THE GREAT SALT LAKE BASIN. 561 
This is probably the finest grazing section in the entire basin, and be- 
ing situated near the junction of three railroads, must become a favorite 
pasture ground for stock-raisers and stock-traders. Occasionally, feed- 
ing may be required for a short period during the winter months, which 
seldom continues over three or four weeks. This is also one of the best 
wheat-growing valleys in the district, being second only to the San Pete. 
It is not so well adapted to the culture of “fruit or corn as the sections 
farther south, both it and the Malade being colder than the valley of 
the Jordan ; yet apples and some of the har dier fruits can be raised. A 
considerable population has been attracted hither by the delightful fea- 
tures and situation of this valley, and already between thir ty and thir- 
ty-five thousand acres have been irrigated. 
Box Elder and the other little streams that connect with it are bor- 
dered by some excellent lands, which can be easily irrigated, and upon 
which a settlement has been made and a portion brought under cultiva- 
tion. 
Bear River rises in the Uintah Mountains, near the southwest corner 
of Wyoming, and running north within Utah Territory, but very near 
the eastern boundary, passes up into Idaho forty or fifty miles, where, 
bending suddenly southwest, it enters the Cache Valley. Most of the 
distance, from where the Union Pacific Railroad strikes it to its north- 
ern bend, it is flanked by a narrow strip of bottom land, which expands 
occasionally to four or five miles in width, as in the vicinity of Medicine 
Butte, and near the point where it crosses the boundary line; but for 
the whole length the average width is perhaps not more than one mile. 
The chief value of this belt will be its use as a grazing region when the 
broader valleys have been taken up, its elevations and mountainous 
surroundings making it too cold for any but hardy cereals and vegeta- 
bles. The river has an average fall of about 12 feet to the mile, sufficient 
to carry it upon any of the bordering table lands not over 100 or 150 
feet high. Around Bear River Lake there is a strip of arable land and 
some grassy meadows. 
There is a little park in the Wahsatch Mountains, about fifteen miles 
long and seven miles wide, called Ogden’s Hole, which is drained by 
Ogden Creek. This charming, little valley is surrounded on all sides by 
lofty mountains, from which flow little streams of crystal water, sufficient 
to irrigate nearly the entire area. A thick growth of nutritious grass, 
affording excellent grazing, covers the greater part. The climate and 
products are similar to those of Bear River Valley. 
Weber River, along which the railroad runs for some distance, from 
the place where it emerges from the cafion to where it enters Salt 
Lake Valley proper, passes through a very pretty and, for the most 
part, fertile section, which is rapidly filling up with villages and settle- 
ments. Its low bottoms are easily irrigated and quite fertile, the greater 
portion being already under cultivation or occupied. At some points 
the ite seat deposits interfere with its cultivation, but these areas are 
limited. 
The valley contains about one hundred square miles, or sixty-four 
thousand acres of arable land, including the little spots on Echo 
Creek. Although the climate is somewhat colder than that of Salt Lake 
Valley, apples and even other fruits can be raised without difficulty. 
‘The “Salt Lake Valley,” which name is limited to the strip of level 
land lying along the eastern shore between the lake and the Wahsatch 
Mountains, in a direct line from Salt Lake City to Willard City, is about 
fifty miles long, varying in width from two to fifteen miles, and averaging 
about ten. -Abeut three-fifths, or three hundred square miles, of this area 
36 A 
