THE WEST SHORE.
3
SNAKE RIVER VALLEY.
As early as 1871 Professor Hayden, of the United
States geological survey, spoke in his reports of South
eastern Idaho as being one of the most attractive regions
along the whole length of the Rocky Mountains. He
found the rugged heights whence flow the fountain
streams of Snake River, full of interest to the geologist,
and offering a wide and promising field for the prospector
and a rich soil for the agriculturist. Since that time
many settlers have gone into the great valley of Snake
River, miners have located claims along the stream, and
prospectors have entered the mountains in search of the
rich ledges that the float quartz indicates. Snake River
runs for many miles through a valley which varies in
width from ten to twenty miles, passing in its course
over three magnificent falls American, Shoshone and
Salmon and presenting in them and its canyons scenery
the most beautiful and inspiring. The Shoshone Falls
(described and illustrated in The West Shore for July)
are among the great aquatic wonders of the world, and are
reached by the Oregon Short Line to Shoshone Junction,
where a stage line will carry the tourist the few miles
from that point to the river. Accommodations are being
prepared for visitors on an extensive scale at the falls,
and in the early summer a throng of tourists will view the
awe-inspiring cataract, the beautiful little islands, the
rapids, cascades and the weird scenery of the canyon
above and below. A tourist recently wrote: "I have
spent many days around Niagara and seen other great
fallB, but have never seen anything that possesses so much
beauty, so many varied subjects of interest which may be
so easily seen and enjoyed, as the few miles of Snake
River which we have been exploring."
AGRICULTURE.
The agricultural capacity of the great valley of Snake
River is enormous. Professor Hayden spoke most flut
teringly of the future of the country in this respect, and
described the soil as composed of a rich, sandy loam,
which needs but the addition of water to render it most
excellent farming land As to the means for supplying
this necessary element, he says: "The valley stunds at a
very moderate height above the ordinary water level of
the river." The average width of the stream at low water
season is " about 140 yards, and the average volume of
water it sends down probably three feet deep by 400 feet
wide, running at the rate of four feet per second. This
amount of water will irrigate nearly 1,000 square miles of
land sufficiently for ordinary crops." That his opinion
was sound is evidenced by the operatioim of tho Snake
River Water Company, which has constructed an immense
canal, beginning where the river emerges from the moun
tains, and conveying water by the main canal and its
lateral branches over the whole valley for a distance of
thirty miles. The amount of water available for the
canal is limited only by the quantity running in the
stream, and unless Snake River dries up the source of
supply will be never-failing. The fact is the great canal
system has only been fairly started, and yet the progress
made has attracted many settlors, though so extensive is
the valley that even along the great ditch it is as yet but
sparsely settled. As new locations are made more water
is required, and other canals are being located In a few
years upper Snnko River vulloy for a distance of fifty
miles will bo one continuous succession of cultivated
fields, meadows and gardens, sustained and invigorated
by the life-giving fluid flowing through the hundreds of
little veins from tho groat heart of Snake River. Rarely
does nature offer such facilities for irrigating a large dis
trict of country at ho little cost The fields are so level
that small ditches can bo run in any diroction at a nomi
nal exponse. The surplus water, after passing through
its devious channels, finds its way into the rivor again,
whore it is available for ditches taken out furthor down
the stream. Two companies are at work at Blaokfoot
upon a system of canals starting at that point.
All tho ceroids produco abundantly, whoat yielding
from thirty to fifty bushels per aero and oats a third
more. Vegotablos and all root crops are prolifio, especially
H)tatoes, which, in quantity of yield and quality, are un
excelled in the world A sack of those tubers woh sent
East last year, the itotatooH weighing an average of threo
IHHinds each. The market for all products is active and
permanent, tho demand croated by the mining interests
boing greater than tho home supply, so that Utah has
boon largely called upon for products that could be raised
with profit in this valley. The groat increase in tho
mining population sure to follow the improved methods
lately introduced will greatly increase the demand, and a
certain markot awaits tho farmer. Thousands of acres of
Government land within the scope of this great cnnal ays
tom are open to the occupation of any who may be quali
fied to take up land under the liboral laws of the United
StateH. The advantages of Irrigation have boon so often
pointed out in Thk Webt Shoiie that they nood not here
be adverted to. They are recognized by all men who
have studied the subject
The stock interests of this region are considerable.
Largo numbers of cattle have boon drivon from. Oregon
during the past season and addod to the bands already
grazing upon the extensive ranges among the hills border
ing the valley. Professor Hayden says of those grass
covered hills: "'While gazing on tho endless succession
of smooth, grassy ridges and hills piled and rolled to
gether to form a large ridgo, distanco giving the grassy
covering the apioaranco of velvet or silk, the colors of the
folds varying ns if by tho difference in reflection of tho
light, the resemblance to the folds of rich cloth is more'
than simple fancy." In wintor.whon the valley is covered
with a white mantle of snow, theso hills are drifted bare
by the wind, and cattle are thus able to reach tho tufU of
bunch grass and sustain themselves by grazing upon this
natural hay, until, in tho spring, in a good, thrifty condi
tion, they seek tho greener grass of the valley. Provident
ronehmon are accustomed to provide hay to carry stock
through those occasional seasons when the grass is for a
time covered too deeply by snow. Horses require loss
attention than cattle or sheep in this respect, as they can