TERRITORY OF UTAH.
Now that the recognition by Congress has given increased importance to this far-off region, we will devote a few words to its locality and character. The Mormons had attempted to attach to this new country the name of Deseret; but Congress has very properly restored its original and more appro-priate appellation of UTAH. A writer, conversant with the facts, says it is impossible to determine with accuracy the extent of the area embraced within the limits of this new territory, as defined by the late bill passed in the Senate. On the West it is bounded by the State of California, on the North by Oregon, on the East by the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and on the South by the parallel of 37° of North latitude. The bill provides that the terri-tory may be hereafter divided into two or more States, if Congress deem it proper, and the question of slavery is left to the free determination of the in-habitants. With the known hostility of the Mor-mons to slavery, and the nature of the soil and cli-mate, it is most probable slavery will never be introduced.
The Great Salt Lake lies in about the same lati-tude as New York city. This lake is one of the greatest natural curiosities in the world. It is in extent about sixty miles long and thirty wide—the impregnation of salt is so great that from every five gallons of water fourteen pints of pure salt can be produced by boiling or evaporation. Although it has hundreds of inlets by which immense quanti-ties of water are poured into its basin, it has no ap-parent outlet, yet it never overflows. There is a tradition that in its centre a terrible whirlpool ex-ists, which, by an under-ground communication, discharges in the Pacific Ocean; but Fremont, who explored and sailed over the lake, could discover nothing of the kind. Distant about 120 miles, among the mountains, are immense ledges and cliffs of solid rock salt, which, it is supposed, are the deposites from which the Great Lake obtains it.
There are thousands of other most remarkable curiosities of nature scattered throughout Utah val-ley—such as hot water springs, natural fountains of pure water, which ceaselessly spurt up through the ground, to the infinite astonishment of every be-holder; then there are rocks with hieroglyphics cut in them, which no one can decipher.
The Mormon population amounts to about 25,000 souls: and so rapid is the increase, that it is said the number will probably rise to 100,000 in the course of a year. A delegation is now on its way to England, for the purpose of laying before their brethren there the advantages of this new home.
The rich lands to which the Mormons are so cor-dially inviting all the world to come upon, deserve the attention of those, whether of that particular fraternity or not, who are disposed or willing to emigrate to remote regions. If the Mormons are really disposed, as we trust they are, to conduct themselves with becoming propriety, and as true American citizens, they may always rely on the influence of the American Courier, which has ever taken pride in upholding and sustaining whatever may tend to promote the united interest of all sec-tions and all portions of this one, great, undivided American Republic.
