The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-09-06

A
Sas or Nebraska on one OF the
~ fast continental trains, the trav-
eler soon leaves the region OF
ample rainfall and abundant verdure.
And for a day more and for all night
the train rusheS along through the
great state Of Colorado and then Utah
desert, except as irrigation has
transformed 1t, until Salt Lake City
Is reached. This, as 1t is today. But
what about the fortitude Of the early
settlers who penetrated this wilder
ness with prairie %schooners or OK
teams, following uncharted routes and
unknown trails?
When the first Mormon caravan, GO
ears ago, after long and almost hope
less wandering across a trackless
waste emerged from Emigration can
yon into the valley Of the Great Salt
lake, the weary outcasts saw, gently
sloping away from the dark shadows
OF the mountain pass, a fair land
reaching to the sunlit shores Of a
wondrous inland sea. Proceeding a
little farther they caught sight OF a
large fresh water lake some miles to
the south emptying it's surplus waters
into the great lake through a slender
river which shone like a ribbon Of
silver.
Into the Promised Land.
The striking comparison suggested
oy this scene might have occurred to
a Jess comprehending mind than that
of the Moses Of this exodus, leading a
new tribe of Israel to a new Promised
Land. Spread before the eyes Of the
little band Of emigrants were counter
parts of the three prominent features
OF Palestine-the Sea Of Tiberius, the
Dead sea and the River Jordan. So
here the prophet, Brigham Young. and
his followers proceeded to build their
New Jerusalem. and today Sculptor
Dallin's golden figure of the Angel
from that stately pile Of Utah granite
the Mormon temple-reared at a
cost Of 40 years labor and $4,000, 900.
Unconsciously these desert pioneers
had settled In a region Of most won
derful natural phenomena. On the
east the Wasatch mountains reared
their brown and rifted peaks and II
the wanderers noticed their peculiar
terraced formation. terrace after ter
race rising sharp and clear to a
height Of 1000 feet above the valley
floor, they failed to recognize them
as the most remarkable Of beach lines,
the ancient shores, In fact, of a vast
inland prehistoric sea.
The Great Salt lake is but the feeble
remnant of the ancient Bonneville, the
lowest remaining depth Of a one-time
majestic sheet Of water, fed from the
mighty glaciers and snow fields which
her clothed the mountains to within
a short distance of their highest
peaks. The extreme length Of this
prehistoric lake was 346 miles and it's
greatest width AS miles. Were it's
waters today to rise again to their
old level. scores OF towns and villages
would be submerged and several thou
sand people driven from their homes.
The Mormon temple at Salt Lake City
would stand under $50 feet Of water.
A recent geologic study Of the gla-
citation Of the Wasatch mountains and
the commanding Uinta range lying to
the east confirms former conclusions,
drawn from the study of Lake Bonnie
Vile. that there were two distinct gla-
cial periods In these mountains. IN
delibly recorded I'm the moraines and
the lacustrine beds-the rock debris
ground and secured out of canyons
and swept down by the vast ice flow
are two distinct epochs, separated by
4 long lnterglacial interval. Prof. Wal
lace ". Atwood of the United States
geological survey has made a report
on the glacial history Of this region,
from which it appears that while yet
among the most picturesque of the
mountains of the continent, the Wa
satch and the Uinta ranges lost much
Of their former ruggedness, having
been greatly smoothed and softened
in outline by the securing and carving
Of many large glaciers.
The portions of the Uinta range
that rise above these ancient ice
nantes. near the crest line. were lofty
peaks and narrow, rugged divides. Elk
repting these. the range appeared as a
long, white arch. rising about 1000