OCR Text |
Show THE F0URTI WEEK, JUi Ike Beach Laaas Itqalry Sot Yet CMdaad. When our reptrt of the beach lands proceedings closed yesterday afternoon, Mr. Henry Hlrschiag, chemist anil mining engineer, this city, was tinder examination. Witness Wit-ness was questioned as to the nature of (lie coll on tbe lands In dispute and tbe growth of vegetation there on. There was evidence, he said, of previous plant life; decayed roots were let ba found, and on the surface there was green fegetatloD, evidently meadow grass-. On these two heads there was considerable questioning by counsel, coun-sel, and a large part of the afternoon was so occupied Witness was interrogated as to tbe Dyer land, also in reference to tbe artesian wells on the lands in question ques-tion and the result of the analyses of the water taken therefrom. Mr. Stephens From your examination exami-nation and analyses of the soil on tbe land in question, what is your opinion as to whether these lands can be reclaimed and useful products pro-ducts grown thereon. Mnjor Bird objected to the question. ques-tion. Witness According to my examinations ex-aminations and investigations of this laud, I will say that It is agricultural agri-cultural land, but there are places which contain au excess of salt deposited de-posited by tbe evaporation ot the waters of tho Great Salt Lake which have In earlier periods overflowed over-flowed the entire Salt Lake basin. But by means of bringing sweet water in contact with this land and thus leaching out the excess of salt, the land in question Is, accord ing to my complete analyses of the soil, a mast suitable one for raising farm products. It Is. as is well known, constantly enriched ftom two sides; the slight waves from the Great Salt Lake deposit de-posit oiganic matter or decayed vegetation Iu this drift sand. This drift sand keeps back tbe organic matter, thus forming by this action of the lake a rich soil, although, on the other band, the soil is enriched from organic matter from (he upper section of tLe Salt Lake basin. The cross-examination of the witness wit-ness by Major Bird was then taken up, his earlier questions being almost al-most entirely confined to Mr. Hlrschlng's aualyses of the soil and 'water before mentioned. Inquiry proceeding. |