ROUTE NEAR THE FORTY-FIRST AND FORTY SECOND PARALLELS. 65 
The areas of the different localities are estimated as follows: 
Square miles. 
Eastern shore of Great Salt lake, from Bear river to Great Salt Lake City. 350 
Valley of the Jordan river. 374 
Valley of Tnilla, west of Oquirrh mountains and east of Cedar mountains. 204 
Total on Great Salt lake proper. 928 
Upon the borders of Utah lake.. 180 
Total (as above)..... 1,108 
About one-tenth of this area is susceptible of irrigation without the construction of costly 
works, and is tilled by the Mormons, 27,000 in number, who eagerly seek for, and occupy, 
small tracts of cultivable soil, if sufficiently large to support a few families, even though at 
great distances from the main settlement. 
On this route, as on others, from the 98° or 99° meridian westward to the western slopes of 
the Sierra Nevada, a distance of about 1,400 miles, the soil is generally uncultivable, the excep¬ 
tion being the comparatively limited area of the Mormon settlement, and an occasional river- 
bottom and mountain-valley of small extent. 
East of the Rocky mountains the plains are of the same character as those described for 
the route of the 38th and 39th jxarallels, uncultivable west of the 99th meridian. West of 
the first chain of these mountains the plains are covered with artemisia, rarely furnishing 
any grazing, except along the water-courses. The mountains, however, are generally covered, 
to a greater or less extent, with grass—the soil of those north, south, and west of the route 
between Fort Bridger and the headwaters of the Timpanogos river being of superior quality. 
The absence of the geological report prevents my referring to the geological structure, which 
together with the climatological conditions, serve to corroborate or disprove opinions formed 
on appearances of sterility or fertility. 
The indications given of the character of both, however, from the report, are sufficient to 
establish the general correctness of the opinions expressed. 
ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COST. 
This estimate is made to show the probable relative cost of this route, as compared with 
others. That portion of it for the difficult and costly section of the Sacramento river, 136 miles 
in length, and for the canon on the Timpanogos river, I have less confidence in than in the esti¬ 
mates generally. The estimate includes an equipment suitable for the first working of the 
road, about one-fifth that requisite for the development of its full power. 
From Council Bluffs to the first gorge of the Black Hills, 520 miles, 25 per 
cent, being added to cost at eastern prices for one-half the distance, $35,000 
per mile. $18,200,000 
From the first gorge of the Black Hills to the summit of the South Pass, 291 
miles, at $75,000 per mile, 50 per cent, having been added to cost at eastern 
prices..... $21,825,000 
From the South Pass to Fort Bridger, 131 miles, at $50,000 per mile, 50 per 
cent, having been added to cost at eastern prices. $6,550,000 
From Fort Bridger to the Pacific, 100 per cent, has been added to the cost at east¬ 
ern prices. 
From Fort Bridger, Green River valley, to foot of Oquirrh mountains, south end 
of the Great Salt lake, deducting ten miles for the length of the canon on 
the Timpanogos river, 173 miles, at $60,000 per mile. 
9a 
$10,380,000 
