OCR Text |
Show RIM OP THE BASIN- ROUTE FROM PORT BRIDGER. 227 The ascent is gentle and winding. Numerous springs burst out on either side, near the summit of the ridge, amid groves of aspen, which cover the sides of the surrounding hills. It was with no little exultation that we reached this eastern barrier of the Great Basin, in which we had been floundering amid * dreary deserts and barren mud- plains for the last thirteen months, and to which we now bade adieu with feelings of unfeigned satisfaction. Directly upon the summit, by the side of the road, was the fresh grave of some poor fellow who had come thus far on his journey to the land of promise- a land he was destined never to behold. From the top of the pass, it was evident that a much better location for the road could have been made from the head of Muddy to that of Sulphur Greek, by which the route would have been rendered much more direct, and at least two formidable elevations avoided. From conversations with several individuals well acquainted with the country in this vicinity, especially with Major Bridger, who has traversed this whole region for the last thirty years, as well as from my own observations, which go in a great measure to confirm their statements, I feel convinced that the best route for a road into the Salt Lake Valley would be obtained by ascending Black's Fork to Fort Bridger; passing thence to Bear River, distant twenty-five miles; then crossing Bear River and ascending its valley until we strike upon the heads of a branch of the Weber; following down which for fifteen miles, the mam stream is reached about two miles north of Gamass Prairie. Into the latter, access through the upper cafion is not difficult. This, so far as can be judged from the information obtained, and from the partial observations we had ourselves the opportunity of making, would afford a route entirely practicable for a railroad, the chief obstacle presenting itself being the liability to obstruction from the snows that would be likely to accumulate in the cafion of the Weber. From the Camass Prairie, as before observed, the road might fork, the branch which leads to the city descending the Wahsatch range by the Golden Pass as at present, while the other, following down the Timpanogas, would enter the Salt Lake basin near to Lake Utah. Following a ridge for about eight miles from " the Rim of the Basin," we encamped at Red or Copperas Spring, a tributary of the Muddy, ( an affluent of Green River,) after a march of twenty-six and a- half miles. The road to- day has been hilly, but good |