The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-19
The Territorial Surveys-An Interest
Ing Wilderness.

1t is stated in the sixth annual report of
the United States Geological Survey of the
Territories, by +. Y. Hayden, United States
gcologist, that there is perhaps no more I'M
known or more interesting geographical re-
gion In America than that of the different
branches of the Snake river and the Madi-
son, the great water-dyide of the continent.
The maps now in process Of construction
will almost certainly change the geography
of this wonderful region. Within radius
of ten miles may be found the sources of
three of the largest rivers in America. The
general elevation is from 1000 to 5000 feet
above the sea, while the mountains, whose
eternal SHOWS form the sources of these great
rivers, rise to height of 10000 to 10000
feet. Flowing northward are the numerous
branches of the Missouri, Yellowstone, and
Wind rivers, which all eventually unite into
one mighty stream, the Missouri.
To the south are the branches Of Green
river. which, uniting with the Colorado,
finally empties into the Gulf of California,
while south and west flow the branches Of
Snake river, which, uniting with the Column
hia, pour their vast volume of water into
the Pacific. The exploration of this re-
markable water-divide proves that the Nadl-
son fork has its source in Il small lake not
hitherto noted on any map, and that the So
called Madison lake belongs entirely on the
Pacific slope. This latter lake was found to
he about twelve miles long and eight miles
WIDE From this body Of water flows a
stream nearly one hundred feet wide, which,
after Il distance of abouf five miles, emptleS
into second lake, which is four miles long
and one and Il half miles wide. The former
of these lakes was named Shoshone and the
latter Lake Lewis, in honor of the great
pioneer explorer of the Northwest. At the
upper end of Lake Shoslionc new Geyser
basin was discovered, with from seventy-trc
to one hundred springs, many OF them Sey-
serS of considerable power. In some re-
spects these springs were regarded more III.
teresting than those in Firehole basin.
The divide between the Yellowstone lake
and Lake Lewis was found to be about fifty
feet above the former and two hundred feet
above the latter. This low ridge on the
great wateI.1ivide of the continent has
doubtless given rise to the story of the Two
Oceans river and such 4 stream has found
| its way into most of our printed maps.
From the summit of the mountain the scope
of vision embraced a radius of $50 miles,
within which 470 mountain peaks worthy OF
name could be distinctly observed. The
area that could be swept by the eye from
| this point could not have been less than
| 80 900 square miles, embracing every variety
| of grand and beautiful scenery Of mountain
and valley, probably without parallel or
the continent. Ten large lakes and several
smaller ones were embraced in the view, and
the entire Yellowstone park was spread out
| under the eye.
| TO the east the Wind river and Big Horn
ranges. with the enow-clad SUBMITS Of Ere
| mont's, Union. and Cloud peaks, boundec
the view. On the north the Yellowstone
range with Emigran;s' Peak and many
the loitiest mountains in Montana wer'
clearly seen. 70 the west the numerous
ranges comprised in what are called the SeIl
mon River Mountains Of Idaho formed the
| horizon of vision in that direction, while the
mountains near Fort Hall and the Wasat ct
| range completed the mighty amphitheatle
| This remarkable view embraced a large ptn'
ton of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Uti'l
Territories. About forty small streams
which unite and form. the upper portion %
Snake river, were carefully examined. liz
party then proceeded down the valley o
Snake river, through its remarkable canonS
and examined JackSon's lake and the hume
rous streams that empty into the main river
| ait 81, IN