The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-19

winter condition OF these valleys -
rly slow during ten days which Il occupied to
pass through about hundred miles Of the mountain
country bordering the eastern side OF the Upper Coo
RADIO valley the greatest depth Of the (ame n
the pines and aspeps the rdges) about two-and-l
half fest and in the valleys about six inches. The at
mosphere Is too cold and dry for much snow; and the
valleys protected By the mountains arc comparatively
free from n and warm We here found iages Of Utah
Indians in their winterng ground in little valleys along
the foot Of the higher mountains, aud bordering the
more open country Of the Colorado valley snow was
here December $50 only few inches deep-the grass
generally appearing above II and there being under
trees southern hill Sides The horses Of the Utahs
were living the range and that they
used in hunting, in excellent condition One
which had kin for food had on it about
two inches of fat being in good order any buffalo
s y, I0c on me I s, over
scross-the Indians informed US that snow falls only
few inches I'm depth such a. we saw il q the time
This Is the winter condition Of these little valleys very
comfortable for and beast In their Wild state
and to become comfortable under the hand Of cul
ssso and Hss v as presented By ns:',s
byrinth Of Valleys with their cool water and grass
some vide some narrow; some bounded BY perrendcu-
rounded hills; studded with small circular noun.
tans called by the hunters 'roua I'D OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
wood and prairie and refreshed with clear streams and
bsuthed with Deep hmpd miniature lakes. These de-
scrPtons are charming but too for quotation
and can only give specimen of each
. The trail led over low hills and down succession
OF beautiful slopes, running mostly in southern drec-
miles and half in length BY one and two hundred yards
in breadth 1t was shut in each side by perpendicu
Lar walls of rock, rising from fifty TO sevsnyfve feet
aat and carpettod with slender grass stream Of
clear water eandercd through It's centre and the grade
was 20 slight that the stream overnowngn many places
moisened the whole surface Az decsndcd this beau
tful and singular valley occasionally passed others
which we entered about one hour before sunset rhe
valleys down which travelled and which opened uto
each other with tho regularity Of streets grew gradual
" dozen WI Ano1I nral nno
watered by Csrnero (sheep) creek, which joins the
Garita gate creet) In san Luis valley and at noon
which the stream passes and whence it derives its
Half mile below this gap there is another, and
them level while the trail around them is steep and
stony. In the afternoon we went through the frst
gap, made a circuit around the second as IL was
much obstructed with trees and bushes, and,
leaving the third our left rode some low
hills, and FIVE miles from camp crossed the Garita
sight could reach" "dur way for mile or two led
over barren plain thckly covered with grice wood,
rich mountain grass swept our saddle girths
tered it; We crossed onsiderable mountain,
yered with timber and grass, and the summit OF
which quite a cluster Of small but very clear and
apparently deep, lakes. They we're not more than
acre or two in SIZE and some not that, but
rounded by luxuran grass and perched away upon the
mountain, with 6ne timber quite near them. 1t the
hunter paradise deer and elk bounded oil from US
az we approached, and then stood within rife shot,
looking back in establishment few hours ride brought
US to the Indian camp and wish here could describe
the beauty Of the charming valley in which they camped
II was small probably not more than i've miles wide by
fifteen long, but surrounded all sides by the boldest
mountains, covered to their SUBMITS with alternate
patches of timber and grass giving it the appearance Of
ts sd oh IN s .rss s
forty wide, waterod the meadow land and gave
the last touch which the valley required to mako
horses and goats were feeding the meadows and hill
side; and the Indian lodges with the women and chi
dren standing in front Of them to look ut the approach
ing stranger, strongly reminded of old patriarcha
times when nocks and herds made the wealth and hap
Pness Of the people. and hut was as good a palace
nfirm man-who welcomed me kindly, and told me his
young told him that had given Of my small store
to them, and to sit in peace In about fifteen minutes
squaw brought in two large wooden patters, contain
ing some very fat deer meat and some boiled corn to
found large bag of dried meat and peck Of put
up for me to take to my people,. "This morning ex
plored the mountain lying to the south Of our camp,
forming picturesque portion Of front view After
ascending the mountain and reaching the summit,
l found it vast plateau Of rolling prairie land,
trnbered. At some places the growth OF timber
would be so dense as TO render riding through II
others It would break into beautiful open glades
leaving spots Of an hundred acres more of open
praIs with group; Of trees looking precisely as if some
expressly to beautfy his grounds. Springs abun
dant and small streams intersected the whole plateau
In fact it immense natural park already stocked
with deer and elk and only requiring fence to make it
estate for king. Directly opposite to the south.
another me untan. in every respect similar and val
ley more beautiful TO me than either lies between
them"
Enough for samples and if anything more is wanted
establish the character of this mountain region for
fertility of soil and attraction for il is found in is
character Of huntng and Of war ground Fremont says
he found the most yarousy and numerougly stocked
with game and the most dangerous ground, which
he had in all tue extent OF the Rocky mountains
both indexes to fertile country. Western men viii
ders.and this and remember how Kentucky was called
the 'Bloody Ground ~ because Indians there to
product Of her rich so aud 10 tight for s possession
BY this test and II is one that never fails mountain
state will be one OF eminent fertility.
We Americans in the Ina DIT OF referring to Europe
for point Of comparison for everything wish to
praise in country although may be far
perior therefore, compare tn mountain State to Swift
serand although it ii dparaged in the comparison Its
valleys more numerous and beartiful-its noun
tans less rugged and more iertilits service more in
habitable-its climate mild and equally salu-
briousnore accessible by roads; the mule anywhere
Of its feet the carriage Of its Wheel and the hunter
at liberty to pursue his game without fear Of slipping
into bootomless icy chasn, betrayed BY treacherous
covering of And upon this view Of their relative
advantages am ready TO adopt the opinion of Fremont
and to 90 beyond IT, and to celebrate this mountain State
being much superior to Switzerland in adaptation
to as it would be in extent and to crown its
recommt ndations just half way TO the Pacific and
the straight line.
The valley Of the Upper Colorado would furnish the ter
ritory for the fourth Sae-150 miles wide from the west
ern the Rocky Mountains the eastern OF the
Wahsatc and Anterria rangesand 200 400 in length
up and down the river The face Of the country is hh
and rolling with alterations wood and prare aud
open to roads and settlement in any direction. The soil
like much Of that of the Rio Del Nore and in southern
California is peculiar and dcceptouslooking thin and
sandy the eye, but having element Of fertility in
it which water imprcgnates and enables to send forth
vigorous vegetation. Al ii wants, and that only in
Places is irrigation; and for this purpose and for all
purposes there Is water eaough for this valley is pro-
baby the best watsrcd region the world and obliged
to be so from the confguraion and structure Of the
country. The valley is formed by the lofty ranges Of
the Rocky and wahsateh mountains which, wide apart
al his lower end, converge they 60 north, and
unite above latitude 42-giving to the long and
broad valley the enclose the form of the Greek letter
delta (A) or OF inverted. The SUBMITS
of these mountains covered with eternal
snows--their sides with annual winter SHOWS; and
these latter beginning melt carly in the spring and
continuing till mid summer ellis the earth with moist
ure and gives rise TO myrisds of springs, creeks and
small rivers, which collect into tbs two forks OF
the Colorado called by the hunters Green and Grand
rivers and their junction. constitute great river
itself for the country below being sterile aud arid,
tributes but little TO swell the volume Of the great river
which traverses It, The climate in this valley Is mild
the month of January being like Autumn 70 We