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JOSEPH SMITH. UTAH AID THE MORMONS. THE HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, DOCTRINES, CUSTOMS, AND PROSPECTS OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. FROM PERSONAL OBSERVATION DURING A SIX MONTHS' RESIDENCE AT GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. BY BENJAMIN G. FERRIS. LATE SECRETARY OF UTAH TERRITORY. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 82 BEEKMAN STREET. 1854. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year, 1854, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office for the Southern District of New York. €a 33is iPirrllrttrij MIL LARD FILLMORE, LATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH GRATEFUL RECOLLECTIONS AND PROFOUND ESTEEM IS THIS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE, In the early part of the summer of 1852 I was so licited to discharge the duties of Secretary of the Ter ritory of Utah. A curiosity, long cherished, to visit a portion of the world about which many marvelous accounts had been given, induced me to accept the va cant post.

The result has been a six months' residence in the Valley -of the Great Salt Lake, embracing the severe winter of 1852-3. Such a winter's residence excludes the sojourner from the rest of the world as effectually as is the luckless navigator hemmed in by Arctic ice, and leaves little else to engross the atten tion aside from the strange and eccentric community which has established itself in that isolated region. The practical workings of Mormon institutions, when freed from the outside pressure of " Gentile" prejudice and hostdity, has excited much curiosity, and is be coming a question of some political importance ; and from gleaning facts for the gratification of numerous correspondents, I have been induced to put them in a form for the public eye. In the course of doing this, it has been found difficult to illustrate the subject with out giving a more detailed previous history of the Mor mons than at first intended, and the result is the fol lowing work.

The aim has been to give a strictly impartial account of the Mormons as they have been and as they are, without abstaining, however, from a free expres-

Preface

. sion of opinion, whenever the facts seemed to warrant a fair conclusion. To insure correctness, they have been allowed to speak for themselves whenever it has been practicable, and consistent with the brevity of the work. Aside from publications professedly Mor mon, much assistance has been derived from a book en titled " The Mormons," recently published in London. The recent and excellent work of Lieutenant Gunni son, entitled " The History of the Mormons," might seem to preclude the necessity of any further publica tion on the same subject, and it probably would have prevented the present, had it come into my hands at an earlier period. Yet I would fain believe that a more full development of some of the most distinctive features of Mormonism than fell under his observation, with the rare opportunity which my position gave me for obtaining facts, will make it acceptable to tho public.

It may not be inappropriate in this place to say that I was received at Salt Lake City and uniformly treated with friendly courtesy. It was my good fortune, while there, to be domesticated as a boarder in the family of Mrs. Farnham, who, though a Mormon, took unwearied pains to promote the comforts of her " Gen tde" guests. Among those with whom I was thrown into frequent communication, I hold in particular re membrance Judge Z. Snow, Mr. H. L. Heywood, the territorial marshal, Mr. Wdliam C. Staines, the libra rian, Dr. "Willard Richards, the postmaster, and his as sistant, Mr. Kane, Mr. A. Carrington, of the Legisla tive Assembly, and Mr. J. Grimshaw, who seemed to take pleasure in rendering polite and kind attentions. Ithaca, New York, April, 1854. CONTENTS.

Chapter II. Territory Of Utah

The Great Basin : its geographical Features and Curiosities. — Great Salt Lake. — Utah Lake. — Iron and Coal. — Agricultural Capacities and Drawbacks. — Irrigation. — Alkaline Salts. — Scarcity of Timber. — Political Importance. — .Business. — Mr. Livingston. — Great Salt Lake City. — "Ensign Peak." — Cities. — Health. — Improvements 29

Chapter III. History Of Mormonism

Theories in regard to Origin of Indians. — Solomon Spaulding. — His "Manuscript Found." — Sidney Rigdon. — Joseph Smith, Jr. — His Parentage and early Habits. — Discovers some curious Antiquities. — Golden Bible discovered and translated. — Characters submitted to Professor Anthon. — His Letter 49

Chapter IV. History Continued

Coincidence between Book of Mormon and " Manuscript Found." — Witnesses, their Character.- — Church organized at Fayette, N. Y. — Removal to Kirtland, Ohio. — Zion located at Independence, Mo. — Lands purchased in Jackson County, Mo. — Discords among the Saints. — Quorum of Three. — Troubles with the Gentiles. — Mormons expelled from Jackson County 66 A2 CONTENTS. X

