass, such as
cattle might feed upon, growing
upon the land in question. He
did, however, notice, In places, what
was locally known rs squirrel tail''
grass, annual in It's character: but
he had not seen stock Of any kind
feeding thereon. He this summer,
when accompanied by Prof. Jones,
on making an extensive tour OF
these grounds, and near what YVES
represented as the ''sslt
shute" ION high point of
sand RIDGE, observed one solitary
specimen OF the scrub kind OF sage
brush. That was on a high point of
sand ridge, and 1t was the sole
specimen they found upon the land.
The deepest water he found in the
ponds during the survey in 1887 was
from A to 6 inches. The rise and
fall Of the Great Salt Lake was due
10 the rainfall which occurred in
this region. Local or temporary
oscillations in special parts were
due TO the varying direction Of the
wind. He would not swear he saw
the team horses drink water
flowing from the artesian
wells on these lands; his impression
was, however. that horses as well as
men used the drinking water
brought in casks. Some might have
been taken from tine wells. He did
not analyze the water in the shallow |
wellsand therefore could not testify |
rs to its constituent parts aside from |
its salinity. The water pumped into |
the ditch for the purpose OF irrigat- |
ing the trees at Garfield Beach was |
obtained from a spring some dis
lance east Of Black Rock, possibly |
or half a mile, and one |
third from the shore OF the lake,
more or less. It was situated on
what was termed salt grass land.
Mr.. Stephens-Do you consider |
all land in the vicinity Of the |
Great Salt Lake, which might, in |
stages Of high water be at times |
,verflowed, part Of the bed of the |
AXE?
Witness-An lands similar TO |
hose in dispute certainly are, and |
wen other lands submerged by the
AXE at each recurring rise Of the
AXE must at least, for the time being.
e considered as the bed Of the land.
Mr.. Stephens-Can any lands
which have ever been at any time
'verfiowed by waters Of the Great
salt Lake, or Of other salt bodies Of
water, be reclaimed?
Major Bird-We object 10 that /
question 80 far as 1t relates TO other
'odies Of salt water, because 1t is
notorious that the density and per-
'entages OF salt in that OF the Great
SALT Lake is so very much in excess
4 the ocean waters. Any reference
o bodies Of water outside Of the
treat Salt Lake is wholly incompe-
ent.
Witness said he knew Of no in
lance where bodies Of water as salt
L those Of the Great Salt Lake had
eceded from the lands aud the
anne had been reclaimed. In his
lands Of the character
UGH as these were impracticable Of
eclamatioE under existing con-
itions.
Mr.. Stephens - Assuming that
vater from the Great Salt Lake
ould be pumped or in some way
often into natural or artificial
onds ON other lands besides those
question, could not salt bemade
iythe solar process II