ROUTE NEAR THE FORTY-FIRST AND FORTY SECOND PARALLELS. 65 

 The areas of the different localities are estimated as follows : 



Square miles. 



Eastern shore of Great Salt lake, from Bear river to Great Salt Lake City 350 



Valley of the Jordan river 374 



Valley of Tuilla, west of Oquirrh mountains and east of Cedar mountains 204 



Total on Great Salt lake proper 928 



Upon the borders of Utah lake 180 



Total (as above) f 1,108 



About one-tenth of this area is susceptible of irrigation without the construction of costly 

 works, and is tilled by the Mormons, 27,000 in number, who eagerly seek for, and occupy, 

 small tracts of cultivable soil, if sufficiently large to support a few families, even though at 

 great distances from the main settlement. 



On this route, as on others, from the 98 or 99 meridian westward to the western slopes of 

 the Sierra Nevada, a distance of about 1,400 miles, the soil is generally uncultivable, the excep 

 tion being the comparatively limited area of the Mormon settlement, and an occasional river- 

 bottom and mountain-valley of small extent. 



East of the Rocky mountains the plains are of the same character as those described for 

 the route of the 38th and 39th parallels, uncultivable west of the 99th meridian. &quot;West of 

 the first chain of these mountains the plains are covered with artemisia, rarely furnishing 

 any grazing, except along the water-courses. The mountains, however, are generally covered, 

 to a greater or less extent, with grass the soil of those north, south, and west of the route 

 between Fort Bridger and the head\vaters of the Timpanogos river being of superior quality. 



The absence of the geological report prevents my referring to the geological structure, which 

 together with the climatological conditions, serve to corroborate or disprove opinions formed 

 on appearances of sterility or fertility. 



The indications given of the character of both, however, from the report, are sufficient to 

 establish the general correctness of the opinions expressed. 



ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COST. 



This estimate is made to show the probable relative cost of this route, as compared with 

 others. That portion of it for the difficult and costly section of the Sacramento river, 136 miles 

 in length, and for the canon on the Timpanogos river, I have less confidence in than in the esti 

 mates generally. The estimate includes an equipment suitable for the first working of the 

 road, about one-fifth that requisite for the development of its full power. 



From Council Bluffs to the first gorge of the Black Hills, 520 miles, 25 per 

 cent, being added to cost at eastern prices for one-half the distance, $35,000 

 per mile $18,200,000 



From the first gorge of the Black Hills to the summit of the South Pass, 291 

 miles, at $75,000 per mile, 50 per cent, having been added to cost at eastern 

 prices , $21,825,000 



From the South Pass to Fort Bridger, 131 miles, at $50,000 per mile, 50 per 



cent, having been added to cost at eastern prices $6,550,000 



From Fort Bridger to the Pacific, 100 per cent, has been added to the cost at east 

 ern prices. 



From Fort Bridger, Green River valley,, to foot of Oquirrh mountains, south end 

 of the Great Salt lake, deducting ten miles for the length of the caiion on 



the Timpanogos river, 173 miles, at $60,000 per mile $10,380,000 



9 a 



