196 THE MOUNTAIN. 



dowy speculation. A few meagre and fragmentary sections 

 of its rocks, vaguely and unsatisfactorily described, a few 

 specimens without intelligible association, with the general 

 statement that the region is primitive and volcanic, is all that 

 has been reached in the investigation of the mineral compo- 

 sition of this part of the continent. Thus it is stated that 

 the Hot Springs, near Bear River, issue from between " dif- 

 ferent strata of conglomerate and limestone," which exceed- 

 ingly precise description leaves the geologist free sea-room 

 to imagine the origin of their heat and mineral contents ; 

 again, "they gush out together beneath a conglomerate con- 

 sisting principally of fragments of grayish-blue limestone, 

 efflorescing a salt upon the surface, the rocks in the bed be- 

 ing colored with a red deposit." Again, "the strata are 

 here contorted, and in some places nearly perpendicular, 

 whilst not far away there are piles of scoriaceous basalt." 

 The philosophy of the predominance of volcanisms and 

 other isms in this department is left in the interesting limbo 

 of theory. One astonishing fact which stares out upon 

 every traveler is, that here is a region in which there pre- 

 vails a multitudinous class of the waters of the earth in a 

 most extraordinary state of thermal and mineral combina- 

 tion almost without a parallel on any other part of its 

 surface. 



In the vicinity of Salt Lake City there are a number of 

 thermal springs. 



WARM SULPHUR SPRING, near the city, contains sulphu- 

 retted hydrogen, chloride of calcium, sulphate of soda, chlo- 

 ride of sodium, carbonates of lime and magnesia. It is used 

 by the inhabitants of Deseret, and reputed by them to pos- 

 sess remarkable properties, almost the power of the restora- 

 tion of perpetual youth. " They make a boast of their good 

 health, and attribute it to bathing in those springs ; many 

 that I saw declaring that they came to the Valley perfect 

 cripples, and were restored to their health and agility by 

 frequenting them. " 



One of the wonderful thermal springs of the valley is a 



