The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
THE GREAT SALT LAKE.
CIoEging OF the Salt Rocks Causes a Loss or
saline strength.

From the Ph ilddelphid Times.
The Great Salt Lake is two feet lower to-day
than ever before known in the history of Utah,
and according to competent observers it is rap
idly changing its chief characteristic and turn
ing into an inland sea o: fresh water. Every
fall the lake is several feet lower than in the
spring. but this year the waters have subsidized
to such an extent that many of the bathing
pavilions and lighthouses are left high and dry
upon the beach. 1t has always been believed
by experts that the lake had an underground
outlet. but no explorer has yet been fortunate
enough to discover any. 1t is supposed. how
ever. that outlets exist. and that during the
last six months they have gained noticcably
upon the springs which supply the lake.
On the northern slopes of the lakes shores and
down the western border are numberlcss springs
which have always run pure brine into the in
land sen. These springs evidently come through
immense rocks OF salt in the earth. and by wash
ing through. them they make tho spring water
intensely briny by the time it reaches the sur
face. There have been signs of a change in these
springs in recent years. Several times they have
water they fe I poured up i" appeared ed fSsS'; i" They
have now become partly choked up, either
With With re-, rocks so0 or salt snnD,S and they no longer
they did years ago, In several other places
notably on East Antelope. within fifteen feet OF
the brimming lake basin-theIe are many fresh
water springsthat gush up al all seasons of the
year and pour into the lake. These fresh water
oPllHko nav vi " Nv iioic.
since the salt water springs became clogged up.
and 1t is supposed tho underground reservoir of
water, diverted I ON its usual course, is now
seeking an adequate outlet through the springs
whore no salt rocks exist.
II this theory is correct, the Great Salt Lake
will gradually turn to fresh water. and the sur
face will continue to fall until the winter and
spring freshets from the mountains I'LL it again.
This additional water will add no salt to the
great sea, but make ii frcShcr than ever. 1t has
been well known for many years that tho Great
Salt Lake Is fresher in the early spring than in
the summer, and the phenomenon is probably
caused by the addition of great quantities of
water from the SHOWS and streams OF the noun
tains. Those engaged In manufacturing salt on
the lake say that II takes six gallons of water TO
make one gallon of salt in the summer and fall,
but that in carly spring it often takes seven and
even eight gallons to make tho same quantity.
There are three large streams emptying into
the Great salt Lake-thc Bear. Weber. and Jor-
dan Rivcrs-but they make no npprcciable DIFF
ference in the saltiness of the lake. except early
in the spring. when they carry the melting SHOWS
OF the mountains down to the lake. SO long as
the underground springs of salt continued to
pour their brine into the lake it required an inn
mcnse volume of fresh water to neutraIize them.
The Great Salt Lake is seventy miles long and
fifty miles across In its widest part, and IL has
an area of 1000 square miles. Another peculiar
change that has taken place in the lake is the
gradual uphcaval OF the bottom. In recent
years lis greatest depth has not exceeded forty
feet, while the average depth is only from twelve
10 twenty. Fifty years ago the bottom could
not be sounded in places. and lines 100 feet long
failed to strike bottom.