The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-13
THE PACIFIC SLOPE.

We are indebted to the San Francisco
Alta Of Jure 4th, for the following in
teresting statistical and descriptive ar
ticle:
The Rocky Mountain chain, the most
notable geographic feature Of the globe,
extending $500 miles from the Arctic
almost to the Antarctic Circle, and serv-
ing as q back bone Of two continents. to
separate the streams flowing toward the
two crest oceans. divides North Amer
lea into its two main geogradbicsl divi-
sious-the Atlantic and Pacific Slopes.
The Pacific Slope of the United
States, extending about 300 miles from
North to South and 200 from east to
west. with au area of Si0. 600 Osquare mi les
is divided into two main geographical
divisions - the West Sierra region,
comprising 300. 900 square miles, and
the East Sierra. Gio.U0o. The East ST.
ezra region. within the limits If the
United States. includes about 20O,0UO
sau.r miles in the basin Of the Upper
Columbis; 240, 900 in the basin Of the
Colorado; and 200. 900 in the Enclosed
American Basin, III which last tue evap
Grafton equals the rainfall. leaving no
surplus Of water to be sent to the sea.
and the streams have their outlets in
Great Salt. Utah, Pyarmid, Tahoe,
Walker. Mono, Honey, Humboldt and
the other saline lakes.
There is no navigable stream in the
Enclosed Basin; The Columbia can be
nsvigated with profit about 800 miles
above the Sierra chain; and the Colorado
about tho sams distance from its mouth.
but the latter river is Of very little use
for commerce, as its navis able portion
is bordered OH each side by deserts it
flows across the course Of trade instead
with it-and its mouth is accessible with
difficulty from the ocean through the
long. hot and barren-shored Gulf of
California. In general terms, we may
say that the East Sierra region of the
Pacific Slope has no navigable water,
and depends for the development Of
its resources on being accessible by
railroads.
The West Sierra region. being mar.
row, with range Of coast mountains
along its shore, has few naviga BILE
streams and few good hsrbors. but it
has a good soil, extensive forests, vslu-
able mineral deposits. q genial climate.
an excellent commercial situstion. and
about l.1O0. 900 intelligent and indus
trious inhabitants, OF whom more than
one half are settled in ali area OF 10000
square miles near the Bay Of San Fran
cisco. The greater part of the West
Sierra region has not one white iuhabi-
tant on an average to the square mile.
Western Warrington and Oregon have
climate like that Of England, the
southermost point Of which just touches
latitude 50o: and California is the eli
matte parallel OF Spain. the southern
most poiut of which touches latitude
$50; while our Slope has no equi, alent.
unless in the basin of the Upper Co.
lumbis, for France. The great advan.
tages of climate. ocean frontage, soil.
forests and minerals have been supple
mented by the accumulation Of much
wealth in the form Of cities. railroads,
wagon roads, irrigation bitches, mining
bitches, farm improvements. and farm
animals The railroads have sn aggre.
gate length Of 1000 miles, and, with the
exception Of few uncomplcted copnec-
tions. make an admirable system Of in
cAlculable value to the future progress
Of the region.
The East Sierra of the Pacific Slope.
- compared with the West, Was cursed
with poverty by nsture: and yet is not
so desolate, generally, IS might b. in
ferred after looking at it from the Gen.
trail Pacific Railroad, which crosses it
where the enclosed basin is widest from
east to west. The total population is
less than 200. 900. and most Of these in
babitants are in districts covering less
than 40 900 square miles, and more than
half Of the $40. 900 miles Of its area has
not one white inhabitant for 20 square
miles. There is relatively little sccu-
mulated wealth, for though the region
has 1900 miles Of railroad. most Of this
is in the deserts of the Humboldt and
Colorado Valleys. and WAS built with
special references to the wants OF traffic
bet ween the Atlantic and Pacific. and
not 10 accomodA,e business along the
way. The richest portions Of the East
Sierra region Eastern Washington.
Northea.,ern Oregon. Northern Idaho.
and Central and Northern Arizona-sre
no, accessible by railroads. which Ae
absolutely necessary TO their develop.
ment. and in the public interest should
be built at the national expense, il they
cannot be obtained otherwise. We eau
not afford TO leave these vast districts to
the coyote and wild redskin. The main
lines of roads now wanted should cross
from east to west near latitudes 81. 30,
81, and 81, aud ran from the Mexican
10 the British liu.s near the meridians
of Salt Lake and Virginia City. Some
progress has been made on oil. and con-
siderable oo several Of these routes. The