be unsurpassed for magnificence of the surrounding scenery. Just above the Shoshone Falls the Snake receives the waters of Wood River, the North Malade, and Raft, all streams of considerable size, having their source in the spurs of the Sand Tooth Mountains, and flowing through fine fertile valleys from 60 to 100 miles long, and in width from 12 to 15 miles, clothed with luxuriant growth of nutritious native grasses. Wood River Valley embraces 400 square miles, the North Malade 500, and the Raft River 300 square miles, all containing fine agricultural and grazing land. The Owyhee Range, in the southwestern part of Idaho, constitutes a part of the divide between the waters flowing into Snake River and those of the basin of the Great Salt Lake, in Utah. The Owyhee River flows along the base of this range, uniting with the Snake after flowing a considerable distance in Oregon. The Bruneau River also has its source in the Owyhee Range, flowing north to Snake River. The valley of this stream, 70 miles long, embraces over 200 square miles of superior grazing land, some portions of which may be made to produce fine crops of cereals.

During the last winter thousands of cattle subsisted on the vegetation of this valley without artificial shelter, although the snow-fall on the mountains was unusually large. In the southwestern part of Idaho a small area falls within the region drained by Green and Bear Rivers. Some of the finest agricultural land in the Territory exists in the Green and Bear River Valleys, in the region of Fort Hall, on Snake River, and upon the upper tributaries of the latter stream in the southeastern part of Idaho. Nearly the whole area of the Territory is copiously watered. The highest spurs of the Bitter Root and Rocky Mountains on the eastern border, together with numerous peaks in the interior, are covered with snow during most of the year, which, melting and descending to the valleys below, supplies the streams and maintains nearly the same volume in all the rivers throughout the year. The water of these streams is clear, cold, and pure, abounding in choicest varieties of fish, and affords abundant motive-power for propelling machinery for the most extensive manufacturing establishments, and at the same time contain an ample supply of water for the purposes of irrigation, generally requisite throughout the Territory. The extreme northern expansion of Idaho embraces Kootenah County, copiously watered and well timbered, having a large area of fertile land.

The climate of this high northern latitude is not so favorable for agriculture. The region on the south, between the Kootenah and Cour d'Alène Ranges, is well watered and timbered, possessing fine soil, well adapted for the growth of cereals. Shoshone County joins Kootenah County on the north, extending south to the Clearwater, is well watered and heavily timbered and adapted to the purposes of agriculture, with an extensive area of prairies, important as a grazing region. The most valuable timber in this section is the cedar, found on the mountain slopes.

Nez Perces County embraces nearly the whole region between the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, in the heart of the Nez Perces Indian country, larger than some of the New England States, including the extensive and fertile prairies, some 80 miles in length, and in breadth from 10 to 15 miles, capable of sustaining a very large population.

The chief city in this section is Lewiston, in Nez Perces County, at the confluence of the Clearwater with Snake River, at the head of navigation from the Pacific. Lewiston is surrounded on the north and east by an extensive region rich in mineral wealth, and possessing valuable agricultural and manufacturing facilities. Idaho County is south of Nez

Perces, and embraces the Salmon Mountains, which contain some of the richest placer deposits yet discovered in the Territory, including large numbers of gold and silver bearing quartz lodes, which promise to yield immense fortunes. There is some fine agricultural land along the streams in this county, but the altitude of the largest portion of the county is unfavorable to agriculture. South of the Idaho is Boisé County, which stands next to the Nez Perces as a rich agricultural and mineral region, with the advantages of climate and natural position, being at the same time the most wealthy and populous.

