544 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
e 
country, then sweeping around back into Arkansas again, and emptying itself into 
the Red River. Next is the Kiamitia, the Boggys, Blue, and False Washita Rivers, 
the Mud, Walnut, Beaver, Caché, and other creeks below and around the Washita. 
North of the Arkansas River is first the Lee’s Creek, Skin Bayou, the Sallison, Vienne, 
Illinois, Greenleaf, Bayou Manard, Grand and Verdigris Rivers. On the south of the 
Arkansas River is first the Poteau, with its Brayils, Fouch Malines, Sugar Loaf, and 
other tributaries; then Cazier, Sans-Bois, Canadian, Derdenne, Red Fork, Black Bear, 
Rio Negris or Salt Fork of the Arkansas. The principal streams running into the 
Canadian River from the south are first what was once known as Gaines Creek, then 
the South Fork of the Canadian, now known as Gaines Creek, which heads and laps 
around among the mountains at the head of the Sans-Bois, Fouch Malines, Kiamitias, 
ard the Boggys. The next west of Gaines Creek of any size is Walnut Creek, which 
heads in the Upper Cross Timbers, emptying itself between that and the Lower Cross 
Timbers, the upper edge of which is about 97° west. On the north side of the Canadian 
are the North Canadian and Little Rivers, the last of which heads in the plains west 
of 97°. The Deep Fork is a river running in the plains east of the Arapahoe and 
Cheyenne Agency, and almost within a mile of the North Canadian, running north to 
within about eight miles of the Red Fork of the Arkansas, when it sweeps round to 
the east, emptying itself into the North Canadian about nine miles above its junction 
with the main Canadian, draining nearly all the country between the North Canadian 
and the Red Fork of the Arkansas. Rains frequently cause it to overflow its banks 
and remain full and past fording for weeks. 
‘The timber bordering on the plains from the Arkansas River south, known as the 
Lower Cross Timbers, is principally of post oak and blackjack, small and scrubby. 
In the valleys of the Canadian, Little River, and Deep Fork is some oak timber of 
considerable size—from two to four feet in diameter—but the quantity is small. 
‘What the elevation of the country is I am not informed, nor am I of the amount of 
rainfall; it varies with the years, and is as uncertain and variable as the climate. It 
is much greater in the mountainous and timbered portions of the country than on the 
plains. From the 97th degree to the 100th degree the country is much more subject 
to drought than east of it, generally commencing the latter part of June. The 
South or main Canadian, west of the Little River, which is about 96°, is very fre- 
quently almost dry ; what little water remains on the surface stands in small ponds, 
* and you can ride for days in its dry, sandy bed. It heads north of Santa Fé, in the 
Rattoun Mountains, and is, I understand, a bold running stream there; when it 
reaches the plains I know it sinks, and is frequently as I have described it. The 
North Canadian heads in the plains and has very few tributaries, the Deep Fork drain- 
ing the principal portion of the country and is the only tributary it has of any size.” 
Besides the gentlemen from whom I received the above information, I have con- 
versed with others who have had opportunities of knowing the country, or different 
parts of it. The descriptions I have obtained agree substantially with those already 
given. Some with whom I have spoken have differed somewhat from Mr. Vore in his 
estimate of the forest area of that portion of the country between Grand River and 
« line running south from this point and the 97th degree, thinking that the forest 
area will not exceed one-half of that portion of the Territory. 
It is said that yellow pine is abundant in the eastern and southeastern parts of the 
Choctaw Nation, and very valuable. 
The pecan-nut affords quite a valuable crop in the Territory, that in the Creek Na- 
tion alone being worth in a year of ordinary bearing $18,000. 
The rainfall during the last three years,as ascertained by the pluviometer at the 
signal station in the village of Fort Gibson, adjoining this, has been as follows: 
Years. Average per month. 
ST Weeee Sao nscs snieese ai Satis otteme sinc entniset soe iciceise ember aee eee 3.15 inches. 
ikey( See eese i aeewisetioa eee sense oece Se secceaceosweeeee eR eeieee 2.96 inches. - 
ABU are oe oke = ciais Se wiahemlceieeicctona aoe lacailsea Mebies e ale eleGad clslosetemeyels aie mlatats SeOne ORMEEnmEam 
The altitude of this post is 619 feet. In the records at the post hospital the altitude 
is stated to be by barometer 600 feet, This was corrected at the signal station, making 
it 619 feet. 
CAMP SUPPLY. 
Major H. A. HAMBRIGHT, Ninth Infantry, reports as follows: 
In compliance with the requests made in your letter, duplicated January 10, 1878, 
you will please find below a list of trees, shrubs, and undershrubs at and near the post 
of Camp Supply, Indian Territory. The extent of area embracing this growth is about 
twenty-five miles. The lines of drainage are all in the direction of southeast by south. 
The only record at this post of the elevation is that taken by Lieut. E. H. Ruffner, 
United States Engineers, obtained April 30, May 1 and 3 inclusive, 1877. The rainfall 
