ECONOMICS. 191 



and lateral streams on its west side. For twenty miles from its mouth the 

 canyon is from one to three miles wide, and is bordered everywhere by pre- 

 cipitous bluffs 200 feet high. In only a few places is it possible to get down 

 these bluffs on horseback, and for twenty miles there are only two places 

 where a wagon can be taken down. 



ECONOMICS. 



Especial attention has been given to the study and collection of soils and 

 the soil-making material from this district, with direct reference to their 

 adaptability to the production of the ordinary crops. It has been thought 

 that this part of the State was not adapted to agriculture, and that an attempt 

 to open farms would be time and labor thrown away. In order that the 

 Survey may be able to give definite information on this subject, the character 

 of the soils has been investigated. 



Nothing is intended in this report more than a general statement of the 

 prominent characteristics of the different soils in the district, leaving the 

 more detailed statement to be made after having the soils analyzed and 

 studied. 



There are three principal kinds of soil in this district, classed by their de- 

 rivation rather than by their chemical properties. The first are those de- 

 rived from the immediately underlying strata, and have only such foreign 

 ingredients as have come from the decomposition of the vegetation growing 

 upon them from year to year.. (Residual soils.) 



The second class are those having in their composition such material as 

 has been brought from other localities; they were deposited during the time 

 of the great erosion and have derived very little if any of their material from 

 the strata upon which they rest. (Soils of transportation.) The third class 

 are the soils along the rivers and larger creeks, and are derived from the 

 other soils and the later erosion of strata along the different courses of the 

 stream. (Alluvial soils.) 



The first class are purely local, and do not extend over very wide areas in 

 any one locality. They vary in composition and color according to locality. 

 Where they are derived from the massive friable sandstones and clays they 

 are quite sandy and have a deep red color. In such localities the color and 

 composition have been very little changed by vegetable deposits. In the lime- 

 stone belts, where the origin of the soils is due to the decomposition of the 

 limestones and the accompanying bluish clay beds, the soils are dark and in 

 places are quite black. They have a good deal of vegetable material in their 

 composition, and owe their dark color largely to this fact. All of this class 

 of soils are more or less sandy. These are generally the best grass lands. 



