GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEERITOEIES. 227 



sale, &c., of these lands, but should limit the application of the funds 

 arising under this grant to the expenses belonging strictly to the sys- 

 tem of irrigation. This should not apply of course to mineral lands, and 

 a special i>rovision may be made in regard to the timbered lands on the 

 mountains which are not adapted to agricultural purposes. One-half of 

 these might profitably be granted, with the provision that, as a return 

 therefor, it should be the duty of these State and territorial govern- 

 ments to guard and preserve the forests on those lauds not thus 

 granted. 



There would be some difficulty in regard to the survey of these mount- 

 ain lands, but here the division need not be limited to alternate sections, 

 but might be by townships, or in such a manner as the Commissioner 

 of the General Laud-Office might ascertain to be most practicable. 



I think it cannot be denied that such a plan would result in more 

 permanent benefit to these sections and to the General Government 

 than any other which can possibly be adopted. It would at once prepare 

 the way for the introduction of the best possible system of irrigation, 

 and prevent the inconvenience and trouble which will hereafter arise 

 when the introduction of such a system becomes absolutely necessary. 

 It would rapidly bring into use the lands which require such extensive 

 canals that individuals will not at present undertake it. There are mil- 

 lions of acres on the broad plateau bordering the Arkansas, Eio Grande, 

 Plattes, Snake, Missouri, and other rivers which might be rendered 

 excellent agricultural lands if an enlarged system of irrigation could be 

 inaugurated. But individual effort is inefficient for this pui^pose. And 

 though the granting of lands to railroads may partially accomplish this, 

 yet it is evident that it falls infinitely short of that result which would 

 be brought about by the system here proposed. 



I submit these thoughts with the earnest request that you will give 

 them such consideration as you think they merit. The object which the 

 plan is proposed to accomplish I know to be one which you have long 

 cherished, and for which you have so many years labored, and to which 

 you now look forward with an earnest hope. 



CHAPTER IE. 



THE GREAT BASIN. 



As I have already given, in a former report, a description of the 

 various valleys and arable tracts in Utah, I shall at i)resent confine 

 myself to a general view of the principal geographical features of the 

 Great Basin, concluding the portion devoted to the Territory with 

 a more minute account of that section visited in. person the present 

 season. 



I i\se the term "Great Basin" in contradistinction to that of "Salt 

 Lake Basin," to include that immense area lying between the Wahsatch 

 Mountains on the east and the Sierra Nevada Eange on. the west, em- 

 bracing the western part of Utah and the entire State of Nevada. In 

 shape it is something like an ancient shield, the broad end being to the 

 North, the southern extremity rounded to a point, its extreme width 

 about 350 miles and its length north and south 300 miles. Having no 

 outlet for its waters, b\^ which they may be carried to the ocean, it forms 

 an isolated and, as might be inferred from this fact, a somewhat peculiar 

 district. 



