GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 215 



mulated waters. The chief portion of the arable land lies on the west 

 side of the stream, which generally hugs closely the base of the eastern 

 range. 



Several streams of moderate size flow down from the Sah watch range 

 on the west and cross the main valley. The largest of these is the South 

 Arkansas, up which an arm of the park or valley extends for several 

 miles. The average elevation is about seven thousand feet above the 

 level of the sea. There is already a considerable population there, two 

 or three small villages, a flouring mill, and at least one hundred farms. 



Although somewhat elevated, this region is well protected from the 

 winds by the lofty mountain wall that hems it on every side, and stock 

 can be kept on the grazing fields most of the winter, shelter and feeding 

 being but seldom required, and that but for a short time. Passing 

 through here in October, 1869, we found it clear of snow and the weather 

 pleasant. We also procured here some of the finest potatoes I saw while 

 in ths Territory. The extent of irrigable land may be estimated, in the 

 entire basin, at three hundred square miles. 



Below this the mountains and hills again crowd down to the river, 

 leaving only a few small openings suitable for settlement. But, as is 

 generally the case with these little mountain valleys in this portion of 

 the country, they are very fertile. 



It is probably forty or fifty miles from the lower end of this valley to 

 Canon City, where the river leaves the mountains. From this point to 

 Pueblo, which is situated at the mouth of the "Fountaine Qui Bouille," 

 the distance is forty miles. The valley of the river during this part of 

 its course is very uneven and broken. At one point the bottom will 

 spread out for five or six miles in width ; then again it is shut in by 

 roling hills or elevated plateaus. Mr. Byers estimates the irrigable 

 lands in this part of the valley at two hundred square miles. But I am 

 inclined to think these elevated plateaus are not beyond the reach of 

 irrigation from the river. Take, for instance, the one immediately south 

 of Canon City, which, according to my present recollection, is about one 

 hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and fifty feet above the water 

 level, with the fall the river has in this part of its course, which cannot 

 be less than fifteen feet to the mile, I see no reason why the water could 

 not be carried upon it. But it is possible Mr. Byers includes these in 

 his estimate, which certainly is not extravagant. 



From Pueblo eastward the valley is wide, with easy slopes right and 

 left to the elevated plains, much like the valley and bordering lands of 

 the South Platte. Therefore we may safely assume that, with a fall of 

 eleven feet to the mile, which the river has in this part of its course, the 

 extent of land which may be irrigated is only limited by the supply of 

 water. Starting from Pueblo with a width of two or three miles, there 

 is nothing to prevent widening the belt to thirty or forty miles, thus 

 giving between Caiion City and the eastern boundary of the Territory 

 at least four thousand square miles, or two millions and a half acres of 

 irrigable land. 



The fact that a large quantity of the water of a stream like this sinks 

 out on the plains, should not be set down as conclusive evidence that 

 the bordering lands cannot be irrigated from it; for, in the first place, 

 they generally have much more water in them during the season of the 

 year when irrigation is necessary than in the latter part of the ■summer 

 and fall, when not required. And in the second place, all the water 

 that comes down from the mountains may be retained on the surface by 

 tapping the streams above the point where it sinks. Suppose all the 

 water which flows down from the mountains in the Arkansas and its 



