244 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEREITORIES. 



without small streams, miglit be irrigated, and probably as mucli as 

 10i.',000 acres added to the cultivable area. Timber in abundance can 

 be obtained in the mountains to the east, and good building-stone can 

 be obtained near Logan. 



In passing from this valley northward to Marsh Yalley, we cross the 

 divide between the Salt Lake Basin and the Snake Eiver Basin, yet the 

 dividing water-shed does not appear to interrupt the north aud south 

 direction of the ridges or valleys, and we only knew we were crossing 

 the divide by noticing, after passing over alow, broad, transverse ridge, 

 running from the mountains on the east to those on the west, that the 

 direction of the water had changed. From this point to Carpenter's 

 Stage Station, on Marsh Creek, (a tributary of Port ISTeuf Eiver,) for 

 most of the way we passed through narrow valleys, and over low, smooth, 

 rounded ridges, generally covered with artemisia, and without water 

 sufiicient for irrigating even the small areas sufficiently level for culti- 

 vation. 



Marsh Yalley is but a small opening, being about one mile wide and 

 four or five miles long. It is covered with a thick sward of rich nutri- 

 tious gTass, and will afford a good' grazing field for a small herd. Some 

 two or three families reside here, but more on account of the business 

 resulting from the travel that passes here than for the purpose of farm- 

 ing or stock-raivSing. 



From Marsh Yalley to the Port ]S"euf, the country is rolling and broken, 

 bnt not rugged, consisting of a succession of rounded hills and short 

 ridges, which are smo«th, without trees of any kind, and mostly covered 

 with a scattering growth of stunted artemisia. Here aud there the 

 dark basaltic rocks show themselves above the surface. * 



The valley of the Port 2seuf is a narrow winding caiion, the greater 

 portion of its level surface consisting of a bed of columnar basalt. At 

 one or two points there are small openings sufficient for one or two small 

 farms ; but with these exceptions, it is of no value in an agricultural 

 point of view. Tliis vallej' opens into the broad Snake Eiver Plain. 



As I shall reserve the discussion of the agricultural capacity of this 

 broad plain for a future report, I will continue tbe notes of our immedi- 

 ate route, simi>ly stating at the end my conclusion in regard to the eas- 

 tern portion of it. 



Leaving the banks of the Port Xenf we struck across the plains to 

 Eoss's Fork. The plains are broad and generally level, aud very dry. 

 Between these two points there is but one small stream ; therefore, 

 unless water can be brought from Snake Eiver, which is some twelve or 

 fourteen miles distant, there would seem to be no chance to irrigate it. 

 Tbe mountains to the right recede from our road as we move north, so 

 that the streams would be compelled to fiow a considerable distance 

 over the dry i^lains. At this point tbe three prominent and somewhat 

 noted huttes, which lie far to the northwest, come into view, and far 

 beyond them the snowy crests of the Salmon Eiver Eango can be dimly 

 seen. 



The soil of this part of the plain is good, and only needs water to ren- 

 der it very productive and excellent farming land. Eoss's Creek is ai» 

 swift-running stream some 20 or 30 feet wide, and affords sufficient 

 water to irrigate some three or four thousand acres of land. At the In- 

 dian agency which is established here some attempts in this direction 

 have been made, which I believe have been attended with success. 



As seen from the point where the road crosses this stream, the coun- 

 try to the north and west is mostly an open, level i)laiu. To tbe east 



