The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-03
ANIMAL LIFE AMID PRIMEyAL FORESTS
Agricultural and Mineral POSSIBLE
tiles Of the Country.
PARADISE OF THE TRAPPER AND HUNTER.
The Plain and the Mountain SLOWLY
Approaching Each Other.
THE MOSQUITOES AND THE MULES
CAMP 10. GREEN RIVER VALLEY, Wv. r. i,
m,

cAnr 10. GREEN RIVER VALLEY, wy. T.,
July II, 1877.
weeks work has been accomplished with unusual
ease aud success by Mr. Wilson's division OF the
United States Geological Survey since wrote from
Fremonts Peak Of the progress TO that point of the
primary tranguIation OF the territory allotted for this
seasons work Tho cold and stormy weather which
had attended as unrcmittngy until then has ceased
and barring the flies and mosquitoes We hare had no
fair chance to complain
1t was the morning Of the Fourth Of July when we
struck our tents at tho base Of rremonts Peak and
bid goodby to the Wind River Mountains. those
naughty Highland cneftans impassve as their granite
thrones, bonncted with cloud and Killed with
snow, awaking one another With clan CRIES
OF thunder and flashing claymores OF lightning
about their wrnkled brows. Aud We left them
with ttle regret tor they have not been gracious TO
u.s. but rather have soughtte oppress US with their
majesty and power So wo clnttered through the
bright river, soaring shoals OF young trout precptaey
to their deep holes. and wound way out to the
plains between gravel hills. These gradually became
ices aud less hegnt dwinded into the terraces that
mark the lessanug OF the Green River from It's ancient
glory to its present modesty, und finally were los.
altogether IN the level sage brush plain Crossing
this we rode on northward course for
long distance over the bottoms through which
the river winds with constant alterations OF
channel. There much alkal here In
spots, and occasionally soft ground but for the mos,
part the surface was Arm and as level and smooth
us lawn nor was there any sage here TO trip over,
but Short tough marsh grass, among which backbirds
bred and camorous curcws c,rcicd, whstliug TO one
another In clear, loud signals, and snpe peeped as
they scuttled away from approach But this was
loo good to last moro than few miles, and we hnd
plenty Of worse going before we camped that night
among the willows branch OF the river and
'moked our very last cigar commemoration of In
dependence Day. The weather was delightfully."- warm
liter our arctic experiences during the previous
month, and not only did We not put up tents prefer
ring like Corolanus 10 make our beds "under tho
sanory," but took q refreshing bath IN the rapid
brook.
sPEcKLED TROUT.
Here, as before we toasted on trout having really
more trouble 10 ch the agile grssshoppcrs for bait
than to hook the spcokled beauties These trout we're
splendid fish. None would weigh less thun TWO pounds
and others we're even much largec They were gamey.
too. but we did not attempt to play them much our
tackle being rude and our appetites impatieul Men
must cat in this oxygen consuming country. and are
quick 10 discharge that duty Ours Is hunger lali.
tude. The flesh OF these Toui-whlch were probably
salmon trout-was rcd az the flesh Of the salmon
and very hard aud Arm. might be expected In fish
born and bred in snow water Afterward wo caught
Nm Inferior nse--the brook trout-whose flesh was
WHITE yet not TO DO dospisod. find that cold fried
trout makes good sandwich. Tho bones do not
bother, and little sharp sauce or Jelly between the
crisp and the bread Is no harm.
GEOGRAPHICAL AGRICULTURAL.
