VALLEY OF THE JORDAN AND OF LAKE UTAH. 215 



torrent, at a narrow chasm, where the banks were high enough 

 for landing, and then the frail, bending boat, by repeated journeys, 

 carried us all over safe, with our baggage and instruments. It 

 was a severe day's work, however, and the risk of life and property 

 very great; but the only insurance to be had was in the company 

 of prudence, skill, and perseverance." 



^'Bertween Weber and Ogden the land is too high for irrigation, 

 except by some rivulets which afford but a small supply. Along 

 the Weber, below tjie canon, is a narrow meadow strip, and to the 

 south a flanking spur from the mountains, of six successive terraces, 

 ten miles broad, and sloping to the lake. These are grazing lands 

 for Weber settlement. South of the terrace pastures commences a 

 series of creeks of bright, sparkling water, that irrigate a strip of 

 land averaging two miles in width, and extending to the vicinity 

 of Hot Spring, three miles from Salt Lake City. This includes 

 Miller's and Session's settlements, and is covered with lovely fields 

 and gardens. From the hot spring to the city are numerous warm 

 fountains that deposite gypsum and other sulphates. These waters 

 give delightful baths, but destroy the fertility of the soil. The 

 south shore-line of the lake, from the mouth of Jordan River, was 

 measured by the chain on the soft, sandy beach and barrens. The 

 line of the Jordan river was previously chained, and I passed over 

 the traverse range with the triangulation in the valley of Lake 

 Utah. From the Jordan caHon to Dry Cotton-wood is a grazing 

 range. At the outlet of the lake there is a reed marsh which, by 

 early cutting the dense growth, a pretty hay can be made. It 

 will be difficult to obtain irrigable land until we reach the Spring 

 creek, and we have to rely on the American Fork for water to 

 irrigate with. A beautiful and wide bottom land lies along the 

 lake shore, for some miles under the control of this stream ; and 

 from the crossing to the heads of Pomont-quint is a rich alluvial 

 soil, mixed with vegetable mould. A series of rolling, round hills 

 now occur between the Pomont creek and Timpanogas, well grassed 

 for cattle ranges. On the Timpanogas bottoms wheat grows most 

 luxuriantly, and root-crops are seldom excelled. A continuous 

 field can be made thence to the Wa-ke-te-ke creek, and the lovely 

 Utah valley made to sustain a population of more than a hundred 

 thousand inhabitants. The west of the lake is grazing land, and 

 a road on this side to the southern settlements is the natural line 

 of travel from the capital city below. Warm springs issue near 

 the outlet, and the mists from the cooling waters give at all sea- 