Chapter V. History Continued

Mormons quit Clay and remove into Caldwell County.— Joseph's Journeys into Missouri— Sets up a Bank at Kirtland. — Leaves Kirtland in the Night. — Troubles in Missouri.—" Danites." — Joseph arrested, and Mormons agree to leave the State. — Murder at Hawn's Mill. — Mormons remove to Illinois. — Evidence on the Trial of Joseph. — His Imprisonment and Escape Page 81

Chapter VI. History Continued

Nauvoo. — Revelation to build Temple and Tavem. — Nauvoo Legion. — Letter-writers. — Joseph a candidate for the Presidency. — Letter to Clay and Calhoun 97

Chapter VII. History Continued

Apparent Prosperity. — Internal Difficulties. — Arrogance. — Joseph's Licentiousness. — Polygamy. — Spiritual Wife-ism. — Troubles with Higbee and Foster. — Attempt to arrest Joseph. — Joseph and Hyrum surrender on Pledge of Safety. — Are murdered. — Character of Joseph Smith Ill

Chapter VIII. History Continued

Excitement at Nauvoo. — Struggle for the Succession. — Rigdon excommunicated. — Brigham Young elected. — Further Troubles with the Gentiles. — The Saints resolve to quit the United States. — Arrangements for that Purpose. — Nauvoo besieged, and Mormons driven out. — Character of Mormon Community, and alleged Persecutions 135

Chapter IX. History Continued

Battalion for Mexican War. — Mormons arrive at Salt Lake. — Character of the Mormon Exodc. — " Crickets." — General Address to the CONTENTS. XI Saints. — " Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," and " Public Works." — State of Deseret. — Territory organized. — Ceremonies on breaking Ground for the Temple Page 151

Chapter X. Government

Priesthoods. — The President is Prophet and Seer : his Power. — Tithing. — Individual cases. — Tithing-office 171

Chapter XI Government

Legislative Assembly. — Governor's Message, 1852. — Legislation proceeds from the Church. — No Freedom of the Ballot-box. — Crimes. — Murder of Hatch. — Case of Goodyear. — Joe Bankhead. — Better Treatment of Emigrants. — Thieving. — Different Classes of Mormons 185

Chapter XII. Doctrines

Idea of "Last Day." — Inspiration of Mormon Apostles. — Doctrines as contained in Book of" Doctrines and Covenants." — Faith the controlling Principle. — Rebellion of Lucifer. — Great Efficacy of Baptism. — Syllabus of Doctrines. — Damnation and Salvation 201

Chapter XVIII

Social Intercourse. — Governor's Party. — Influence of Polygamy upon Amusements. — Style of Building. — Amusing Scenes growing out of Polygamy. — Superstition. — Endowment Robes. — Initiation Ceremonies. — The Curse.— The Patriarch and his Blessings. — Gift of Tongues. — Notions on Slavery " 303

Chapter XIX

Manner of making Converts. — Doctor Cox. — English Converts. — Continual Loss of Members. — Dissensions. — Gladdenism. — Apparent Decline of Mormonism. — Decrease of Population. — Present Character of its Missionaries. — Conclusion 318 4 DE 58 Appendix S, . .Trr. . ......

Chapter I. From Missouri To Utah

Our train started from "Westport, Mo., on the 24th of August, and reached Great Salt Lake City on tho 26th of October, 1852, a distance of over eleven hundred mdes. A few incidents of the travel, though over so well-beaten a road, may not be uninteresting to the reader. A person intending to cross the Plains must expect to suffer some inconveniences. In so long a journey, the traveler wdl encounter the usual variations of the weather : there will be sunshine and storms ; he will be too hot, too cold, and too wet at times ; he will some times be unable to quench his thirst, except from a stagnant pool ; and every warm evening he must look for a fight with musquitoes, whose appetites are quite as keen as his own. At first he will feel some anxiety in regard to Indians, and keep his rifle and revolver in proper shooting condition ; but this soon wears off, and before the journey is half ended he becomes altogether too careless in this respect.

