RIM OF THE BASIN — HOUTE FROM FORT BRIDGER. 22T 



The ascent is gentle and winding. Numerous springs burst out on 

 either side, near the summit of the ridge, amid groves of aspen, 

 which cover the sides of the surrounding hills. 



It was with no little exultation that we reached this eastern 

 barrier of the Great Basin, in which we had been floundering amid 

 dreary deserts and barren mud-plains for the last thirteen months, 

 and to which we now bade adieu with feelings of unfeigned satis- 

 faction. Directly upon the summit, by the side of the road, was 

 the fresh grave of some poor fellow who had come thus far on his 

 journey to the land of promise — a land he was destined never to 

 behold. 



From the top of the pass, it was evident that a much better 

 location for the road could have been made from the head of Muddy 

 to that of Sulphur Creek, by which the route would have been 

 rendered much more direct, and at least two formidable elevations 

 avoided. 



From conversations with several individuals well acquainted with 

 the country in this vicinity, especially with Major Bridger, who 

 has traversed this whole region for the last thirty years, as well as 

 from my owti observations, which go in a great measure to confirm 

 their statements, I feel convinced that the best route for a road into 

 the Salt Lake Valley would be obtained by ascending Black's Fork 

 to Fort Bridger ; passing thence to Bear River, distant twenty- 

 five miles ; then crossing Bear River and ascending its valley until 

 we strike upon the heads of a branch of the Weber ; following 

 down which for fifteen miles, the main stream is reached about two 

 miles north of Camass Prairie. Into the latter, access through the 

 upper canon is not difficult. This, so far as can be judged from 

 the information obtained, and from the partial observations we had 

 ourselves the opportunity of making, would afi'ord a route entirely 

 practicable for a railroad, the chief obstacle presenting itself being 

 the liability to obstruction from the snows that would be likely to 

 accumulate in the canon of the Weber. From the Camass Prairie, 

 as before observed, the road might fork, the branch which leads to 

 the city descending the Wahsatch range by the Golden Pass as at 

 present, while the other, following down the Timpanogas, would 

 enter the Salt Lake basin near to Lake Utah. 



Following a ridge for about eight miles from " the Rim of the 

 Basin," we encamped at Red or Copperas Spring, a tributary of 

 the Muddy, (an affluent of Green River,) after a march of twenty- 

 six and a-half miles. The road to-day has been hilly, but good ; 



