The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-28

! 1t has been remarked that nature de-
lights in paradoxes. She seems to pos
sess all the contradictory qualities usu-
ally attributed to her sex, and mani
tests her disposition in the greatest
possible variety of ways. The brilliant
cactus flower in the burning, sandy
desert, the brightly plumaged birds
and the savage beasts of the tropics,
the glowing aurora of the uninviting
polar regions, the bright mountain
flower fastening its-slender stem to the
crevice of the cliff, the tree-like tracery
of the misunderstanding frost on the
window pane. are but a few instances
of her powers of contrast.
These thoughts were suggested to
the writer's mind when he rode
through the fertile and attractive Pro-
vO valley, with its neat hamlets, its
productive fields and its delightful eli
mate. In viewing this superb valley,
one would scarcely think to ind in the
midst of this enchanted Eden, and
seeming to form an integral part of the
scene, d miniature inferno with it's
and its cavernous floor. .echOing dis
mally beneath the feet of the startled
traveller.
Near Park City.
At a distance of twelve miles from
Park City, and in the northeastern
part of the valley named above, is its
metropolis, the town of Heber with its
roller mills, it's cattle interests, and its
productive farms and gardens. Lying
directly west, and at a distance of
three miles from Beber, is the town of
ioh IN ma
of the advantages possessed by the
larger town, is favored with attrac-
tons which it is the province of this
article to describe. Everything here
attests the former activity of forces
now practically extinct. Houses. barns
and fences are built of the ubiquitous
pot rock" and in fact almost the en-
tire town is founded upon the porous
stone covered with a thin. layer of
earth. Even the creek water is tainted
with these volcanic influences, and a
cold well within the confines of the vii
lage is out of the question.
Looking northWGrd from the center
of the town. one sees as the most con-
spicuous object a large white mound.
Upon approaching it it is found to be
shaped like punch bowl, and of per-
fectly regular smooth outline. 1t is
formed of calcareous stone, and rises at
an angle of IS degrees to a height of
nearly one hundred feet.
A Difficult Ascent.
On account of the steepness of it's
sides and the powdered character of
the outside stone, which has been dis
integrated by contact with the air, the
mound is somewhat difficult to scale
But it is only when one reaches the
summit that the true nature of the
elevation is apparent. At the top of it
is about 125 feet in diameter; exactly
in the center is a crater in the form of
an irregular circle, about thirty feet in
diameter. This contains water which a
few years ago flowed naturally off the
sides of the eminence, but is now car
ried by a syphon pipe to a bathing re-
sort hard by, and made to do duty in
the plunge bath. The water a foot be-
low the surface has a temperature of
105 +. The writer has been informed
that when the water was being lower
ed more rapidly by the syphon the
temperature was some five degrees
higher. The water is slightly alkaline
in reaction, and the analysis, which is
furnished through courtesy of Mr..
Thomas Monks, the enterprising pro-
prietor of the bathing resort, shows
the water TO contain the following
matter in solution:
Solids in one gallon Of 2S1 cubic
inches.