Idaho semi-weekly keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1884-1885, 1885-08-15
GREAT SHOsHONE FALLS.
The Niagara OF the West, and the Pros
pectiye Capital Of Idaho.

The great shoshone Falls are on Snake River,
in Idaho Territory, twenty miles from shosho-
ne Station, on the Oregon Short Line Railway
The Snake River is the principal tributary or
Lewis Fork OF the Columbia, and the volume
of water pouring over tine falls is enormous,
especially during the summer months, when
the stream is swollen by the melting SHOWS
from a vast area OF mountainous country in
Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana.
The main fall is one seventh Of mile in
width and 30 feet in height. just before max
ing the final leap the river descends seventy
feet, in distance of fifty yards, by series OF
cascades separated into numerous channels by
rocks a hundred feet or in height; finally
these channels unite at the main fall These
cascades increase the total height to $50 feet,
and combine in one view With the great cata-
iact, adding greatly to the Iicturesqueness OF
the scene.
The liyer flows through great gorge, the
walls Of whicA are OF dark lava rock rising $50
feet above the falls, and more than 1000 feet
above the river below.
The water does not flow over as at Niagara, in
smooth, green sheet, but is broken from the
very crest into a glittering mass Of foam of
whose deicacy and brillianey no words can
convey an adequate idea. From below rises a
cloud of spray, hliing the chasm and expand
ing far into the open air encompassed with
rainbows of dazzling brightness. A curve in
the line of the fall and projecting rocks on each
side give very near and distinct view into the
very heart OF the cataract.
Compared with Mag ara the volume of water
and the breadth less, but it's great height
$50 feet against l65. The varied and ever
changing color Of the falling mass; the nlajes-
tic cliffs by which it is environed and the aw-
ful gorge into which it falls, combine 70 i'm
press the beholder even more powerfully than
the world famed cataract OF the East
Three miles above the Great II ali are the Twin
Falls, ls0 feet in height, and only less grand
than the mighty cataract below One hundred
miles further up are the American Falls, a cas-
cade OF fifty feet, directly beneath a great
bridge Of the Oregon Short Line hallway.
| The best fishing in America is TO be had in
/ the Snake River below tine Great Falls and
| above the Twin Falls, the stream ounding
| in Salmon trout many of them reaching thirty
| inches in length, and some even exceeding tbir-
| ty-six inches.
| The twenty miles intervening between the
falls and shoshone Station are easily rraversed
| in three hours in comfortable stages over good
road and the time viii be reduced another year
! TO TWO hours and half
Shoshone Station is reached in palace cars in
| a60 miles from Ogden, Utah, via the Utah and
! Northern, and Oregon Short Line branches OF
! tie Union Pacific Railway.
| Good accommodations at very moderate
prices alreody provided at the falls for
! small parties, and a commodious hotel Will be
erected this year, since the Oregon Short Line
Railway is now connected through to Port
| land, enabling travellers to and from the Pacinc
! Northwest to enjoy en- route the delightful epi-
! sode of visit to the great cataract.
4 Excursion tickets TO Great Shoshone Falls are
sold at al important sjstions Of the Union Pa
cifc Railway. Tickets are sold at Ogden to
| holders Of through tickets, via the Union Pa
ciic Railway to or from tie Pacific coast at q
rate Of S2Su0
The rate from Council Bluffs, Omaha or KAN
sas City, to Snoshone alls and return is sgaUG
| The tickets from Council Bluns and Omaha in
/ elude Grip 10 Denver and return TO Kansas
| City, If desired Special rates are Insde Tor
| parties OF I'VE or nore, according 10 number.
| j Ylslt 60 SAoshonc may be readily combinsd
! with a trip to Yellowstone National Park. the
J tourist leaving t0e main route to Yellowstone
! at pocatello from which point he Falls may he
| reached In few hours
/ heretofore these falls situated in the uids,
OF a traokless wild have remained almost nr
! known and uzvtsited bs civilized -aap. But
! now the Wilderness has been pierced Dy the
railway; the iron horse VIII soon carry thithel
thousands Of pilgrims annually, ami the faIns
Of Shcshone will be spread through all land:
aa one OF the CHIEF attsactioaa OF earth.