This county is watered by the Weiser, the Payette, and the Boisé Rivers, and by the beautiful Payette Lakes. Long Valley, around Payette Lakes, is an upland prairie, over 90 miles in length and 15 to 25 miles broad, connecting with Round Valley, 50 miles long by 30 wide, while the Upper Payette valleys are nearly as extensive. Some of the finest agricultural lands are to be found in these valleys, which are fast settling up. This region presents superior advantages to those desiring to secure homes. Boisé Basin, in this county, consists of a depression in the surrounding hills and mountains, elliptical in form, some 25 miles long from north to south, and 18 miles wide from east to west, embracing all the mineral deposits here discovered. Mining has hitherto engaged nearly the entire attention of the population in this region, and in the aggregate has proved very profitable. This county is well timbered, and possesses an abundance of fine waterpower. Weiser River, over 80 miles long, flows through a series of rich and beautiful valleys known as Indian Valley, Lower, Upper, and Weiser River Valleys. The greater portion of this county, however, is watered by Salmon River and its tributaries, along which the placer mines exist.

Ada County lies west and south of Boisé, and is strictly agricultural, being well watered by the Snake River, which flows along its southern and western border, and by Payette and Boisé Rivers coursing through the interior. That part of Boisé Valley in this county is over 80 miles in length, and of varying width, sometimes expanding to several miles.

The Great and Little Camas prairies lie in the Boisé Valley, and consist of upland plateaus, possessing rich soil, well adapted to the culture of cereals, fruits, and vegetables. There are 10,000 acres in cultivation in this county, yet nearly the whole area suitable for agriculture is claimed by settlers, who are rapidly extending their improvements, with a view of perfecting their title under the homestead and preëmption laws.

Timber is here scarce, and the culture of the various kinds of hardwood has received some attention, all experiments in that direction having proved eminently successful. The Osage orange, for hedging purposes, thrives well in this Territory. In Idaho County a considerable area of the sage-brush land has been reclaimed and produces excellent crops, thus demonstrating that millions of acres of this shrub may be rendered valuable for agricultural and grazing purpose. Payette River, rising in the Payette Range, flows, by a general westerly course, 100 miles through a beautiful fertile valley, sparsely settled.

Alturas County lies south of the Idaho, and east of Idaho and Boisé Counties, within the boundaries of which are the mountains and spurs where the headwaters of the Boisé and the northern tributaries of Snake River have their sources. This county, though generally rough and mountainous, has fine agricultural land in the valleys; yet its attractive characteristic is its mineral wealth, as many rich ravines of gold, silver,

and other ores are here known to exist, some of which have been worked, yet only to a limited extent, during the past year.

Lemihi County lies on the eastern border of the Territory, north of Alturas, is watered by the Little Salmon, Loon Creek, and Lemihi River, and has limited area of valley land suitable for farming, its chief attraction being the rich mineral deposits now mined to a considerable extent. The counties of Oneida and Owyhee lie south of Snake River, the former in the southeast, and the latter in the southwestern part of the Territory. Owyhee contains a large area covered by the range of that name, in which are some of the most valuable deposits of silver. Owyhee County embraces also some fine agricultural land along the Owyhee River and its tributaries, and also along Bruneau River. The valley of the latter is a most attractive grazing region, possessing many advantages in natural location and climate. The reservation set apart by the President's order of July 30, 1869, for the Bannock, Boisé, and Bruneau bands of Shoshone Indians, is situated in Oneida County, and includes an area of 1,800,000 acres. It embraces some of the finest agricultural lands. A large proportion of Oneida County is broken and mountainous; the valleys, however, are generally well adapted to agriculture. Salt springs of great value exist in this county, with other springs highly charged with medicinal properties, some possessing remarkable curative qualities. A soda spring of considerable note is situated on Bear River in this county, just north of the southern boundary of Idaho. There are several thousand settlers in the southeast portion of Idaho, principally on Goose Creek and Marsh and Bear River Valleys. They have good farms and numerous herds of stock, and produce fine crops of cereals, and are represented as a prosperous community.

The town of Franklin, near the territorial line and in the vicinity of these settlements, has a population of over 1,000. Fertile land is generally distributed throughout the Territory.