We had, one evening, an Indian alarm, after being four weeks upon the road, when one revolver proved to be the only fire-arm in order in the camp ; the alarm, however, was occasioned by a gang of famished wolves, trying to form an acquaintance with our mules. "With ordinary foresight in reference to the requisite supply of food, a proper selection of animals, and the time and mode of performing the journey, there need be but few hardships. It CROSSING THE PLAINS. is easy to fit up a carriage with conveniences for sleep ing, which some do, but the majority prefer to sleep on the ground, even in stormy weather. An india-rubber cloth spread upon the thick grass makes a dry and soft bed; at any rate, this kind of dormitory, curtained with heaven's canopy, generally proves more friendly to sleep than many a bed of down.

The fatigue of traveling wears off in a very short time, and there is usually less weariness at the close of the day than is felt in traveling the same number of hours by rail-road. In a well-regulated train, the pleasurable excitements of the journey far outbalance all the inconveniences. There is a kind of cutting loose from the business re lations and customs of civilized life, which gives new freedom and elasticity to the mind. The traveler feels that he has sufficient elbow-room ; he neither jostles nor is jostled by any one ; he experiences all the buoy ancy of the boy when liberated from the restraints of the school-room. His feehngs and ideas expand in view of the boundless plains spread before and around him. There is a grandeur and sublimity in the vast expanse of plains, skirted and intersected by rivers and lofty mountains, which would kindle enthusiasm in tho bosom of the merest business drudge of the counting house who dreams only of prices and profits.

The evening camp, too, has its peculiar pleasures : the rude preparation for, and exquisite relish of the evening meal — the boisterous good humor of the com pany, with the usual concomitants of song and anec dote — and the almost invariable, and, withal, plaintive serenade from a score or two of prairie wolves, produce a wdd and pleasurable excitement, which the voya geur is ever fond of calling to remembrance. There is an abundance of wild game along nearly the whole route : prairie chickens, ducks, hare, ante lope, &c, afford rare sport in the hunting, and furnish food fit for an emperor. But the buffalo is the most noted, useful, and interesting of all the wild game to be found on the plains. We saw none until after we left Fort Kearney, after which we met vast numbers along the Valley of the Platte, and very few after leaving that river.

At a distance they look like herds of common cattle ; near at hand they are awkward, mis shapen monsters enough — all head and shoulders, and very little of any thing else. They were very wdd, and invariably ran off, as we approached, with a clum sy, lumbering gait. We saw them under a great vari ety of circumstances. On one occasion, a herd of them were crossing the Platte in single file (the way they usually travel), and appeared in the distance like abut ments for a gigantic bridge or aqueduct about being built. At another time we approached nearer than usual to a drove of them before they perceived us, and, as they lumbered off, they produced a stampede of our whole train, and it was with much difficulty we stopped and quieted our mules. At another time a herd of some three thousand were feeding along the banks of the river, and never discovered us untd we were pass ing nearly opposite, when the monsters, in their fright, scampered directly toward us, and actually ran be tween different portions of our train ; two of the teams, less guarded than the rest, stampeded after them.

These incidents always furnished subjects for mirth when we found no bones or wagons broken. Of course, the poor brutes are slaughtered without mercy by In dians and emigrants. We had a plentiful supply of buffalo beef during four weeks of our journey. The ravens and wolves that hover over and around every passing train, are the scavengers which clean up all that is left of the slain buffalo after man has helped himself to the choicest portions. The antelope is a very graceful animal, and bounds over the plains with the fleetness of deer, which it very much resembles. We saw many of them, but they do not collect in such herds as the buffalo. SCENE ON THE PLATTE. The emigration over the Plains to Utah, California, and Oregon, for the last few years, has been immense, and, like the march of armies, each train has left sad memorials of its passage.

The wayside in very many places is literally strewed with the bones of oxen and mules, the broken fragments of wagons, and the cast off implements of agriculture. Sadder still, the road is lined with graves — some small, showing that there the mother has been compelled to deposit the remains of her infant child, and others of sufficient length to show that the strength of manhood has been brought to the dust. Many of these graves had been rifled by the wolves, and the bones scattered around in confusion : these resurrectionists have no fear of penal en actments. Others were protected from these prairie surgeons by logs and rocks (every thing West, from a twenty ton boulder to a pebble, is a rock). In passing these evidences of mortality, one can form some faint conception of the utter feeling of desolation which must overwhelm the poor wife, thus compelled to deposit her husband in a lonely grave, far away from the as sistance and sympathy of friends.

