Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-27
The Great Water Divide.


1t is stated in the sixth annual report of
the United States Geological Survey OF
the territories, by F. v. Hayden, United
States Geologist, that there Is perhaps no
more unknown or more interesting geo.
graphical region in America than the dif-
ferent branches of the 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 larg-
est rivers in America. The general ele-
vation is from 1000 to 8 900 feet above the
sea, while the mountains, whose eternal
SHOWS form the sources of these great
rivers, rise to height of 10000 to 1000
feet. Flowing ncrthward are the various
branches of the Missouri, Yellowstone,
and Wind Rivers, which all eventually
unite into one mighty stream, the Mis-.
souri,. To the south are the branches Of
Green River, which unites with the Colo
RADIO, and empties into the Gulf of CALI
fOrnia; while south and west flow the
branches of Snake River, which, uniting
with the Columbia, pour their vast volume
of water into the Pacific.
The exploration of this remarkable wa
ter divide proves that the Madison Fork
has Its source In small lake not hitherto
noted on any map, and that the so-called
Madison Lake belongs entirely on the Pa
cific slope. This latter lake was found to
be about twelve miles long and eight
miles wide. From this body of water
flows q stream nearly one hundred feet
wide, which, after distance of about
five miles, empties into a second lake,
which is four miles long and one and
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 Shosh0ne new geyser basin
was discovered with from seventy-five to
one hundred springs, many Of them gey-
sers of considerable power. The orna-
mentation about these springs was re-
garded as more interesting and elaborate
than those In Five-Hole Basin. The di-
vide 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 in
the great water divide of the continent
has doubtless given rise to the story of
the Two Ocean River, and such stream
has found its way to most Of our printed
maps.
fTOm L0c summit OF JQe MOUNTAIN Tic
scope of vision embraced radius of one
hundred and fifty miles, within which
four hundred and seventy mountain peaks
worthy of name could be distinctly OBJ
served. The area that could be swept by
the eye from this point could not have
been less than fifty thousand square miles,
embracing every variety of grand and
beautiful scenery Of mountain and valley,
probably without q parallel on the conti-
nent. Ten large lakes and several smaller
ones were embraced in the view. and the
entire Yellowstone Park was spread out
under the eve. To the east the Wind
River and Big Horn ranges, with the
snow-clad SUBMITS of Fremont's, Union
and Cloud Peaks bounded the view. On
the north the Yellowstone range, with
Emigrant Peak, and many Of the lofciest
mountains of Montana were clearly seen.
To the west the numerous ranges COM
prised In what are called the Salmon River
mountains of Idaho form the horizon of
vision In that direction. while the noun
tains near Fort Hall and the Wahsatch
range completed the mighty amphithea-
ter. This remarkable view embraced
large portion of Wyoming, Montana,
Idaho, and Utah Territories. About forty
small streams, which unite and form the
upper portion of Snake River, were care
fully examined.
The party then proceeded down the
valley Of Snake River, through its remark
able canons, examining Jackson's Lake
and the numerous streams that empty
into the main river on either side.