313

1,090 feet below the tops of the bluffs. The most
complete view of the falls is obtained from Look-
out Point, a narrow spit of rocks which projects
from the main blufis a short distance down the
stream from the falls. From this point Eagle
Rock rises before us in the midst of the rapids, and
almost overhanging the falls, fully 200 feet high;
its pillar-like top surmounted by an eagle’s nest,
where, year after year, the monarch of the air has
reared its young. Near the center of the river are
several islands covered with cedar, the largest one
being called Ballard’s Island. Two rocky points;
one on either side of the falls, are called the Two
Sentinels. Excepting in point of the volume of
water, the falls will compare favorably with Ni-
agara.

rom this point the river runs nearly west until
itreaches War kagle Mountains, about 80) miles
from its source, when it turns due north, follow-
ing that course for 150 miles, then bending again
ihe west it unites with Clark's River, forming
the Columbia. After ee the last falls the
country is less broken, and the work of building
the road would be comparatively light for most of
the way.

No. 29 Annex. Western Stock Raising.

|

 

  

Durgin, ORR & Co.—Cattle branded \B; also
some of them \B, and horses the same.

Post-office, Cheyenne, W.T. Range, Bear Creek.

 

Creienton & Co.—Horses branded quarter cir-
cle open block, on left shoulder. Also, part cat-
tle branded half-circle on shoulder.

Postofiice Pine Bluffs, W. T. Range, Horse and
Pumpkin creeks.

Stock raising is an important industry. We have
often expressed our belief that, ultimately, it would

| be found there was not one foot of valuelesslandon
| the line of the Pacific railroad. The Bitter Creek
country, previous to 1868, for 80 miles was univer-
sally admitted by all who knew anything about that
section ofcountry, to be utterly valueless. Coal,
imimmense quantities, was discovered all along
the creek—great, yeins—and it is now the most

 

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

 

valuable section of the Union Pacific railroad.
Portions of the Humboldt and Nevada Desert were
also set down as valueless; now, see what irriga-
tion has done for a portion of it, where the people
have had the enterprise to adopt a system of irri-
gation, as at Humboldt Station. We contend that
ali the lands on the line of this road are valuable,
some as mineral, some as agricultural, but the
greater portion is the finest grazing land in the
world. This fact, of late years, is becoming thor-
oughly understood, as in 1868 there would not ex-
ceed twenty thousand head of cattle on the whole
line of the Pacific railroad, across the continent;
now there are over 700,000 head of cattle, 30,000
head of horses, and full 450,000 head of sheep.

The range is enormous, taking in broad plains,
press covered, mountains, and thousands of as

eautifal little foot-hills and mountain valleys as
there arein the world. This section commences
about 250 miles west of the Missouri River, and
extends to the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, all of which, with only a few miles in-
tervening, is the stock-raiser’s paradise. The ab-
sence of water is the only drawback in this.inter-
vening section, and in time wells will be sunk and
that obstacle overcome. The valley bluffs, low
hills and mountain sides of this whole section are
covered with a luxuriant growth of gramma or
“bunch” grass, one of the most nutritious grasses
grown, together with white sage and grease-wood,
upon which all kinds of stock thrive all the sea-
son, without care, excepting what is necessary to
prevent them from straying beyond reach, Old
work-oxen that had traveled 2,500 miles ahead of
the freight wagon during the season, have been
turned outto winter by their owners, and by the

following July they were are fat °°—fit for
beef. e know this to bea fact from actual ex-
perience.

This country is the great pasture land of the
continent. There is room for millions of cattle in
this unsettled country, and then have grazing land
enough to spare to feed half the stock in the

nion.
In the foot-hills and mountainous portion of
this great grazing range, and along the line of the
great water courses, there is no trouble from lack
of water, for the mountain valleys are each sup-
plied with creeks and rivers. Springs abound in
various sections, so that no very large tract of
land is devoid of natural watering places. The
ass grows from nine to twelve inches high, and
is peculiarly nutritious. It is always green
near the roots, summer and winter. During the
summer the dry atmosphere cures the standing
ass as effectually as though cut and prepared for
ay. The nutritive qualities of the grass remain
uninjured, and stock thrive equally wellon the
dry feed. Inthe winter what snow falls is ver
dry, unlike that which falls in more humid cli-
mates. It may cover the grass to the depth of a
tew inches, but the cattlereadily remove it, reach-
ing the grass without trouble. —
gain, the snow does not stick tothe sides of
the cattle and melt there, chilling them eon
but its dryness causes it to roll from their backs,
leaving their hair dry. The cost of keeping stock
in this country is just what it will cost to employ
herders—no more. The contrast between raising
stock here and in the Hast must be evident.
Again, the stocking of this country with sheep, is
adding an untold wealth to the country. The
mountain streams afford ample water power for
manufactories, and wool enough could be grown
here with which to clothe all the people of the
Union, when manufactured into cloth. With the
railroad to transport the cattle and sheep to the