" The Plains," so called, commence at the western bounds of Missouri, and extend to the vicinity of the Black Hills, a distance of about seven hundred mdes. These Plains consist mostly of rolling prairies, which are crossed by numerous streams. Some of these streams run through comparatively deep valleys, and have rocky and precipitous banks. Again, the Plains are intersected by numerous gulleys, or "pitch holes," as they are famfiiarly called, varying from ten to fifty feet, which contain small brooks in the spring and early part of summer, but the most of them become dry later in the season. These gulleys are troublesome to cross, in proportion to their depth and the steepness of their banks. On the other hand, many of them contain springs of excellent water, and a scanty growth of tim ber, furnishing to the traveler wood and water, with out which he could not long prosecute his journey.

At some points the Plains are almost a perfect level, without a tree or a shrub to relieve the eye — an ocean, in which one seems to be out of sight of land. We reached the River Platte a few miles east of Fort Kearney. This fort is commanded by Captain Wharton, a gentlemanly and highly intelligent officer. We were received and entertained by him and his accomplished lady not merely with generous hospitality, but with as much warmth as though we had been near relatives. At this point, and for a considerable dis tance west, the Platte runs through a valley from five to eight miles, bounded by a low range of sand-hills. The country becomes more and more interesting from Fort Kearney westward. The sand-hills, as you pro gress up the stream, are more bold and irregular, untd they run into rugged and rocky ranges, worn and washed into sharp peaks and every variety of outline.

One of the most singular of these rocky elevations has been called the "Court-house," from its fancied resemblance COURT-HOUSE ROCK. to a public building ; but it is a misnomer to give it so common a name. It is a large mass of reddish sandstone, rising abruptly from the plain in solitary grandeur, and in the distance looks like an immense temple, or castle, reared to some heathen divinity, or by some feudal baron in ages gone by, but now in a state of decay. Some fifteen miles from the Court-house you see the justly celebrated Chimney Rock, pointing its solitary column to the sky, and from which you every moment CHIMNEY ROCK. expect to see issuing smoke or jets of steam from the fancied furnace beneath. Of all the fantastic freaks of Dame Nature in fashioning natural curiosities, this is certainly the strangest.

The chimney rises some 150 to 200 feet from the apex of pyramidal-shaped rook, all reddish sandstone. But this curiosity has been well described in many published journals, and I will not, therefore, inflict another description upon the reader. After leaving Chimney Rock, we came very soon to Scott's Bluffs, which we left to the right, and SCOTT'S BLUFFS. passed up a valley lined on each side with similar cu riosities. Here was a castle with its turrets and bat tlements — there, an extensive fort, with parapets and bastions — and yonder, huge, misshapen, beetling crags. One formation excited especial interest. There was first a gigantic perpendicular rock in the form of a cyl inder, which served as a foundation, on which arose a smader rock of the same form, and on that a third, still smaller, but of the same form.

It looked like the vast mausoleum of some hero of a past race. The lover of natural scenery feels amply paid for all the dangers, in conveniences, and petty annoyances of such a journey, whde viewing these curiosities, scattered, as it were, broadcast, on a scale of such magnificent grandeur. Near Fort Laramie the highlands commence ; tho country is broken up into hills and irregular prominences, and the traveling becomes more laborious. We left the Platte and reached the Sweetwater, a few miles east of Independence Rock. This is an im mense, irregular pile of granite, about 120 feet high, and from one and a half to two miles in circuit, full of seams and fissures. I climbed to the top, and saw STEEPLE ROCKS. a beautiful hare, which soon retreated into one of the numerous cavities. The rock is literally covered with the names of travelers ; at a rough guess, there must be 35,000 to 40,000 !

This is an easy way of hand ing one's name down to posterity, and Thomas Noakes stands quite as good a chance in this respect as the celebrated John Doe. ■ Let any one who is puzzled for a name visit this rock. The Valley of the Sweetwater furnished us a smooth, level road until near the sources of the river. On the north side are tho Rattlesnake Hills, a rango of bare granite, varying from 500 to 1000 feet high, and of precisely the same character as Independence Rock. It is cracked and seamed at ad points, and may well be the resort of the rattlesnake for a thousand years to come. For some days before we reached the South Pass, the Wind River Mountains, with their snowy peaks glittering in the sunshine, appeared in view. These constitute some of the loftiest portions of the Rocky Mountains.

