i,iiiVs e ,!r 



overflowed moadowdand befo 



vada, under the shadow ot 



Mob 



t \v;,rcrs contain more or less 



impurities, from the grad 



the rocto 



i and soils which theypercola 



te. In consequence of the; 



and torn 



l cllWescences on till- HUrfilC- 



r VCftin^rilmarv 1 ^ 



in this respect is the great elevation of several of the mountain ranges. ' Tliev retain 

 snow on their summits during a great portion of tlie year, which not only supplies the 



highest mountains thunder-storm> gather, and rain falls much more abwuhmtl vthan 

 in wide valleys. By their very bulk thev are also enabled to retain more moisture, 

 and thus they afford a more permanent supply than minor ranges. The numerous 

 disruptions of the rocks afford the water access to "-renter depth and bv a reversion 

 Of the dip brine, it back to the surface- at points which would be devoid of water 

 without. Some of the finest permanent springs n the route are thus formed on the 

 line of contact between the stratified and igneous rocks. 



The sinking of the water in the sand favors its preservation. These subterranean 

 reservoirs are impenetrable to the heat, and the water ean only evaporate slowly as it 



rapidly disappear. Without this provision not only many springs would b^entMy 

 deprived of their supply, but also a gvneral decrease of moisture >vould take place. A 

 point must be reached where the quantity of water in the basin is so small that the 

 loss by vapors carried beyond its limits is balanced bv the gain of atmospheric 

 moisture- from outside. We are unable to decide whether this point has been reached 



and others, to winch I refer. I only mention the IWrand >r, ....,„ LpHng, on Bear 



unci, the imm.-imi, hut-spring at tin- western foot of the Wahsatcfc Mountains, the 



it.., snip W y llv . ,„ ,i„. ,,,,,,.,, Wl . „,- „„., [llllllHililr jrimntllillSi th „ j, rili|iu . 



near Mnd Lake and in the Honey Lake Valley, &c. The water in most of them eon- 



