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Show SOD A SPRINCS. j B Tbe exleDBion of the Ulab .Northern! I will render ncceaeible theee springp, whim are pronounced by alt Tisitors araoig tb8 greatest wonders ot the wet. The springs are about tweuty-five tweuty-five miles east of where the line ie projtcted to cross the Portneuf river, and the shortest and best route will undoubtedly lead from a point near the crossing. Soda apriDga are located witb:n a stone's throw of Bear river, and near the great "bend" already alluded to One spring is graced with a lively ateauo vent which finda ' its way up throupb an orifice in a maesive boulder. Fremont named it "Steamboat spring," on account of its measured pull which resembles tbat of an engine. A eroup of four of the . other springs have attracted particular attention on account of the curative properties of tbe watorn. Tbe Btrongly mineralized fluid is ever bubbling up Ironi the depths of the pretty baainB, and ia as pleasant aa a beverage as it has been found exhilarating ex-hilarating and strengthening as a tonic. Invalids with some of the most deep-set and loathsome blood diseases claim to have found a perfect cure in these fountains. A mile distant dis-tant are other and little leas interest ing springs, tbe waters of which are so pregnant with calcareous matter aa to quickly form a coating of limestone upon any object immersed io them. Tbe vicinity ahouudu in other at-1 tractions, which must eoou win thousands thou-sands to Bummer sojourns. Near the springs last referred to is a pretty little lake upon which, subject sub-ject even to tbe paeBiflg breeze, U a floating island of earth and luxuriant vegetation which has been set adrift from the shore. Four miles - southeast ot Soda springs is Swan lake, one of the loveliest natural 1 gems setiu the Wasuteh chain. It reclines in an oval basin, whose nua is ten feet above the surrounding country. The shores are densely covered with trees, shrubs and tbe luxuriant undergrowth native to that country. The outlet is a series of small nioBs-covered baeina, symmetrically symmet-rically arranged, the clear water over flowing the banks, trickling into the nearest emerald tub, then BucceBaively into others, until it forms a sparkling spark-ling Btream and dances away to a confluence with Bear river in the valley below. It iB a matter of common belief among old residents of the locality tbat the lake is bottom-lesB.no bottom-lesB.no soundings having yet developed devel-oped its depth. Adjacent to this fit abode for water nympha is the Binga lar sulphur lake, out of wbose centre liquid sulphur inceasantly boila and coals the shores with thick deposits, looking as though it might be a direct out oropping ot Plutonian regions. Salmon and trout fishing is superb in Ihe clear water ot tbe lakes and streams. Deer, gceae, ducks, grouse, sage hens and prairie chickens are also found in great numbera io the vicinity, all together holding out rare charms for tbe traveler, health seeker or disciple of the gun and rod. This waa once tbe favorite resort ol Brigham Young, and is etill iha regular summering place of numerous Salt Lake city merchants, who have built appropiinto residences. A hotel of moderate accommodations and the! abiding places of a few regular residents resi-dents add to make of Soda springs quite a hamlet. Tbe Bfot is distant lrom Franklin by wagon road about sixty.five miles. Wagon roads will quickly be constructed thither from the Port Nt'uf and otner points, however, and the ban of isolation removed from this whole region of grand and multiplied attractions. Strahorn's 'To the Rockies aud Beyond." |