The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-08-20
Red Sea and Great Salt Lake Districts

1t is a historical fact that the Pho,
neers. who arrived here in 1S47, founc
the lake only thirty inches above it:
present level. The writer's of that yeal
could have amused themselves by pre-
dieting, as do the writers of today, by
forecasting the disappearance of the
lake in 1872. Yet we find that, by 1869
the surface has risen thirteen and one
half feet. The rise was due entirely tc
the abnormal rainfall derived from the
Pacific ocean. Since 1859 the lake has
subsidized sixteen feet. but not steadily
! as the eastern theories would imply
! The variations occur in cycles. Each
year, for certain period. the level
grows higher; then for a certain num-
Der of years, lower and lower. The an
nual rises become less and the annual
| declines greater until the process is re-
Versed; the rises become greater. the
/ declines less, and 4 new cycle begins.
! Mr.. Jones has arrived at the conclu-
sion that these cycles are determined
| by the effect of sun spots on climatic
/ conditions. He finds that the precipita-
ton from abroad is greatest when the
sun spots are at their maximum and he
| argues that the minimum of precipita-
ton for this cycle was reached four or
five years ago. From this time for
ward, according to his observations,
the more pronounced and the droughts
less severe until the recurrence Of con-
ditions such as existed in 1869 some $50
years hence.
Even admitting, however, that the
recession of the lake continues uninter-
ruptedly for several years. Mr.. Jones
can demonstrate that it cannot shrink
to less than one-fourth it's present size.
Between Antelope and Stansbury
islands is y-shaped trough in which
the water is now thirty three feet deep.
Should the recession continue to the
edge of this basin its depth would pre-
vent its disappearance. The loss Oy
evaporation would not exceed six feet
per year and the natural inflow would
replace this for an indefinite period.
The really important feature of the
recession of the lake, from Mr.. Jones
standpoint, is the decrease of it's sur
lace area which, he maintains. causes
a corresponding failure of rainfall. He
flnds that rs per cent of the water tax
en- up by the sun and wind is precipi-
tated in the valley as rain or snow.
The greater the water area, the greater
the evaporation and the heavier the
rlntall. Hence he advocates the filling
of the lake from Snake river or the
streams east of the range.
Not content with depriving Utah of
its greatest lake the eastern press in
sists on running it's seaside resorts. 1t
Is told i'll a recent publicatio that
Saltair is practically deserted and that
the magnificent pier, erected at a cost |
of half million dollars, presents the |
pathetic appearance of having been |
lifted bodily from the waters edge and |
set back a mile or two from the shore. |
This is not a scientific error, but a |
plain pTeVarication. Saltair is still |
Tapped by the salt waves and is doing |
as great business as ever. The |
planting of piles has had tendency to |
cause an accumulation of sand about
the base, but this would have resulted
even without the falling of the lake.
Garfield is the only resort which has
been abandoned in recent years, and it
was closed for business reasons while
he water was still within few feet of
-he pavilion.
One of the most interesting facts in
with Great Salt lake is its
geographical resemblance to the Dead
sea in Palestine. The Jordan river cor
'esponds to the Jordan of Holy Writ
ind Utah lake to the sea of Tiberius.
)n revising the map of Palestine
he resemblance to the map of Utah
S found to be remarkable. The coin
ldence was not lost on the early Nor
non settlers. who attributed great re-
lglous significance to the parallel. The
phenomenon further suggests the
bought that the Dead sea has endured
or a great many centuries and that
salt lake will enjoy as prolonged an
Existence.