The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-03-16
GREAT WESTERN BASIN
ITS VARIED FEATURES
REMARKABLE REGION OF DES-
ERT, MINERAL DEVELOP
MULTIPLICATION.

Continental surfaces, as a genera
rule, are drained by streams flowing
to the ocean, but there are some ex-
ceptional areas which have no outward
drainage. The Great Basin is such
an area. 1t was so named by Fremont
who was the first to gain an adequate
conception of it's character and ex-
tent. 1t lies near the western margin
of the continent and is surrounded by
the headwater divides of rivers tribu-
tary to the Pacific ocean.
Roughly, the Great Basin is bound
ed by the Rocky mountains on the east
and by the Sierra Nevada on the west.
1t extends from Oregon on the north
to and beyond the Mexican boundary
but is limited by the drainage system
of the Colorado river on the southeast
1t contains 100000 square miles, ar
area about equal to that of France
A Wonderful Region.
The Great Basin is a region of d.
versified surface features, including
flat desert ranges and rugged noun
tain ranges with many lofty peaks. 1t
is not, as the name might suggest,
single pan shaped depression, gather
ing its waters to a common center, but
is divided into large number of in
dependent drainage areas
Arid plains are abundant in this re-
gion, and some are so extensive that
they appear almost boundless. The
climate of the region is very dry, the
average annual rainfall varying from
10 or II inches in northern Nevada to
less than 3 inches in the south and
southwest. In the spring the barren
Hooking soil brings forth a truly sur
prising variety of beautiful and deli
cate flowers, most of which disappear
entirely as the parching heat of sum-
mer comes on. Timber or even trees
of any kind are, as a rule exceeding
ly scarce. Herds of small wild horses,
or mustangs, roam over some of the
less frequented mountain ranges, but.
like the ubiquitous coyotes, they are
shy and are not likely to be seen from
the train.
Great Mines and Growing Cities.
Mines Of the precious metals are the
principal source of wealth in the
Great Basin, and in connection with
their development towns have been
built in out of the Way places, many
of them high on the bare mountain
sides and far from water and food
supplies.
Since the completion of the first
transcontinental railroad, in 1869, set
tlement of the region and development
of its resources have progressed enor-
mously. Now several transcontinental
railroads cross it and numerous
branches extend through the desert
valleys north and south from the trunk
lines; towns and mining camps have
sprung up along these highways, and
almost every acre of easily irrigable
land has been appropriated by settlers
Herds of cattle and sheep find susie
nance on the mountains and in the
sagebrush covered valleys that were
once thought to be too barren ever to
become of service to man. Through
out the eastern border of the Great
Basin, in Idaho and Utah, the follow
ers of the Mormon faith have found a
promised land" which, by great in
dustry, they have reclaimed from its
primitive desolation and made the
home of thousands.
Some of the most productive gold
and silver mines in the world have
been developed in this inhospitable
region. But even with all this adj
vancement the Great Basin is still
very sparsely settled.
Annual Meetino If HanIa