Beyond the West: containing an account of two years' travel in the other half of our great continent far beyond the old West, on the plains, in the Rocky mountains, and picturesque parks of Colorado. Also, characteristic features of New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho ... Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and ... California, the end of the West ... the great continental railroad, together with the ... most wonderful natural scenery in the world .../ by George W. Pine.

F- — ______ ______
BEYOND THE WEST.
The springs are near the head waters of the American River, one of the most beautiful of mountain
streams, that forms a series of cascades near the
source. The lofty peaks of the Sierra loom up in
all directions, divided by precipitous canyons, which
shelter dense forests of lofty evergreens. The miiineral water is most agreeable and apetizit)g, possessing great medicinal virtues in the cure of affections
of the digestive organs. The springs can be reached without fatigue by invalids; and the rough log
cabin, now the only house, will be replaced this season by a neat hotel, erected by the railroad company. The marvelous beauties of this wild region will
make it the funure Saratoga of the Pacific."
The little mountain ocean-" Salt Lake"-is what
the Indians call Medicine, or Mystery, has elements
peculiar to itself. It is sixty miles long, by from
twenty to thirty wide-has no outlet; but two large
rivers, the Jordan and Bear, flowing into it, together
with many other large mountain streams, which, during the rainy season, causes the lake to rise several
feet, but the power of evaporation and' absorption
soon establishes an equilibrium between the loss and
supply of waters in this country. This is the highest
large body of salt water in the world, is very transparent, excessively salt, and forms one of the most
concentrated brines known. No animal or vegeta
w
I
I
I
I
F
II
I
I
II
I
i
II
I
I
I
.I
I
I
I
314
i
I
I
I
i
I