THE IRRIGATION AGE. 153 



large canals. Above Bull Lake, which is taken as the dividing point 

 between the upper and lower valleys, comparatively little land can 

 be watered from the main stream on the south side, but there are 

 extensive and gently sloping table lands bordering the mountains 

 which appear well adapted to irrigation and which are crossed by 

 numerous tributaries which rise in the most elevated portion of the 

 Wind River range and will furnish an ample supply for their complete 

 reclamation. Time did not permit of an examination of these streams 

 to determine what ditches out of them would cost but from the distant 

 view which we had it seemed that their reclamation would be compar- 

 atively inexpensive. 



West of the reservation the valley is from 6,500 to 8,000 feet 

 above sea level and only hay and the hardier crops can be grown. 

 All of the irrigable land has been filed on by stockmen and the greater 

 part of the land brought under irrigation for the production of native hay. 



WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS. 



Prom Wind River to Jackson post office is 80 miles. We travelled 

 the entire distance through a wild, mountainous region made historic 

 by the adventures of the early fur traders and explorers. From 

 Union Pass we looked out on a magnificent mountain panorama. 

 Majestic snow-covered peaks rose on every side. The lofty spire of 

 the Grand Teton rose above the clouds and although sixty miles away 

 was a sight never to be forgotten. 



The most interesting sight to the irrigators in the party was the 

 streams which coursed their. several ways in the canons below. We 

 were on the crest of the continent and could take in at one sweep the 

 headwaters of all the great rivers of the arid region which rise around 

 Mt. Union and end in the Gulf of Mexico, GuM of California and 

 Pacific ocean. 



From Union Pass we travelled twelve miles along the path of 

 a tremendous ice field which in ages past plowed its way across the 

 summit of the Wind River range. The miseries of that ride will not 

 soon be forgotten. "The trail was paved with round boulders ranging 

 from the size of an orange to a beer barrel, and as our wagons bumped 

 and slid off their rounded sides the spokes in wheels gave way, the 

 seats on which we sat collapsed, and we camped that night a sea-sick, 

 demoralized crowd. 



On our way down the Gros Ventre river we saw evidence of con- 

 siderable prospecting for placer gold and just below the mouth of 

 Bacon creek came on some miners at work. Although their sluices 

 were small they claimed to be making 15.00 a day and had no desire 

 to exchange for the Klondike. 



JACKSON HOLE. 



Our first view of this valley was from the summit of the ridge 

 wh'ch forms its eastern boundary. I do not think Wyoming affords a 



