562 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
are susceptible of cultivation, though with the present system of irriga- 
tion it would be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain sufficient water toirri- 
gate this extent; but, by making reservoirs, and bringing upon it all the 
water that is within reach from the streams north and south, this esti- 
mate will not be too large. In this way part of the higher lands South 
of Weber River may be rendered fit for culture. The farms already 
under cultivation show that the soil is rich and productive, though in 
many places covered with artemisia, and more or less impregnated with 
saline matter. The northern and southern portions contain the princi- 
pal settlements, as there the land is lower and more easily irrigated. 
-The valley of the Jordan extends almost directly north and south from 
Utah Lake to Great Salt Lake. The distance from the lower end of the 
eafion, near Utah Lake, to its northern boundary, where it expands and 
forms apart of what has been included in the Salt Lake Valley is about twen- 
ty-sixmiles, with an average of fully fifteen miles, This gives nearly four 
hundred square miles as its area, the estimate being confined to the valley 
plains, four-fifths of which can beirrigated. Lieutenant Beckwith gives 
thirty miles as its length and twenty as its width; but he counts from 
Utah Lake, and includes the mountain slopes. The direct length, by 
Government survey, from the base line which runs near the north 
side of thecity to the southern line of Salt Lake County, which crosses 
near the caiion, is just twenty-four miles. This beautiful valley has a 
cultivable area of three hundred square miles. 
Most of the tributaries of the Jordan enter it from the east side, and 
the only ones of any importance south of the creek that waters the city 
are Mill, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and Willow Creeks. 
Ditches have been made recently along the eastern border of the valley, 
drawing the water from Cottonwood Creeks, near the mountain, and 
carrying it on the somewhat elevated plateau that occupies a consider- 
able area on this side of the river. 
This effort has clearly demonstrated the possibility and practicability 
of irrigating nearly every acre on the east side of the river, north of 
Willow Creek. Although but little of this plateau or higher level has 
been tilled, the primary canals and a number of the smaller ditches are 
already made, and early in the fall of 1570 were filled with runnin 
water. In the vicinity of Willow Creek there is a small area of slightly 
rolling land which probably cannot be irrigated, not because of its ele- 
vation, but because this stream does not furnish sufficient water. If 
reservoirs can be established along the base of the mountain there will 
be no necessity for even this portion remaining idle. 
An extensive canal is now in course of construction for the purpose 
of irrigating the great body of land on the west side of the river. 
Starting within the cafion, and but a few feet below the level of Utah 
Lake, the water is to be conducted from the Jordan along the base of the 
Oquirrh Mountains, at as high a level as possible. This will furnish 
sufficient water to irrigate the larger portion of the lands on that side; 
but the fall is not sufficient to reach the higher margins of the sloping 
plain. When these works are completed and the fresh water from Utah 
Lake has permeated the soil for a few years, this valley, seen from the 
neighboring heights, will appear as one vast garden. 
The soil of the flat lands around the city, when first settled by the 
Mormons, was so thoroughly saturated with saline matter that for sev- 
eral years there were considerable areas upon which no crops could be 
made to grow. Atlengthexperience taught them that by sowing herds- 
grass, and irrigating freely, it could be rendered suitable for the culture 
of other crops. Mr. R. L. Campbell, of the Agricultural and Manutac- 