This is the upper extremity OF the Green River
Basin. which may properly DO said extend SOUTH
ward as far as Southern Utan beng bounded ON tho
East by the Wind River Mountaina the Sweetwater
hills the buttes south OF Yellow Butte and the Untah
Mountains In Colorado and Eastern Utah Its western
drainage is from tho Wahsatch Mountainp, which
divide 1t from the waters Of Snake River, and
from the Salt Lake Basin Al this latitude the valley
Is from 10 fifty miles wide barrie dcd at the
north by the eros ventre hills among which the
sreen River rises, finding exit close besae the
River, through Union Pass. But the Green River
lows 500 miles make the Rio Colorado while the
Snake 1nds It's way fur to the north and pours
through the canyons OF the Columbia the North
Pacific. II Is too cold up hero any crops
brush were burned Of there would b. Ten times as
much moro still IL would be hard TO winter herds
here, although 100 miles lower down could probably
te done on sheltered Nothing but the usurpa
ton Of the ground by dwarf willows prevents thousands
Of acres Of good hay from growing naturally on all
these bottoms. Tho willows easily eradcased,
nevertheless, and then hay will follow. Perhaps oats
and barley could be made 10 ripcn Also
METEOROLOGICAL.
Starting at sunrise almost, the morning of the
9Th, continued our northward march over The same
plains country and under clouuiess sky. IL was
warm, truly, but not suitry. The temperaturc often
rises AS high mere in midsummer IN New York, but
you do not Icel9nc heat SO much Tho direct rays of
tho sun are scorchlDg but the air is murky, and
II you get in tho shade you comfortable IN very
short time. No was suns,ruck here or In
l20 degrees We carry cunteens OF water, but those
VINO scarcely drink once IRON morn,ng till night Ter
the least from thirst The mountaIns toward which
we were vending our why were the eros Ventre Hills
range OF no great altitude stretching and
from tho upper end OF the Wind Rivers over to tho
Snake River-forty miles more Few the sum-
mus reach above timber line, yet all bore
considerable and clothed win forests En-
icring, hrst groves OF aspen OF unusually large
size, and aboundins uuderbrush OF various sh rubs
aud plants, with high grass III all the elades
passed them ana began to climb ricges OF quartz grav
el, wooded TO the top, sometimes finding game trail
to follow, but ofencr working our through best
we might Everything showed a rapid and luxuriant
growth Tho foIiage wus all green; weeds were high
flowers in proiusion of bloom, many OF the Sumo
species which, small out on the plains, far taller
we haa 10 cross there was danp pna OF mr.
ing. Meanwb we kept getting higher aud higher,
and At last could SEQ over, and benold north and
west OF us stretched great park, fenced In by
mountains, embroidered with streams and diversified
by low hills and green valleys, groups OF lignt
spruce purple patches ' Of sage P brush s na
sunny bits OF prairie, where anteopes dsportiug.
Yet the entrance this happy valley ciuded our
grasp that all day wandering about a dense
spruce Forest aud only got down al night IN time
slartle Two sandh cranes from the fen IN which they
lived, setting them flying In crazy manner about
headsand croaking in CULTURAL, rafting cry ike
hoarse frog, and to camp on the opposite hillside
among hosts of mosquitoes that prcyed upon
sanity, In spite OF the black pine ard of
THE midnight chill Ohr coming was rare treat for
thcn fancy, and multitudos assembled TO enjoy II.
MOUNTAIN
The following morning wo were glad TO get away,
but had little respite from the mosquitoes aud ncs
We stored for the highest promontory ahead,
terrible h,lis a. the 100. Of Il We could not
ride down. at loast would not risk IT, and at homo
would have thought II almost impossible 10 walk
where the loaded mules picked their way down alter
Mr.. Wilson through the unbrokcn woods, Jumping
logs, crushing ihrough bushcs sqgee2,ng between
trees and pushing the gravel ahead Of hem every
sep. Even The Insects doscrtoa here. They
couldn't stick on the mules backs al such angie.
THIS done, and multitude OF other difficulties sur
mounted without accident, we crossed q torrent Of
sudsy water, anu began to climb through tho woods
where lien timber thick, up to tho open pateaus
above. and at last camped vt the limit tree growth
perhaps $40 feet above the the grove OF
dvurf spruces Enough tho day renamed IN r,nko