The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-12

Blue Mountains, Utah, April 6.-The
Blue mountains of San Juan county,
in southeastern Utah, which are justly
claiming the attention of gold seekers,
who are beginning to enter that region
at the present time, cover an area of
about % miles in length, in a north
and south direction, by about ten miles
in width from east to west, and consist
of two main ridges which reach an eX-
IRENE altitude of IL 400 feet above sea
level, having two somewhat lower
ridges between them, coursing in a
parallel direction.
This range of mountains juts up from
the midst of desert and presents a
pitch of about 80 degrees, which latter
is almost uniform from base to sum-
init, thus presenting fine opportunities
for deep mining by means of cheap
driven tunnels The origin of these
mountains is volcanic, which is plainly
shown by the manner in which the sur
face sedimentary strata is distorted,
coupled with the presence of igneous
rocks one encounters here.
Gold is found here in the black sand,
states, porphyry, and disseminated
throughout much OF the surface soils.
Float carrying silver has also been
picked up in this district. Two stamp
mills are kept busy pounding out the
yellow metal which, ii is claimed, shows
the rock to average from 50 to $23 per
ton on the plates, thus proving II also
to be OF a free milling character. These
mountains are we'll supplied with tim
Der and water. while good coal is
opened up in a couple of places at their
eastern base and a dense growth of
grass covers the hillsides.
The county seat of San Juan county
and town of Monticello. a Mormon
farming settlement containing about
$50 people, is located near the base of
the range and about midway between
its north and south ends. Here are two
general stores and also a postoffice re-
ceiving daily mail from Thompson
Springs. some So miles north on the line
of the Rio Grande Western railway, the
nearest way into this coming Eldorado.
on arrival at Thompson's Springs the
traveller connects with a daily stage for
{ Ioab. about 80 miles due south from
the railroad, stopping Ell route at
Courthouse Rock $50 named on account
Of its true resem blance to a court
housed. where q fine, neVer-failing, cool
stream of water. coming out of the bot
tom of a sandstone bluff, never fails TO
smile and through it's silver-hued rip
pies sings one song so pleasant 10
the ears of the desert traveller, bidding
him come I'D to the fountain ana
ouench his thirst at its expense. From
this point a high stratified sandstone
bluff follows the road for distance of
Is miles to the Grand river, exposing
strata of many colors, which present
q panorama altogether pleasing to the
eve and causing ones mind to marvel
at the grand work of nature. Coming
into view, as one approaches this spring
from the north, is the Book cliffs, one
of natures most beautiful works of
sculpturing and which continue in the
line of ones vision during several miles
of his ride; trip interesting and
grand sight to behold, and once seen,
never forgotten. Some three miles north
of our next stop the road leads gently
down rock-carved dugway through
side canyon TO the Grand river valley,
and on our right attention is called 10
the original wagon trail of the pioneer
Mormons, who first built a stone fort
and settled in the valley some 20 years
ago. This old road followed straight
over a bluff some 200 feet high and hav-
ing a. decline of 80 degrees or more, re-
ouired the use of ropes and snubbing
posts to let the wagons down safely on
10 level ground. upon which one travels
a couple of miles to the north bank of
~
q truly grand canyon. only to disappear
into the mouth of another about two
miles farther on its course toward the
Colorado A rope ferry is used here
during high water. and a ford during
the low stage.
After crossing this stream one finds
himself in the GentileMormon city of
Moab, the county seat of Grand county,
with its perpetually green alfalfa
1aidS thOroughiy ditched for irrigation
purposes. broad streets on both sides
lined with thrifty shade trees, sub
stantiai modern shaped adobe houses,
and vast orchards containing all kinds
OF fruit trees Indigenous to this sec
ton of the country; he can hardly
realize that the water from one spring
has been the innocent cause of driving
the Indians from this former barren
waste and creating garden spot one
mile wide by five miles long calling 500
people together in such a short space