Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-01-20
THE GREAT SALT LAKE.
RAPIDLY TURNING INTO AN INLAND
SEA OF FRESH WATER.

ClogginG of the Salt Rocks Causes Loss
of Saline Strength in Utah's Natural
Wondcr-An Underground Reservoir
of springs-PecuIiarity of the Lake
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 rapidly
changing its chief characteristic and
turning into an inland sea OF 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
and dry upon the beach. 1t has al
ways been believed by experts that the
lake had an underground outlet, but
no explorer has yet been fortunate
enough to discover any. 1t is sup
posed, however, that outlets exist, and
that during the last six months they
have gained noticeably upon the
springs which supply the lake.
On the northern slopes of the lakes
shores and down the western border
are numberless springs which have
always run pure brine into the inland
sea. These springs evidently come
through immense rocks of salt in the
earth, and by washing through them
they make the spring water intensely
briny by the time it reaches the sur
faces. There have been signs of a
change in these springs in recent
years. Several times they have ceased
to flow as rapidly as usual, and the
water they poured up upappeared fresher.
They have now become partly choked
up, either with rocks or salt, and they
no longer give the same supply of salt
water as they did years ago. In sew
eral other places--notably on East
Antelope, within fifteen feet of the
brimming lake basin-there are many
fresh water springs that gush up at all
seasons of the year and pour into the
lake. These fresh water springs have
become larger and more powerful
since the salt water springs became
elogged up, and it is supposed the
underground reservoir of water, divert
ed from its usual course, is now SEEK
ing an adequate outlet through the
springs where no salt rocks exist.
If this theory is correct, the Great
Salt Lake will gradually turn to fresh
water, and the surface will continue
to fall until the winter and spring
reshets from the mountains fill it
again. This additional water will add
40 salt to the great sea, but make it
resher than ever. 1t has been well
known for many years that the Great
Salt Lake is fresher in the early spring
han in the summer, and the phenom-
snon is probably caused by the addi-
ion of great quantities of water from
;he SHOWS and streams of the mount
iins. Those engaged in manufactur
ing salt on the lake say that it takes
six gallons of water to make one gal
on of salt in the summer and fall, but
'hat in the early spring it often takes
seven and even eight gallons to make
she same quantity.
There are three large streams emp
lying into 6the Great Salt Lake-the
Bear, Weber and Jordan Rivers-but
hey make no appreciable difference
IN the saltiness of tho lake, except
Early in the spring, when they carry
he melting SHOWS of the mountains
down to the lake. So long as the
nalerground springs of salt continued
10 pour their brine into the lake it re-
luired an immense volume Of fresh
water to neutralize them.
The Great Salt Lake is seventy
miles long and fifty miles across in its
widest part, and it has an area of 1000
square miles. Another peculiar change
hat has taken place in the lake is the
gradual upheaval of the bottom. In
:ecent years its greatest depth has
1ot exceeded forty feet, while the
average depth is only from twelve to
wenty. Fifty years ago the bottom
Gould not be sounded in places, and
ines 100 feet long failed to strike bot
:om. om.-Philadelphia Times.