The celebrated South Pass proved to be somewhat different from my previous conceptions. The word pass induced the belief that it partook of the devil's gate [South Pass). character of a gorge between lofty mountains ; but it is quite different from this. The country from the vi cinity of Fort Laramie to the summit is made up of ascending highlands ; the road is up and down, but there is more of up than down. Some fifteen to twenty miles from the summit, the highlands become more bold and difficult of ascent, and the rocks by the way side crop out in sharp, perpendicular points. As we approach the summit, the surface becomes more even and gently rolling, and the exact dividing point is passed before one is aware of it. The wind was high and cold. Some twenty mdes to the right was a ridge of high hills, and further still, in the distance, were the Wind River Mountains. • On the left were irregular highlands.

There is something exciting in the idea that one is passing over the topmost point of travel in all North America, and near which, too, as from a radi ating centre, waters arise which flow into three mighty rivers, the Mississippi, the Columbia, and the Colora do. Some ten to fifteen miles west of the summit the descent is very obvious, and the air becomes mdder. On the Pacific side, the mountains above' referred to are magnificent beyond description ; they seemed, in the bright sunshine, like immense masses of thunder clouds gathering for a storm. From the South Pass to the Wasatch Mountains, which bound the Great Basin on the east, the country consists mostly of rolling plains, quite similar to those over which we had passed. These mountains present the most fatiguing and difficult portions of the entire journey.

It was, with few exceptions, a succession of steep ascents and descents, and narrow, rocky defiles ; but the scenery was alternately beautiful and grand. The Spanish word canon (pronounced canyon) is now the familiar designation of the narrow passes through parley's canon. the mountains. One of these, called Echo Canon, is twenty-five miles in length, terminates on the Weber River, and furnishes a nearly level road the whole dis tance. This canon is half a mile wide, is walled in by precipitous ridges, and the rocks, in many places, are worn into the same castellated forms so common in the vicinity of Scott's Bluffs. In one place the rooks were of a bright straw color, and the reflection pro duced a soft, yellow light. We finally descended into the Valley of Salt Lake, through Parley's Canon, a dangerous pass, in places but a few rods wide, and walled in by rocks more than two thousand feet high.

In a military point of view, these passes might be do fended by a handful of resolute men against a host. The whole route presents but few difficulties on ac count of the Indians. They are all inveterate thieves, DIGGERS ON THE WATCH from the Shawnees and Potawatomies, who are par tially civilized, to the most degraded Diggers ; and the traveler must use a reasonable degree of vigilance for the safety of his property. The Pawnees are the most dreaded of any on the route ; they are fierce, active, and disposed to be mischievous when they encounter a small, unguarded party, and can safely gratify their thirst for plunder. The Indians generally are the most troublesome beg gars in the world, and will importune without ceasing, unless repulsed with some degree of sternness. While encamped one day near Fort Laramie, a large, well formed Sioux, known by the name of " Old Smoke," stationed himself within a foot of me whde eating din ner, and fixed his gaze upon the food with the eager expression of a hungry dog.

At every mouthful he would say "goot," "goot." This was not very appe tizing, so I gave the old rat a plateful on condition he would go away. He readily accepted the bribe, and went to another mess, where he played the same maneuver with success. I must confess I have no very exalted opinion of tho whole race. Their broad features, wide mouths, low soreheads, and black, snaky, venomous eyes, make up a collection of disagreeables which they manage to heighten by paint, filth, and outlandish ornaments. Their most stylish dandies might well be taken for escaped inmates of Bedlam. Our train passed two vil lages of Chyenes, in tho vicinity of Fort Laramie — that is, two collections of lodges, made up of lodge poles and buffalo robes or canvas. Tho whole concern poured out, men, women, chddren, cats, dogs, and horses, and surrounded us — some tricked out in all their scarecrow finery, and others ragged almost to nudity.

