GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 193 



be taken as true indices of temperature and vegetable life, on account 

 of strong counteracting local influences. The temperature of a valley, 

 during the latter half of the summer and through autumn, may present 

 an average which would indicate a climate adapted to the production 

 of even tender fruits; while a record of the temperature of the same 

 place, during the spring and the first half of the summer, would show a 

 very different average. And even a knowledge of this fact may not 

 thoroughly acquaint us with the climate and the agricultural capacity 

 of the place, as the presence of lofty mountains near by, with snow- 

 covered summits, may reduce the temperature of the nights very low as 

 compared with that of the day, and thus retard the growth of crops 

 which otherwise would mature and produce well. On the contrary, at 

 other points a lofty range may act as a wall against the cold winds, and 

 under its cover may be found nestling little valleys with a comparatively 

 mild climate. Nor are these imaginary cases, for I could refer to numer- 

 ous instances of each class. 



Hence, I conclude that any attempt to generalize by taking latitude 

 and elevation, or even the average annual temperature, would require 

 so many exceptions that the result would be of no practical value. Yet 

 these are by no means to be excluded. 



On account of the reasons given, and others equally potent which 

 might be mentioned, the agricultural capacity of this region must be 

 studied from its own stand-point ; and each section must be carefully 

 examined. Otherwise we are very apt, from our experience in other 

 portions of the country, to form erroneous conclusions. Injustice, on 

 this account, is often done to this section by travelers who pass hastily 

 through it, along the railroad lines, judging of the fertility and pro- 

 ductiveness of a spot by comparing it with the rain-moistened land of 

 the States. I recollect an incident which will serve to illustrate the 

 truth of this remark. Biding in the cars, along the slightly- elevated 

 bottom which flanked a little stream, but which, to the eye, had a very 

 barren appearance — being sparsely covered with " grease- wood " (Obi- 

 one canescens) and little tufts of dry grass — I remarked to a passenger 

 that, notwithstanding its barren appearance, this bottom could be irri- 

 gated from the stream and would produce good crops of wheat, oats, 

 barley, and the hardier vegetables. I could see that this remark pro- 

 voked a smile of derision on the countenances of those in ear-shot. Yet 

 if they had gone a few miles from the road they could have seen my 

 assertion verified. But this erroneous idea stops not with the uninter- 

 ested traveler, who is only anxious to reach the terminus of his journey ; 

 even official documents, issuing from quarters we would have supposed 

 best informed, have sometimes too hastily and in too general terms con- 

 demned this vast area as sterile and desolate. 



The following extracts from an opinion deliberately penned, even after 

 the extensive surveys of 1853 and 1854, will stand in strong contrast 

 with the evidences of to-day : 



The concurring testimony of reliable observers had indicated that the second divis- 

 ion, or that called the sterile region, (the Plains), was so inferior in vegetation and 

 character of soil, and so deficient in moisture, that it had received, and probably de- 

 served, the name of desert. This opinion is confirmed by the results of recent explora- 

 tions, which prove that the soil of the greater part of this region is, from its constituent 

 parts, necessarily sterile ; and that of the remaining part, although well constituted for 

 fertility, is, from the absence of rains at certain seasons, except where capable of irri- 

 gation, as uncultivable and unproductive as the other. This general character of ex- 

 treme sterility likewise belongs to the country embraced in the mountain region. 



The writer then proceeds to sum up the areas susceptible of cultiva- 

 tion as follows: Near the route of the 47th parallel one thousand square 

 13 G 



