Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-16
RAMBLES IN STAR VALLEY.


Early In the morning " the 2ssh Of
September LEFT Montpelier iu Hear
Lake Valley for star Valley, Elder
Christian Hogen, SEN, taking US
In his comfortable two honc car.
rlage. After leaving Montpelier the
road takes up IN. main canyon, follow
Ing the same In a northcasterly dircc.
tiOn for about ten miles; then 1t turns
to the right up along u small tributary
Of Montpelier creek, thence TO the luit
over u summit on 10 another tributary
Of the same creek, and next II takes 10
the right again crossing a steep summit
on 10 the headwators Of Thomas Fork,
we ascend the main dividc-tho rim OF
the ba-in-which divides the water.
falling into Bear River from thOsc
ompiying into Snake River. This
lofty elevation Is about half way he.
tween Bear Lake Valley aud Star Val.
ley, aud must he nearly eight thousand
fcet above the level Of the sea. From
this summit the descent IL quito steep
for about n mile, until u tributary Of
Crow creek Ia crossed, aud down
along said creek the grade Is gradual
and the road good until Star Valley Ii
reached Mt the mouth Of Crow Creek
canyon. Until the present summer
this mountain road leading from
Montpelier to Star Valley was very
/ rough and tue crossings Of the differ.
i - "a
| but last spring an agreement was
entered into between the citizens OF
/ star Valley and Bear Lake Valley
10 the effect That ~ the Star Valley
people would make good road 10 the
main summit from the east side, Bear
Lake county would build good road
from Montpelier 10 the summit. TheStnr
/ Valley brethren flushed their part of
the work IN June last, and the Hear
Lnkers have Just completed their pOr.
ton OF the work, including the bTidg-
Ing Of every creek crossing on the
whole road, thus making that once
| dreaded route Of travel one Of the best
mountain roads In the Rockies. Con.
sequently (beiore the Hoods Of another
season shall have damaged this good
/ road now would be good time for
such as desire TO see Star Valley Ia
make visit thither.
| In emerging from the mouth " Crow
/ Creek Canyon the sight which meets
| the traveller IN very pleasing onu.
| Stretched out before him, surrounded
by lofty mountains, lies one Of the
finest valleys, n few year, ago
empty and desolate, hut now dotted
with thrifty settlements OF tho
Saints. The place which first
attracts the attention In the town
Of Alton, which IA beautifully
situated on bench nj the mouth OF
Clear Greek canyons and neas the base
Of the mountains ON the east side Of tue
valley. Owing 10 the elevated situa-
ton this settlement can be seen from
nearly every part Of the valley, which
IL nearly twenty miles long from north
to south and from one 10 six miles Wide.
Its "A average breadth II nearly four
miles. Salt River which rises ia the
mountains southeast Of the valley pas
ses through IT. entire length, but sinks
In the upper end TO emerge again 10 the
surface from subtereanean passage IN
the lower end Of the valley, and IL at
once a stream OF considerable rise, after
receiving Crow Creek from the west
and Cottonwood and swift Creek
! IIDih kAlt vast W lNN lAAh'llA
In the valley. While the surface N
the country In Bear Lake Valley IL
somewhA broken and undulaling IN
many parts, the land In Star Valley rs
u rule IL level and consequently easily
Irrigated; the natural vegetation Il
grass and rabbit brush; sage brush Is
seen only IN few places. The
meadow lands along Salt River In the
lower end OF the valley are among the
finest In the mountains, and the iacili.
ties for pasturage there aud on the foot
hills surrounding the valley but
principally ON the west side, are nlmost
unhounded. The farming land is
generally good and very productive
aud the timber In the mountains
plentiful. The fresh, invlgor.
nting breezes and the beautiful
clear streams, IN which the settlement,
are situated infures health and vipur
u such an extent that eau faithfully
say that In all my travels In our noun