Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-29

etc.
A Wonderful Grazing Region Tributary
to the Northern Pacific Railroad Inter-
Graz Business. " = 'A'
Fort WASHABLE, Wy. Ter, Aug. IL
The condition of the man who remarked
that he had read Gertrude of Wyom-
lng," and therefore knew something of
Wyoming territory, may serve as indicat-
ing in measure the vagueness of infor-
nation that exists regarding this noun
famous, picturesque, far off territory.
A short description in respect to the
physical features, climate, soil, water,
timber, minerals, ETC., may not be wholly
uninteresting, and may be useful, SO
venture to send it.
The country is settling up slowly, not
from lack of merit, but probably because
attention has not been attracted towards
it ard its resources not known.
The present boundaries of the territory
were defined by congress in 1868. 1t lies
to the south of Montana; west of Dakota
and Nebraska; north of Colorado and
Utah, and to the east of Utah, Idaho and
part of Montana.
1t is rectangular nearly in shape,
| about $40 miles across from east to west,
and 275 from north to south The gen.
eral elevation above the level of the sea
is very considerable. That portion which
| rf Of IL:
mean altitude of over one mile. This is
remarkable, you will observe by compar-
| lson with the altitude of your own local
ity, but great as it is, it is much below
the mean for the whole territory, and re.
fers only to the low land, that tract
through which the Union Pacific passes.
and therefore presumably the line of
easiest grade.
To the northwest of the surface of the
! country becomes a great tumble of hills
and mountains, the latter attaining to
heights of $4,000 to IA, 900 feet, with
peaks perpetually crowned with snow.
The main backbone of the continent, the
"great, continental divide" traverses the
territory diagonally from northwest to
southeast. The action of this great water
shed is nowhere more perfectly shown
than here, Waters which come from the
same snow bank, spring, or lake, flow to
the right and left; to the Atlantic (Gulf of
Mexico) and Pacific. The headquarters
of the Madison river (the prime source of
the Mlssouri) are within a stones throw
of feeder to Shoshone lake. This lake
is the source of Snake river, a great tr1b-
utary of the Columbia.
Shoshone lake and the Yellowstone
lake are but few miles apart across the
divide, and both receive drainage from q
small pond ON the summit.
At 1--WE Ocean pass, depression in the
great divide, the mighty oceans actually
clasp hands. Two Ocean creek, bright,
sparkling rivulet, insignificant except as
to position, flows along the summit
q short space, and then i'm
partially distributes its waters to
| the east and the west; Atlantic
Creek taking its mite of the contribution
to the Atlantic ocean by way of Yellow
stone river, Pacific creek bearing it's
portion by way or Snake river to its more
| placid home in the Pacific
| Several separate mountain ranges. de-
tached spurs of the Rockies, are found in
| Wyoming.
The Big Horn mountains are perhaps the
most prominent of these. This range lies
IN thsnorth central portion of the territory.
| TO the southwest eighty to one hundred
miles distant are the Shoshone ranges
and Owl Creek mountains; Wind River
! mountains are still more TO the south and
west, and the Tetons are on the extreme
western border of the territory.
The Black Hills lie partly in Wvom-
| ing, part in Dakota.
| These mountains receive vast accumlf
lations of snow during the winter. some
of which never melts, but the greater
| part, under the influence of the summer
sun, supplies water for the maintenance
OF great rivers.
Between the Big Horn range and the
Shoshone mountains the valley is
very extensive, broad and long.
and the drainage from these
mountains is conducted to the
sink of the valley by many streams.
Along this valley runs the Big Horn
river, most important stream.
Yellowstone river heads in north
western Wyoming, Clark's Fork in the
Shoshone mountains, Tongue river in the
| Big Horn mountains, as also Powder
river. These streams all drain to the
north.
The drainage to the east is carried off
by Big Cheyenne river, tributary of the
Missouri, and to the southea st by the
North Platte. This latter stream has its
rise in the mountains of North Park
Colorado, and by a great sweep
1t enclrcles the Laramie plains The ex.
tent of its drainage and number of its
tributaries give it great prominence in
the territory. Like all streams which
depend Immediately upon snow for its
supply, It's spring rises are immense
| floods.
The Pacific drainage is carried off by
Green river, which thoroughly waters
the southwestern part of the territory.
and Snake river, which controls the
water supply of the northwest
1t will be observed that large nun,
Der OF important rivers have their source
IN this territory, ard that they generally
raolate from common area of high
ground, which reaches the climax of ALI
tude in the National park. This marx
lies in the northwestern corner of Wvo-
ming, and embraces within its Limits a
chaotic confusion Of mountains. lakes
rivers, parks and geyser basins.
1t is well for Wyoming that she is ms.
sessed of such superb water supply.
otherwise the country would be barren
waste. The southern sections in particu-
lar are the most forlorn, desoIate.
burnt up, non productive looking re-
sions. The plains and rolling country
are covered with low, stunted, scant
grass, which looks worthless, but is full
of strength and all good qualities. For
a short time in summer the country is
brilliant with profusien of wild flow
ers. AS you go north sage brush pre-.
dominates along the water courses. The
verdure is fresh and green.
The soils light sandy loan, but this
from the prevalent dryness becomes re-