Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-10

HE w ONDERS OF THE NOkTH' W 81.
is stated in the sixth annual report of the |
United States Geological Survey Of the
Territories, by +. v. Hayden. United
States Geologist, that there is perhaps no
more unknown or more interesting geo.
graphical region in America than the diff
ferent branches Of Snake River and the
Madison-the great water divide Of the
Continent. The maps now in process OF
construction will almost entirely 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 a
height of 10000 to 1900 feet. Moving
northward are the various branches OF the
Missouri, Yellowstone, and Wend rivers,
which all eventually unite into one mighty
stream, the Missouri. To the south are
the branches of Green river, which un'tes
with the Colorado aud probably empties
into the Gulf of California, while south
and west flow the branches of Snake River,
which, uniting with the Columbia. pours
its vast volume of water into the Paci6c.
The exploration of this remarkable water
divide proves that the Madison Fork has
its source in small lake not hitherto noted
on any map, and that the so-calIed Madi-
son Lake belongs entirely to the Pacific
slope.
This latter lake was found to be about
twelve miles long and eight miles wide.
From this body of water flows stream
nearly 100 feet wide, which, after dis
tance of about FIVE miles, empties into a
second lake, which is four miles long and
ore and half miles wide. Tue former Of
these lakes was named Shoshone and the lat.
ter Lake Lewis, in honor of the great pio.
neer explorer of the North West. At the
upper end of Lake Saoshone, a new geyser
was discovered, with from Is to 100 springs
many of them geysers of considerable pow.
er. The ornamentation about these spring:
was regarded as more interesting and elab
orate than those in Fire Hole Basin. The
divide between the Yellowstone lakes AND
Lake Lewis was found to be about so fee
above the former and 200 feet above the
latter. This low ridge in the great water
divide of the Continent has doubtless Civ
en- rise to the story of the Two Ocean Rv
er, and such stream has found its Wa
to most Of our printed maps. From th'
summit of the mountain the scope of Wis
ion embraced radius of $50 miles, within
which 40 mountain peaks worthy of nam
could be distinctly observed. The are;
that could be swept by the eye from tH'
, point could not have been less than so ,00t
| square miles. embracing every variety o
grand and beautiful scenery OF mountain
5 and valley, probably without a parallel o.
the continent. Ten large lakes and sever
, al smaller ones were embraced in the view
t and the entire Yellowstone Park wa
spread out under the eye. To the eas
= the Wind RIVER and Big Horn ranges
with the snow-clad SUBMITS of Fremont
t Union, and Cloud Peaks bounded the view
on the north, the Yellowstone range, wit
i. Emigrant Peak and many of the lofties
a moultait of Montana, were clearly seer
t To the west, the numerous ranges comprI!
| ed In what are called the Salmon Rive
t mountains of Idaho, form the horizon c
t vision in that direction, while the mouu
S ia ms near Fort Hall and the Wahsatc
f ange completed the mighty amphitheate
This remarkable view embraced larg
r portion OF Wyoming, Montana. Idaho, an
!, Utah Territories About 40 small streams
} which unite and form the upper portion {
d Snake River, were carefully examined
e The party then proceeded down the Va
a ley of Suake River through its remarkabI
d canons, examined Jackson's Lake and th
}. numerous streams that empty into th
main river on either side. The report CO:
tains S44 printed octave pages.