92 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIX OF UTAH. 



high water affects the road for about 150 miles along the Humboldt and Thousand 

 Spring Valley. It is also objectionable on account of the bad water (alkaline) and 

 alkaline grass, which extends along the lower part of the Humboldt for 75 miles, and 

 on account of the desert between the sink of the Humboldt and the sink of Carson, and 

 the scarcity of feed from Ragtown, on Carson River, to Big Bend of Carson, about 30 

 miles. Twenty-five per cent, of stock, he assures me, on the average, has been lost annu- 

 ally-on the route from these causes. The Goose Creek and Bear River Mountains make 

 it also useless in the winter, on account of snow, and the distance is greater than by my 

 route. He also represents that all along the Humboldt, that is, for a distance of over 300 

 miles, there is no timber but small willows; none in Thousand Spring Valley, and none 

 on Goose Creek. Poor prospect this for the magnetic telegraph. Whereas on this our 

 outward route, except between the Champlin Mountains and the Go-shoot range (86 

 miles), and between the Se-day-e Mountains and Carson Lake (f>G miles), the mount- 

 ain-ranges are covered with pine, pifion, balsam, quaking ash, and mountain mahogany, 

 all of which make the telegraph a feasible project, the maximum haul of the poles, 

 except at the points stated, being not over 10 miles** 



murderer. Was astonished that 'the relic of sueh a season of popular agitation and 

 excitement should be left to be harped upon by every passer-by. Notice, also, several 

 farms along the road, a very common mode of fencing being the laying of single 

 trunks of large pines in a line between the fields. The cattle look very fat, and 

 sleek; hogs in like excellent condition. These latter are said to thrive on the roots of 

 the tuilla or rush The butter of this vallev is of a rich gold color, and is said to 

 command a higher price than the California butter. 



This valley is good for the small cereals. Wheat and barley do well. Torn has 

 been raised, but the birds and frosts generally destroy the crops; very little oats have 

 been raised A few peaches have been produced, but as yet no apples. Grapes have 

 never been tried. All garden-vegetables, as also the strawberry, raspberry, and 

 gooseberry, thrive. Potatoes are raised, but the cultivation of the sweet-potato has 

 been a failure, and I am informed that they cannot be raised in California. The soil 

 is generally irrigated. As a pastoral region it is superb. Cattle on the hoof command 

 10 cents per pound. Barley brings about $3 per bushel. The trade heretofore has 

 consisted principally in exchanging goods with emigrants for their stock. 



Readied Gen oa at half p ast 9 a. m. Journey, 12.9 miles ; road good. Just as we 



* My return route in res .-ither extreme 



was found still better adapted to the telegraph. 



For additional information in relation to the Humboldt River route, see Introduction, page 22. 



