Show CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Great Salt factor in Mountain trappers Lake has been an important the development of the Far West Rocky explored it in search of beaver streams to California-boun- d emigrants it was a serious barrier that had to be Yith the coming of the Mormons to Utah the lake began to assume economic value salt was extracted from its brine by-pas- sed boats were launched on its waters and its islands pied and used chiefly as grazing lands Even before its discovery by white men were occu- Great Salt (or a lake believed to be located in the interior basin region) occupied an important place in the minds of explorers Lake writers Since nothing definite was known of the lake much fallacious information was circulated about it and the rivers that supposedly fed andor drained it Numerous myths and legends grew up concerning this body of water many of which were still in circulation half a century after its disEarliest contacts with the lake led covery and exploration to a great deal of interest in it and resulted in the formation of private as well as government expeditions to explore and and survey it only phase of Great Salt Lake history that has received adequate treatment is that of its geological develop- The |