Idaho presents great inequality of surface, between mountain and valley. It is, however, represented as mild for the altitude and latitude, as compared with regions of the same latitude east of the Rocky Mountains. In many of the valleys no artificial shelter is required during the winter, the pasture of the valleys being generally uncovered by snow. The valleys which can be irrigated will be used for agriculture, while all others and the table lands, which for the most part abound in excellent nutritious grasses, will be appropriated for grazing purposes. Sheep and cattle require little other sustenance throughout the year than the grasses and herbage which in autumn dries upon the stalk into excellent hay. Stock-raising is a growing interest, and will be one of the most important branches of industry; sheep and wool growing justly attracting considerable attention, many portions of uplands, mountain slopes, and valleys being equal to the finest sheep-walks.

The climate is salubrious; the air pure, fresh, and invigorating. The surface of Idaho attains an altitude of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet above the level of the sea, and owing to the limited rain-fall, irrigation is rendered necessary for the highest development of vegetation. In some places good crops may be produced during certain seasons without the aid of irrigation. The aridity of Idaho is considerably less than that of Utah and Nevada, while in the northern portion of the Territory the necessity of irrigation is still less than in the southern portion.

Mining is here yet in its infancy; the most serious obstacle being the want of capital. The placer deposits in some localities have been exhausted, yet this class of mines in several localities continues to yield

largely. New gold and silver-bearing quartz lodes are constantly brought to light, some of the mines being the richest in the country. A choice specimen of ore from the Atlantic mine in Yuba district, Alturas County, according to assay, will yield at the rate of $25,000 to the ton. It is claimed that the average of this mine will be nearly $6,000 per ton. The Poorman mine, on War Eagle Mountain, in Owyhee County, near Silver or Ruby City, is one of the best developed silver mines. Its average yield for 1866 was $229 41 per ton, while the average product at the present time is $126 24 per ton. There are several other mines of great value in the same region. Among these are the Ida Elmore, worked for gold, yielding $140 per ton, and $60,000 per month, the same as the Poorman. The Golden Chariot, on the same vein with the Ida Elmore and the Oro Fino, yields from $40 to $45 per ton. The Rising Star, in the Flint district at Owyhee, in this county, nine miles south of Silver City, yields $280 per ton, as an aver age, from 160 tons of selected ore. The shipments of gold and silver from this district from the commencement of mining operations in August 1865 to July 1868, was at the rate of $84,847 per month. During a portion of that time the operation of the mines was suspended. The average monthly shipments in the latter part of the period named reached $100,000. The yield of the mines of Owyhee County for the past year is equal to that of the previous year. The surveyor general estimates the yield of the mines in the counties of Idaho, Lemihi, Shoshone, and Nez Perce, for the last year at half a million of dollars for each county, placing the yield of the Boisé County mines at $100,000 per month since the opening of the present mining season. The silver mines are confined to Owyhee County. The total bullion product of 1869 is estimated at $7,000,000. About three-fourths of the entire product of the bullion of Idaho are gold, which at this time is nearly all derived from the placers. The placer deposits are decreasing, so that the quartz mines must be relied on for the more lasting results. Extensive deposits of coal and iron have also been discovered in the Territory, but as yet they have not been operated to any extent. These deposits will eventually contribute largely to the wealth of the country. During the last fiscal year there were surveyed in Idaho 383,538 acres, increasing the area of surveyed lands to 894,511 acres. The area yet to be disposed of is 52,132,980 acres.

The population claimed for this Territory is 25,000 whites, 7,000 Chinese, and 6,000 Indians, the latter being at peace with the whites and living quietly on their reservations.