They followed us, begging, hooting, scream ing, howling, and barking, for a mile. It might re mind one of Old Picket's denunciation, in which, among other choice tilings, he hoped the soul of his antagonist might be chased " by a tanner's dog around the ragged ramparts of damnation." It is no doubt the duty of philanthropists to continue their efforts to elevate the condition of the children of the forest and the plains ; yet the task looks well-nigh hopeless. But few have improved under these benev olent teachings, and the balance seem destined to melt away before the vigorous advances of civilized races.

Chapter II. Territory Of Utah

The Great Basin: its geographical Features and Curiosities. — Great Salt Lake. — Utah Lake. — Iron and Coal. — Agricultural Capacities and Drawbacks. — Irrigation. — Alkaline Salts. — Scarcity of Timber. — Political Importance. — Business. — Mr. Livingston. — Great Salt Lake City. — " Ensign Peak." — Cities. — Health. — Improvements. The Territory of Utah lies between latitude 37° and 42°, and is bounded on the west by the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the east by the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and contains about one hundred and eighty-eight thousand square miles. This area embraces within its limits not only the Great Basin, so called, but that portion of the valleys of Gfreen and Grand Rivers and their tributaries lying between the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains. The Great Basin constitutes a large, and decidedly the most interesting portion of this territory ; and is, in more aspects than one, the greatest physical wonder of North America.

Completely walled in by lofty mountains, some of which are perpetually robed in VIEW IN THE SIERRA NEVADA. snow, its streams and rivers flow into its own bosom, forming lakes of various dimensions, from which the confluent waters escape only by evaporation, or disap pear in sandy deserts. That its entire surface has at some period been covered by a vast inland sea, there are many indications in the numerous water-marks which exhibit their traces in the mountain sides. The bench on the slope of which the Mormon capital is built, is a shore-mark which, in the clear atmosphere, may be traced by the eye south, along the base of tho mountains, a distance of over twenty miles. The Great Basin has as yet been but partially ex plored. The Mormon settlements extend along the base of the Wasatch Mountains, from the northern ex tremity of Great Salt Lake to near the southern boundary of the territory, a distance of some three hundred and fifty mdes.

The usual emigrant route to Califor nia from Great Salt Lake City is around the northern extremity of the lake, and thence in a southwesterly direction down the vadey of the Humboldt, or Mary's River, to Carson's Valley. The residue remains mostly unexplored. The portions known present bold and striking features, and great natural curiosities. It has lofty mountain ranges, rising to the clouds, some of which are perpetually capped with snow. The northern rim of the basin lies much farther south than ap pears from Fremont's map, published in 1849. In passing around Salt Lake on the route to California, the traveler crosses streams which flow into the rivers of Oregon, and does not pass the dividing summit until he has journeyed some forty to fifty mdes south of the northern end of the lake.

Whde toiling over these rugged elevations, the lover of natural scenery enjoys the grandeur of the prospect — a panorama of lofty ranges and peaks, glittering in the light of the sun, and extending in all directions as far as the eye can reach. Often sharp pyramidal peaks, rising abruptly, exhibit different kinds of rock, waterworn into turret ed, castellated, and fantastic forms. The rocks are generally primitive, and the abundance of scoria gives evidence of the fiery throes which the earth has under gone in heaving up these tremendous elevations. There is probably no part of the earth where so rich a field is presented for the researches of the naturalist. The valley of the Great Salt Lake is particularly pro lific in natural curiosities. Springs, from the one hot enough to boil an egg in a few minutes, to the one of a temperature for a pleasant warm bath, occur every few mdes ; and these are generally impregnated with sulphur in combination with alkaline salts.

Some of HOT SPRINGS NEAR ALT LAKE CITY these springs, throwing out generous volumes of water, form ponds from one to three miles in circuit, in which may be found, attracted by the genial temperature, tens of thousands of water-fowl. Some of them are cha lybeate, and coat the rocks and earth over which they flow with oxyd of iron. Great Salt Lake is a very great curiosity. It is about one hundred and thirty miles long, and from seventy to eighty broad, and is, as near as may be, a vast collection of brine. The water seems to be saturated with salt to its utmost capacity of holding it in solu tion, indicating the neighborhood of great deposits of mineral salt. Between Great Salt Lake City and Bear River is a spring intensely salt, which pours out a volume of water equal to that at Spring Port, on the east side of Cayuga Lake, which it very much resembles.