THE GREAT SALT LAKE BASIN. 559 
ing. It is safe to estimate the available land iu this part of the district 
at 500,000 acres. 
The broad tract that spreads out between Green and Big Sandy Riv- 
ers is level and sandy, presenting a barren and desolate appearance, on 
which account it is sometimes called The Colorado Desert. Itis covered 
with alow growth of Artemisia ; but, notwithstanding this, the soil pos- 
sesses the elements of fertility and needs only the addition of water to 
make it productive. 
The Big Sandy rises in the Wind River range a few miles northwest 
of South Pass, and runs south until itis joined by the Little Sandy, 
when, bending southwest, it continues this course until it joins Green 
River. For most of its course it runs through a very narrow valley pre- 
senting but little bottom land, averaging perhaps half a mile in width ; 
but, as its fall is rapid, being 18 to 30 feet to the mile, its waters can 
easily be carried to the highest bordering plateaus, which seldom rise 
over 100 feet. 
The elevation of this triangular section varies from 5,500 to 6,500 feet 
above the level of the sea. Its climate corresponds very nearly with 
that of the Sweetwater Valley, and, as its soil is very similar, its produc- 
tions will be about.the same as in that valley. 
The north part of Green River Valley may have some good grazing 
lands, but neither the lower part of this valley nor that of the Sandy 
afford any extensive areas suitable for pasturage. As a general thing, 
this entire area is destitute of timber, none, save a few cottonwood 
groves on the lower part of Green River, being found nearer than the 
mountains. Black’s Fork is bordered by a bottom of moderate width, 
which will afford space for a number of farms and a fine grazing field. 
Around Fort Bridger, on the headwaters of Black’s Fork and its tribu- 
taries, Smith’s Fork and Cottonwood Creek, and on Henry’s Fork are 
some fine farming lands. On Smith’s Fork several farms are already in 
cultivation, producing fine crops of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, &c. 
The altitude here is about 7,000 feet above the level of the sea. 
It is probable that this entire district, if irrigated to the full extent of 
the water supply, would furnish 600,000 to 700,000 acres of tillable land. 
THE GREAT SALT LAKE BASIN. 
This basin is a vast elliptical depression, in the great interalpine 
- trough of North America, lying partly in Utah and partly in Nevada. 
It extends north and south about three hundred and fifty miles, varying 
in width from fifty to three hundred miles, averaging about one hun- 
dred and eighty or ninety. As but little of it has been surveyed and 
much of it but partially explored, it is difficult to give a reliable esti- 
mate of the proportion oftillable lands. 
An irregular range of hills or mountains, starting from the southwest 
corner of Salt Lake, and running south, a little west of the one hundred 
and thirteenth meridian, extends to the thirty-eighth parallel. Here it 
bends to the southeast, and forms an imperfect junction with the 
southern extremity of the Wahsatch Mountains. The basin is divided 
by this range into two unequal parts; that on the east being much 
smaller than the western portion. An examination of the latter develops 
the fact that the lake formerly extended over a much larger area in this 
direction than at present, as it consists chiefly of broad, flat, sandy 
