92 



west, it is said there is a rauge of mountains, on an average, every 10 

 to 20 miles. Sometimes the distance across tlie range in a straight line, 

 from the bed of a stream in one valley to the bed of the stream in the 

 valiey beyond the rauge, is not more than 5 to 8 miles, while it is sel- 

 dom more than 20 miles." 



The many streams of the Territory, fed by perpetual snow^•, are of 

 good volume. Their flow is quite regular and constant, reaching its 

 maximum at midsummer, and shrinking to its minimum in midwinter. 

 The i3rincipal river is the Snake. It rises in the mountains of north- 

 western Wyoming, flows through southern Idaho, and thence north- 

 ward along the western border of the Territory to its junction with the 

 Columbia. The Snake is a magnificent river, of nearly 1,000 miles in 

 length; the greater part of the drainage system, of the Territory is 

 tributary to it. Other important rivers are the Salmon and Clearwater, 

 affluents of the Snake. 



From a comparatively small portion of southeastern Idado the drain- 

 age flows into the basin of the Great Salt Lake. 



The northern part of the Territory is mainly a region of mountains 

 and forests, with small prairies and narrow valleys available for agri- 

 culture. Here also are situated lakes Pend d'Oreille, Cceur d'Alene, 

 and Kaniska, which vary in length from 20 to GO miles, and are wide 

 and deep in proportion. 



Other well known lakes of the territory are the Cocolalla, Payette, 

 and Bear. In southern Idaho are lava fields covering probably 1,000 

 square miles, extending east and west nearly across the Territory, and 

 southward to Snake River. To the south west ward of these are exten. 

 sive sage-brush plains, reaching to the mountains of Northern Nevada. 

 It is estimated that within the Territory there are 6,000 square miles of 



mountain, desert, and volcanic formation, entirely unfit for any use 

 except that designed by nature, being utterly destitute of mineral, 

 timber, or vegetation." 



The climate of the Territory, modified and softened by warm winds 

 from the western coast and by the prevalent sunshine, is mild and de- 

 lightful, notwithstanding the northern latitude. 



Though arid conditions prevail to a degree that often render agri- 

 cultural operations dependent upon irrigation, there is in the mountain 

 region sufficient moisture to secure a vigorous forest growth. 



The finest timber in the Territory is found in the central portion, on 

 the Payette Eiver and its tributaries.^ In the swamj)s, at the junction 

 of Lolo Fork and Clearwater River, in Shoshone and Nez Perces Coun. 

 ties, is found Cedar timber (probably Thuya gigantea)^ the largest trees 

 of which are 300 feet high, with trunks C to 9 feet in diameter. The 

 wood makes handsome and valuable finishing lumber. 



Yellow or Bull Pine is the principal timber tree. It grows on the 

 lower mountains. The Black Pine or Tamarack is of small size and is 

 found at elevations of 7,000 to 10,000 feet. 



