The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-09-01

Among the rivers of the world il
is doubtful if there is one moro
unique, more diversified in its en-
vironment or one that awakens the
spirit of romance SO spontaneously
as the great Snake River of Idaho.
It's course is continual trail of
surprises in its eight hundred mile
flow across the state of Idaho, and
the student of geology or of the ac-
tion of earth forces will find in the
study of this mighty stream a story
of many chapters and many phases.
Heading in extreme northeastern
Idaho, at Henry's Lake, near the
western border of Yellowstone Park,
it begins, as rivers do, in tiny rivu-
lets, fed by the annual round of
winter SHOWS, which fill the lake
from which it starts. Through
mountain Businesses, it first purls
upon its way, over rock-based shall
lows, or through occasional fern
bordered meadows. Here ii is a
gentle brook, or creek, appealing to
the quiescent spirit of sylvan wool
folk, for this a land of dryads and
elves. There is a gentle ever-pres-
ent half-whispering among the pines
and quaking aspen along its course,
while here and there a saucy squir
rel OF an inquisitive chipmunk sour
ries by, chattering, or silently in
tent upon the daily task of gaining
sustenance or storing for a rainy |
day. This is the forest primevai.'
land of silences, land where har-
rowing voices are never known; yet
the river babbles softly as it flows.
in keeping with the environment,
and the spirit of peace is all peryad-
ing. This, too, is the land of the
sportsman's dreams, for here FISH,
ing and big game hunting are at
their best
Onward the stream takes its
course, ever becoming more sturdy |
jn its flow. soon receiving the wa |
ters of the South Fork, which rises !
in Western Wyoming near the Salt |
River Mountains. This branch with |
its tributaries, drains the Jackson |
Hole and Teton basins. AS it pro
crosses, other streams of the great |
mountain ranges of Idaho flow into
it until at its confluence with the
mighty Columbia, encompasses the
Big Wood, the Malad, the Boise, the
Payette and the Weiser rivehs, vita
their numerous tributaries.
AS it meanders onward, leaving
it's first environment, we may pie
ture its gain in strength and expan-
sion with added miles of flow. Its
course becomes breadened and il be-
gins to partake of the character of
a noisy creek Il is now seeking
the lower attitudes, and as it flows
on man takes cognizance OF II and ;
communities along Its
Sooon il is more than a creek, *
gaining so much in strength that 1t [
becomes boisterous and turbulent, {
and we must awaken to the fact that {
t is truly a river. As it progresses,
t must needs take an occasional 6
plunge over cliff or depression and
20 we have rapids and falls begin
hing with the Big and Lower Falls.
hence onward in turn, American q
Falls, Twin Falsls, Shoshone Falls,
Augur Falls and Salmon Falls.
And now as we leave the noun t
ain regions which cradle it for one a
ourth of its course, the landscape t
hanges and broadens, valleys widen v
nd great farm areas appear Here Il
nd there where conditions are fayi
rable, plants are established which il
roduce power and light, and now f
he Snake shows full evidence of its 1
reatness, for it is no longer river b