GANNETT.] AEABLE LAND ON GEAND EIVER DRAINAGE. 333 



Of the branches of Grand Eiver, but one, the TTncompahgre, has suf- 

 ficient land suitably situated to use up all its water. 



The Middle Park, so called, is rather a collection of valleys, sep- 

 arated by high mountain ridges. On the east, the great wall of the 

 Front Eange separates it from the plains and forms the water-shed of 

 the continent. On the west, it is shut in by the Park Eange, through 

 which, in a deep, narrow gorge, the waters, collected in this deijression, 

 find an exit. On the north and south, the ridges which separate the 

 secondary streams of the Park rise to a considerable elevation, and are 

 connected by saddles, forming the boundaries on those sides. 



The principal branches of the Grand in the Park are the North Fork, 

 Willow Creek, Troublesome Creek, and the Muddy from the north, and 

 Frazer, Williams, and Blue Elvers from the south. All these are con- 

 sequent streams, and all are in valleys of greater or less width, yet the 

 amount of arable land on them is comparatively iiisigniflcaut, being 

 altogether but 30 square miles. That on the main river within the Park 

 is 44 square miles, giving a total of 74 square miles. 



■ The arable area on the Grand, in this part of its course, is in the 

 form of a narrow strip, perhaps a mile wide, extending, with a few 

 short interruptions, across the Park from east to west. Frazer Eiver 

 has a small area of arable land near its mouth and another some 12 or 

 15 miles above. The Blue Eiver has a few square miles of cultivable 

 land near its mouth. The valleys of the other streams in the Park con- 

 tain no arable land. The elevation of the valleys in Middle Park range 

 from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. 



All these valleys contain large extents of pasture-land, extending to 

 the bases of the mountains. The mountains are everywhere heavily 

 timbered witli pine and spruce. 



Following the river down, the next arable areas of any extent are at 

 the mouth and head of Egeria Creek. In these localities there are 

 about 30 square miles of excellent land. The canon which the river 

 enters at the foot of Middle Park, and which opens out into a valley at 

 the mouth of Egeria Creek, closes again below, and extends almost 

 continuously down the river,to a point about 10 miles below the mouth 

 of Eoariag Fork. In this caiion Eagle Eiver joins the Grand. This 

 stream drains the north end of the Sawatch Eange and part of the 

 western slopes of the Park Eange, heading opposite the Arkansas, and 

 occupying the same consequent valley. Along it and two of its 

 branches, Brush and Gypsum Creeks, it is estimated that there are 87 

 square miles of arable land, extending in narrow belts along these 

 streams. 



Eoaring Fork drains the northern slopes of the Elk Mountains. Its 

 course, and those of its numerous branches, are mainly in narrow mount- 

 ain valleys. Its arable land consists of a small patch at the mouths of 

 Hunter's, Woody, Castle, and Maroon Creeks, and a strip at the mouth 

 of Eock Creek; in all some 15 square miles. Farther down, the Grand 

 enters a broad valley, of which a very considerable part, about 72 

 square miles, can be irrigated and made productive. Its present prod- 

 uct is mainly sage. Below, the river flows through a valley several 

 miles wide, but utterly unfit for agriculture, as the surface is very 

 uneven and cut by numerous arroyas. At the foot of this valley Pla- 

 teau Creek enters the Grand. On this stream there is a small area of 

 arable land. 



Passing through another short caQon, the Grand emerges into that 

 great valley which is known here as the Grand Eiver Valley, farther up 

 as the Gunnison, and still farther as that of the Uucompahgre. The 



