The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
Is SALT LAKE DISAPPEARANCE
A Question Utah People Are Asking In
Much Alarm.
San Francisco Chronicle

san Francisco Chronicle.
IL was a strange freak of nature that
placed the finest sea-bathing facilities in
the world 1000 miles from the ocean and at
an altitude of over 1000 feet above sea level;
and II was an equally remarkable destiny
that led Brigham Young and his band of
followers from Nauvoo, Ill. TO the veritable
oasis that forms part OF the surroundings
or this extremely salty body of water.
The Mormons realized the value of such
an environment when they established
themselves in this choice spot of the great
western wilderness, and they had an eye
to health and pleasure when they located
their city of Zion so close to this rich Dead
sea OF America. And. in proof of their
wise Judgment. as the city and State have
built up, the lake has progressed in popu-
larity until to-day the people of all Utah
love Great Salt Lake.
Especially do the residents of Salt Lake
City appreciate its attractions. During the
warm season they fairly live at Saltair.
Every hourly train running to the lake at
that time OF year is crowded, and the payil-
ion. which was erected at a cost. of 100000.
supplies all the comforts and entertain
ments that pleasure seekers could wish IN
its dancing hall. cafes. promenade room and
dressing rooms for sea bathers-
Now, when all that this lake supplies to
these people is taken into consideration IT Is
not difficult to understand what 1t would
mean TO them if it's waters should gradually
disappear. Their greatest source or sum-
mer pleasure would be gone; they would be
deprived of a health restorative, the bath
ing being specially beneficial, not only be-
but also because it contains various other
minerals.
In a word, the city would lose its chief
natural attraction. And IL is consequently
not surprising to learn that when the appre-
hension of the lakes disappearance frst
began to spread there was a great stir
Appeals came from all quarters for an ex-
PLANTATION of the phenomenon, and the cry
went up generally for some resort to me-
chanical means by which the lake might be
saved.
Lake enthusiasts at first would not adj
nit the facts of the case. They declared
that it was newspaper talk" invented 1or
the purpose of creating sensation, put
figures disprove their assertions and pho
tOgraphs substantiate the reports that are
being circulated regarding the actual con-
ditions and last summers visitors to the
lake all tell the same tale or recedlng wat
err marks. About ten years ago, as the
story runs. when the pavilion was erected,
the water stood many feet deep beneath
the building, and, though II Is Impossible TO
sink, only experience swimmers would dare
to plunge in right from the steps adJoln-
ing the main part of the structure. The
more cautious bathers were compelled TO
walk the whole distance of the two-side
projections of trestle which led TO shallow
water. But gradually the water level mas
lowered, and in proof of its steady decline
it is said that last August there were but
a few inches of water underneath the pavil-
ion, and that the bathers had TO wade
through this extremely scant supply or
water for more than a mile before they
came to water of a sufficient depth to float
them, let alone the amount required LOT
good swimming.
II, as some people suppose, Great Salt
Lake is the last remnant of Lake Bonnie
VILE which is thought to have been gi-
gantic sea, extending from mountain range
to mountain range and covering the Wnole
valley from the Jordan narrows TO the
extreme northern point above the present
lake, then this interesting body of salt
water is doomed, for Lake Bonneville
named after an explorer who In 1888 al
/ NOS
cording to the water marks that may
still be seen on the mountains, almost an
ocean. which has gradually shrunk and
shrunk until it has assumed the proper
tions of the existing American Dead sea.
Those who have studied the subject sclen-
tiically have ventured some plauslpie ex-
plantations of the changes that are taking
place, and 1t is their opinions that are the
most acceptable, especially as they oner
considerable hope for the future OF the
lake. Besides giving these reasons for the
present conditions, il is also shown that
no artificial supply of water Will be neces-
sary but that nature will remedy the lack
perhaps not raising the level OF the water et
preventing any further SINKING peioW an
average mark.
There are several causes for the rise and
fall of the water level of a closed lake, chief
among which Is a change in the general
inclination of the basin, producing de-
cline as the result of increased tempera-
ture decreased relative humidity, shortage
in precipitation or increased evaporation
caused 10y the spreading of the water from
the infowing streams over the SOIL Tor lrrl-
CATION And while all these influences work
together in a greater or less degree 10 cause
the shrinkage of Great Salt Lake II has
been proved by accurate calculation that
deficiency in rainfall and the loss OF water
through irrigation, streams that naturally
flowed into the lake having been detected
TO spread their waters over the farming
lands, are the two principal causes or the
phenomenon that threatens the lake, the
former being the most potent factor
The question that now confrontS those
who are interested in the subject Is: How
long will the present dry cycle continue!
Drier weather than that of the past sixteen
years has never been known in Utah, al
though it was appropriated between nz.
and 1864 a period of thirty-seven years. 1t
is to be inferred, however, that the next SIX
teen years will not average less In precipi-
tation than have the past sixteen years
and the people OF Utah may quite reaSona-
bly, expect a wet cycle, like that or lS6o-o6,
to begin at once, the recent severe winter
indicating that possibility. And when that
wet cycle does arrive rise in the lake SIM
liar TO the one that occurred in the sixties
and seventies may be expected.
Even with the precipitation continuing at
about fifteen inches no further fall Is likely
to occur, and if the average precipitation
is as much as fifteen inches for the next
three years a slight rise may be expected.
Though this rise occur, however, 1t is not
probable that the lake will ever assume its
former high level. 1t will be fortunate for
the people of Salt Lake City and Utah If 1t
even retains Its present proportions
The latest reading of the gauge at Gar
field beach was 3 feet 5 inches below the
zero of the scale. This shows a fall of IL
feet inches since 1885. when the last rise
terminated. and is three or four feet below
that of 1S47.
One OF the most curious features of the
lake is the immense amount OF water lost
each year through evaporation. There is an
annual evaporation of five feet, three-fifths
of which occurs in the months of June,
July August and September.
1t is at the season of low water that the
larger percentage of solid material is pres
ent in the water. This maximum proper
ton is % per cent, which means that if four
feet of water were evaporated from a GER
tain quantity of the water one foot Of solid