Boisé City, the capital, is situated in Ida County, on Boisé River, 50 miles from its mouth and 390 miles northwest of Salt Lake City. It is the seat of the United States surveyor general's office, of the district land office, and is the chief city of the Territory. Lewiston, the next place of importance, at the mouth of Clearwater River, is also the site of a United States district land office for the disposal of public lands. The other principal towns are Idaho City, Silver City, Malade City, Washington, Oro Grande, Leesburg, Salmon City, Elk City, Oro Fino, Pierce City, Placerville, Granite Creek, Pioneer City, Centerville, Florence, Middleton, Salubria, Fayetteville, Boonville, and Flint. The projected line of the Northern Pacific Railroad will cross this Territory on the north side of Salmon River. The construction of this great nat= ural thoroughfare is being rapidly pushed forward. Its completion will give new impetus to settlement, as well as to the development of the vast stores of mineral wealth existing within its borders.

UTAH TERRITORY

lies between the thirty-seventh and forty-second parallels of north latitude and the one hundred and ninth and one hundred and fourteenth degrees of longitude west from Greenwich, being bounded on the north by Idaho and Wyoming, east by Colorado, south by Arizona, and west by Nevada. The Territory was created by act of September 9, 1850, out of country acquired from Mexico by the treaty of 1848, at Guadalupe Hidalgo. The original area of Utah was reduced by act of March 2, 1861, creating the Territory of Nevada, the acts of July 14, 1862, and May 5, 1866, increasing the area of Nevada, and by the act of July 25, 1868, organizing the Territory of Wyoming; so that the present extent of Utah is equal to 84,476 square miles, or 54,065,075 acres, the aggregate surface of the New England States. The principal range in the mountain system of Utah is the Wahsatch Range, extending across the Territory from northeast to southwest. The Uintah Mountains stretch along the south boundary of Wyoming, joining the Wahsatch, to which they are subordinate. The Roan or Book Mountains lie partly in Utah and partly in Colorado between Grand and White Rivers. The Little Mountains lie west of Green River, and extend northwest and southeast between White and Uintah Rivers, joining the Wahsatch Range. The Sierra Lasal lies southeast of Grand River, near the east boundary, while south of the last mentioned are the Sierra Abajo and Orejos del Oso. The Sierra Tucan and Sierra Panoche lie near the south boundary, the former east and the latter west of the Colorado of the West. Southeastern Utah is less mountainous than the northeastern, and consists of extensive undulating arid plains. Its vegetation is wild sage and occasional tufts of grass, being as yet but imperfectly explored. All the ranges and spurs west of the Wahsatch Mountains in the Great Basin are disconnected with that range. Among these are the Thomas, Iron, Guyot, Goshoot, Pijarajabi, Oquirrh, and Raft River Mountains, whose highest culminating crests frequently rise above the snow line. Besides these mountains there are other spurs and ranges attaining considerable altitude, and constituting the source of numerous mountain streams. The plains of the Great Basin generally lack moisture, producing only the sage brush, desert weed, with occasional tufts of sand and buffalo grasses; when, however, the earth possesses sufficient moisture, it produces luxuriant growths of nutritious grasses and wild sage. Along the shores of the lakes, in narrow valleys coursed by running streams, in the neighborhood of springs along mountain bases, and in narrow belts watered by mountain streams, the moisture is sometimes sufficient to produce good crops without the aid of irrigation. The Great Basin west of the Wahsatch, and including the western part of Utah, has no outlet to the ocean. The streams, with their source in the mountains, generally debouch into lakes. The lakes here having no visible outlet are strongly impregnated with alkaline substances. The Great Salt Lake is the most considerable body of water in Utah-lies in the northern section near the western foot-hills of the Wahsatch, extending 100 miles from northwest to southeast, with average width of 50 miles, and receives as tributaries Malade, Bear, Blue Spring, Ogden, Weber, and the River Jordan, draining a considerable area. A chemical analysis of the waters of Great Salt Lake shows them to contain 20 per cent. of common salt and 2 per cent. of sulphate of soda and chloride of magnesium. Its specific gravity is given as 1.17, slightly varying with the seasons because of the volumes of fresh water the lake receives from the mountains in the spring, caused by the melting of the snows in the