The Nevada Democrat., 1860-01-25
THE VALLEYS OF WESTERN UTAH.

A correspondent of the San Francisco Herald
furnishes the following interesting items in re-
gard to the soil, climate. aud productions Of the
valleys Of western Utah:
or the i've hundred square miles of land 10
Carson Valley, probably one-third is suscepti-
BILE Of cultivation. and has water at hand for
artificial irrigation. About one-half of this is
already claimed, and about one-.enth occupied,
claimant generally not being satisfied with
less than from one to two thousand acres.
Wheat, corn, oats, barley, potatoes, etc., can
be produced, with little industry. in great
abundance, but owing to most reprehensibe
aversion 10 physical exertion on the part of the
old inhabitants, nothing Of any account has ev-
er besa raised, except cattle. 1t Is to be hoped.
however, that the present severe winter. by de-
stroying more than half the stock, will have u
tendency to drive the graziers to the more hon
orable, thongh more laborious occupation Of
tilling the soil, an occupation which, as il s
more essential than any other to the necessities
aud comfort of mau, has been considered u ev-
cry age and among all nations, the bulwark of
patriotism and private virtue. On the other
hand, have observed that the business of cat
tie raising, as practiced by our frontiersmen.
has the effect Of brutalizing and degrading the
human race almost 10 level with their herds.
The present population Of Carson Valley is
probably not far from thousand souls, inclu-
ding all the sOjourners, etc.
EaPle Valley s situated fifteen miles north
of Genoa, il is nearly circular in shape, aud
about twenty miles in circumference. II 10
watered by several small streams rushing down
from the mountains, but the soil | am told is
not 30 productive as ours here in Carson. Car
son City is in this valley. at the JUNCTION of the
Honey Lake aud Wasboe trail aud the great
emigraut road. This great city is remarkable
as beiug the residence of the eminent statesmen
Of western Utah, men who are so bent on po-
litica power that they are eternally getting up
meetings vnd creating Offices for their own use
and benett. Only last week they went TO work
to organize municipal government for Carson
City, mere village that no honest geographer
mould notice upon map of hundred acres
Washoe Valley is ten miles further to the
north. 1t is twenty five miles long aud about
twenty wide, but about one-half Of its surface is
covered by fine lake aboundng in fish. So
far as the soil OF this valley has been tried il
has been found highly productive.
Twenty miles southeast of Carson is the great
valley of Walker river. in size about the same
rs this-that is. containing about 500 square
miles. No portion of it has ever been cultivat-
ed, bat it is my opinion that both the soil and
climate will be found superior to ours. II pre-
sents fine opening for settlers
Between Walker River Valley and the Mono
Lake dggngs there are many small valleys ad-
mirably adapted to agriculture as we'll. as graz.
lug. But the most worthy OF note is that known
the "Big Meadows" II is only ten miles
from Mono Lake. Four fine streams traverse
Il lengthwise, distance OF some forty miles, |
aud the width OF the valley is set down at ff- |
teen miles. When passed there, in October
last, but one settler had located there. but the
proximity OF the Walker river aud Mono Lake
mines will render the whole valley very valua-
BILE.
There are doubtless many other places where
an industrious settler might pitch his ten: to
advantage, but it is not now necessary TO men, |
lion them, as the places have already noticed
contain room enough to support more people
than will be likely to devote themselves to ag-
riculture in a country where fortunes are home
times made so rapidly by mining.