148

 

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

work of laying the “ten miles of track in

one day.” Continuing along on the lake
shore, with large bluff on the right, for 9.49
miles further, we pass

Lake—another sidetrack, and 6.98
miles more arrive at

Monument—Here, many times, the
lake breeze sweeps by, bearing the heavy
alkaline and saline odors peculiar to this
locality, and peculiarly offensive to inva-
lids. “Monument Point, a slim, tapering
promontory, stretches far out into the lake,
covered with excellent grass. Weshallnot
see much more of the article for some time
to come, for we are now on what might
well be called the American Desert. Leav-
ing Monument, it is 7.84 miles to

Seco—another side-track of no account,
as all is sage-brush. Descending a heavy
grade, we sweep around the head of the
western arm of the lake, nearing and leav-
ing its waters for the last time. Another
run of 7.1 miles brings us to

WKelton—or Indian Creek, as it is some-
times called. This is a station of more im-

riance than “7 yet passed since leaving

' a e. ere are large water-tanks
by the road-side, supplied from a spring
in the foothills some miles to the north-
ward. Herethe Railroad Co. fill their water-
cars—a train of which run daily to supply
many of the stations on this division of the
road. The Red Dome Mountains show
their scattered spurs to the north, and
| to the southeast Pilot Knob or Peak can be

seen lifting its rocky front far above the |

desert.

From this station a daily line of coaches
leaves for Idaho and Oregon, on arrival of
the cars. The route passes through Idaho
and the eastern part of Oregon, connecting
with the steamers of the Oregon Steam
Navigation Company at Umatilla, on the
Columbia River—through to Boise in two
days; Walla Walla in four days; Portland
in five and a half days.

The Borsz Country, to which the line
of stages spoken of conveys the adventurous
passengers, lies in the southeastern portion
of Idado Territory, bordering on Oregon.

|’ Extensive mines of gold have been worked

ther: for years, and still continue to attract
much attention, as rich mines of gold-bear-
ing quart’, have been discovered and worked
since the placer mines have been partially
exhausted. The principal mining country
is in that portion generally designated as
the Boise Basin, which comprises a scope
of country about 150 miles north and south,

by a length of about 200 miles. The Boise
mines lie north of the Snake or Shoshone
River. The principal streams in the
mining section are Boise River, Fayette
River, Wind Creek, Moore’s Creek and
Salmon River. The Owyhee mines lie
south of the Snake River and War Eagle
Mountains. This portion of the mining

|

belt of Idaho is not as extensive as the one |

just mentioned. The ores are mostly silver.

Boise Crry—is the capital of the Terri-
tory and county seatof Adacounty. Popu-
lation about 6,000. The town site was laid
out in 1863, and now contains about 700
buildings, a considerable portion of which
are of brick and stone. The town is sit-
uated in a fine agricultural valley, about
two miles wide by 50 long. It is the cen-
ter of several stage routes, and also of trade
for a large section of country. The States-
man, a tri-weekly paper, is published here.

Ipano—is the second city in size in the
Territory, population about 2,500. It lies
36 miles northeast of Boise City, with which
itis connected with stage, and also with
Umatilla, Oregon. The World, newspaper,
is published here—semi-weekly.

SrnveR Crry—contains about 2,000 inhab-
itants. The buildings are mostly granite.
The Avalanche, a weekly paper, represents
the interests of the town.

We now return to the railroad, and 11.43
miles further, arrive at

Om bey—Passenger trains seldom stop
here, but roll on 9.87 miles further, to

Matlin—This station is on the high-
land, which sweeps out from the Red
Dome Mountains. Here these mountains—
low sandstone ridges—are nearer the track,
breaking the general monotony of the
scene. e road lies ‘on the northern
border of a vast waste whereon we see
few signs of verdure. The station is mid-
way from east to west of the

AmeErRIcAN DxrseRT—which extends
over an area of about 60 square miles.
Over this vast extent the eye wanders in
vain for some green object—some evi-
dence that in times gone by this waste
supported animal life, or will eventually
in years to come. All is desolate in the
extreme; the bare beds of alkali, or wastes
of gray sand only meet the vision, if we
except now and then a rocky hill more
barren than the plains, if such things
were possible. Evidently this desert was
once the bed of a saline lake, perhaps a
portion of the Great Salt Lake itself. The
sloping plain sweeps off towards that

ln tenis on enemy enna enn nme apn RBS bt tripe San Sih nn
wi cts RNa