, 1872-11-07
Paradise Of Geologists---A Fine
Place for Sportsmen---
Snoshone Jim.
Roads on the Table-Lands IA Ute
Queen--.Ancient Lakes and
Animals.
Hunters and Trappers--Jack Rob-
inson--Characteristics Of
MOuntainecrS.

place is as delightful as can be imagined. The
skies are clear for days and days together, and
nothing seems to disturb the face Of Nature.
The bushes and grasses have changed to 3 yel-
low hue; the nearer hills are Of tawny brown;
while, far beyond, the Uintah Sierra is dark
blue, with patches Of SNOW upon the higher
submits. It is no wonder the old mountnlneers
loved this place. for the climate is as pleasant as
can be imagined AL the year round it is cool
and invigorating, never very warm in summer,
though there are some cold winter days. Snow
sometimes falls to a considerable depth, and the
gorges in the mountains are filed up. The
forks of Green River, namely: Smiths, Henry's,
and B1ack's, rise in the mountains near by, and
water many valleys in which there are fine
herds OF cattle. In these mountains, there js
an abundance Of game, such as elk, black-tailed
deer, panthers, and mountain-sheep; and IN the
streams ara plenty Of fine trout.
Fort Bridger WAS established as fur-trading
post, by James Bridger, in 1892. Here the old
mountaineor lived in a sort Of barbaric pomp,
surrounded by the duaky children Of the noun
tains, owning considerable focks and herds, and
being, in fact, frontier baron. Here he Lived
until long after the advent Of the Mormons, and
until 1854, when he sold to Lewis Robinson, q
Mormon, his Mexican grant for thirty miles Of
was paid $4,000 in gold; the deeds Of this prop
erty are said to be in the possession Of Brigham
Young at this time. In 1855, the Mormons built
= boulder stone wall, 100 feet square, Il feet
high, with rounded corners, and corral, or
catt1e-yard, 81 feet wide, and made other i'm
proyements on the ranch, expending $4,000
more; and, for long time, it vas the county
seat Of Green River County, Utah. Bridger
always claimed that he was obliged to sell to the
Mormons, or be murdered. Judge William 4.
Carter, now q resident at the Fort, and most
estimah1e citizen, Was for many years Probate
Judge. In the fail Of 1857, Colonel
4. S. Johnston arrived here with
his forces, for the purpose of in
vaaing Utah; and two bastions were thrown up
on the west side Of the fort. The Mormon
troops withdrew as Johnston entered, having
first destroyed everything. When tie troops
left for Salt Lake Valley, Colonel Hoffman re-
manned at the Fort with several companies;
and, during the summer OF 1858, the buildings
now in use we're erected. They are log build
ings, neatly whitewashed~ 4 creek-one OF the
h1anches OF Blacks Fork-runs through the
middle Of the parade-ground- There are bitches,
filled with pure water, running in front and rear
OF the quarters, which are pleasant enough.
Trees have been planted in and about the Fort;
and it looks like beautiful village, fair1y EN-
powered, as one approaches it on the road from
Ca1ter'E Atation, on the Union Pacific Railroad,
II miles to the northward. The different garrl-
sons which occupied it during the War Of the
Rebellion. mostly California Volunteers, either
wantou1y, or in distress for rood, destroyed
several Of the buildings and fences. These
have al been replaced 5o%s7er and 1t is no" as
The trees growing in this section of the coun-
try are the pine, fir, red cedar, blackberry, box
elder, aspen, and cottonwood. There are dense
thickats Of willow along The streams, lnte1mln-
but, it am not greatly mistaken, fine crops
viii be raised he1eabout in the next few years !;
the only drawback possible being the shortness
of the Seasons, IS there ls no better soil any
where, it being as mellow as an ash-heap. This
fall, some winter wheat will be pnt in !; and
predict an excellent crop, if no untoward acci-
dent occurs. Judge Carter thinks well Of the
future Of this country; and one thing Is certain
which Craze On the rich grasses near the banks
of Blacks, Heury's, and Smiths Forks of Green
Riyer, There are over 5000 head OF stock on
these streams.
down On Smiths Fork to visit Jack Robinson, a
celebrated mountaiueer and noted frontlersman.
lack Was absent, but We saw his family, who all
appeared to be well and hearty. Many years
ago, Jack married Shoshonee or Snake lnclan
wife, and near his somewhat primitive cabin
were several lodges Of Snakes, who are doing
something in small way by attending cattle, =
he owning fine herd, The Indian women have
adopted the ways Of the whites, and dress &C
cording to our notions In little wigwam, OF
teepeee We saw an old Indian woman who is
said to be over = hundred years OF age. There
ghe sat, doing up her bundles, and pattering
about in silence, seemingly eontented and
He1 eyes we're rel {ts her ha drz tam
Trinkled aa an old leathern-bag. Fer hands
looked long and acraggy, Ike the talons nj
OF a hind Of prey: Sic has seen strange G.
1ra 111pt a
hsd been across the plains many times. He Was
driving q fine span Of mules, and, upon our &C.
costing him, he gave us {. civil reply. Sad ne
s.After whackiug bulls for thirty years, tint
skipning mules pleasant and profitable bust
negg.o Here is fine subject for a ballad from
our national muse, John Hay or Jack Straw
He Will be charged nothing for this lnv1goratlnt
theme.
the bad lands below they find the remains OF an
finals whose names alone are enough to frlghte1
q man to DEATH An extinct race OF horses ha'
been found,-so, after al, horses we're In Amer
These geologists claim that the remains Of tht
animals they find here we're on earth before the
time Of the manamoths and mastodons Profes
so1s Leidy and Cope, Of the Academy Of Natu
about here, and the latter still re-
mains. Mr. Clarence King. with his party, j
snugly ensconsced in the bushes on Black
Fork SO it will be seen we are we'll off so far a
I,eidv. with DR.. Joseph T. Corson, u S. 4.
nnd Dr, J. Van 4. Carter has been fortunate il
obtaining the remains Of one OF the largest ane
most extraordinary mammals yet discovered il
fhe Bridcer tertiary deposits. It was tapiroi
nnimal. exceeding in bulk Of body and limb til
iiTine rhinoceroees, though the head appear
to have been proportionally small. Many frag
ments Of skeleton OF the animal fossllized
<rare discovered. The teeth resemble in form
fhose of the sabre-toothed tiger. In its perfee
condition, the tooth measured upwards Of foo