OCR Text |
Show VALLEY OF LEWIS FORK OF THE COLUMBIA. 98 north, Fort Hall, with its whitewashed walls, is plainly in view. The « Three Buttes" rise in the distance, while the Port Neuf, with its bright, sparkling waters, flows at our feet. The scene was one of surpassing beauty, and richly repaid us for our dreary ride across the desert plain of sage. The Port Neuf, where we forded it, is a fine, clear, bold stream, one hundred yards wide and three feet deep, with a moderately rapid current and pebbly bottom. The plain between it and Snake River presents a level bottom, formed principally of decomposed vegetable mould, reposing on sandy loam and gravel. Numerous springs of cold, pellucid water, abounding in speckled trout of delicious flavour, break out in every direction, giving rise to many little streams, which rapidly increase in size and afford great facilities for irrigation as well as for the construction of mills. Passing over this delightful plain, we left Fort Hall on our left, and five miles beyond it terminated our journey, at Cantonment Loring, our point of destination. I was most courteously received by Lieutenant- Colonel Andrew Porter and the officers of his command, which consisted of two companies of the regiment of Mounted Rifles, left here by Colonel Loring on his way to Oregon, with the view of selecting a permanent post for the protection of the vast emigration across the continent. The troops were quartered in tents, but were busily engaged in the erection of quarters, of a more substantial character, for the- winter. The result of this exploration has been to demonstrate the entire practicability of obtaining an excellent wagon- road from Fort Hall to the Mormon settlement upon the Cheat Salt Lake. With the exception of the ridge dividing the waters of the Pannack from those of another affluent of the Port Neuf, the line traced is unexceptionable, and offers facilities for the best natural road I ever saw. Although when ite passed there had not been even a track broken, BO favourable is the surface of the country that I transported my provisions over it without the slightest difficulty, loading my wagons with not less than thirty- five hundred pounds each. The ridge referred to can, by a little labour, be rendered easy to cross; and even as it is, offers but little obstruction. In seasons of high water, Bear River and the Port Neuf would have to be crossed by ferries; or, should the travel ever demand it, timber for the construction of bridges could be obtained in the vicinity of both localities. |