, 1873-08-24
Sources Of the Missouri, Colorado,
fLntl Columbia -s Light On A1a uu-
known Region.

WASHINGTON, Aug. II.
It is stated In the sixth annual report Of tho
tories, by T. V. Hayden, United States Cool
oGist, that thero is perhaps no moro unknown or
moro interosting geographical region in America
than tho different branches OF Bnako River und
tho hladisou,-the groat wntor-divlde Of tho Con-
tinent: The maps now III progress will almost
entirely chanGe the geography Of this woudor-
be found the solsrcoa of three OF tho largest
rivers in America. Tho general elevation is
from 1000 to 5000 foot abovo tho sea. while tho
mountains, whose perpetual suows form tho
sources Of those great rivors, riso to height of
10000 to IL, 600 feet. Moving northward aro tho
various branches of the Missouri, Yellowstone
aud Wind Rivers, which oil eventually unite III
Green River, which unitcs with the Colorado
and emptteB into tho Gulf Of California;, yYhilo
south mud woBt flow the branches Of Snake River,
which unto with tho Columbia aud ompty into
Wator-digde proves TINT tho Madison Fork Inns
itR source In a small lako not hitherto notod on
any map, mud that tho Ho-caled Madison Lake
belongB entirely on tho Pacific Slope.
miles loug and 8 miles wide. From this
body Of water flows 9 stream nearly 100 foot
wide, which, after Il distance Of about miles,
omptieB into second lako, which ia milea
lonE ana II milos wide; Tho formor
lattor Lake Lewis, iii honor Of tho pioneer OK
ploror OF the Northwest. At tho uppor end Of
Like soshono q new geyAer basin was discover
ou. with from Beyeuty-tlvo to ono hundred
springs, many OF them goyaera Of considerable
power. The ornamontation about those springs
was regarded as moro interesting and elaborate
than those in Fire Hole basin. Tho divide be-
tween tho Yellowstone Lake and Lake
Lowis, was found to be about TO foot
above tho formcr,. and 200 feet
above the latter., The low ridge in tho great
wator-divido Of tho Continont. Inns doubtless
g,ven riso to the story OF tho Two-ocean River,
and such Btroaln has found itH way to most OF
our printed InapB. From the summit of tho
mountain the Acopo OF vision embraced radius
Of l60 miles, within which 40 mountain poalsp
worthy Of namo could bo distinctly obaeYro
this point could not have berr aroty ia5S Of pJanI
gQuare miles. embraciJf mountain an,i valav
aud beautiful ~ hceG parallel on tho Continent.
probably Willis and several smaller onoa wero
Ion lo6tl IN tho Slow, and tho ontiro Ye1low-
epne Fark was spread out undor tho eve.
10 ;io.,, the I,o,' onst' the Wind Rivor and big
nlitA OF ,FFomont'H, Union, and Uloui peaka
bounded tho Wow, On tho north the Yollow-
3tono Range, with Emigrant pealt and mnny az |
'ho loftleBt mountains Of Montana woro eloarly
'oon. 10 the west tho numerous ranges. ooni-
,rlaed ~ what aro callod tho Salmon River
Mountains Of Idaho from tho horizon Of vision
= that direction, wlilo tho mountains noar Fort
iall and tho Wahaatch Range completed the
mighty amphitheatro. This remarkable yiow
'mhraced largo portion OF Wyoming, Montana,
daho, aud Utah TorritorioH. About forty emaIl
It Snake River. were carefully examined. Thc
,arsy then proceeded down tho Valley OF Snake
liver, through Its remarkable oanons, exa1ui11od
aokaon'a Lake. md tho numerous streams that
npty into tho main rivor On other elo.
Iho report contains 844 printed octaYo pages,