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Show TRIP TO SNAKE RIVER VALLEY. President C. O. Card has kindly permitted us to make extracts from the journal kept during his recent trip to Snake River Valley. He arrived at Market Lake station on the U. & N. [Utah & Northern Railroad] at about 10 a. m. April 19th. We quote from the journal: "Walked up the Snake river about three miles to Bro. J. P. Pool's camp where we dined; procured a team to take us to Mr. Brown's ranch on the north fork of Snake river a distance of about ?? miles, where we remained over night. Found very little good land until we arrived at Mr. Brown's ranch; he has a claim of about 3,000 acres of hay and willow land. North Fork Snake River, April 20. This morning finds us much refreshed by a good night's rest in a wagon. At this point we are in view of the Tetons which are in an easterly direction. Remained here over night. April 21.-Left this point at eight a. m., went about 11 miles to a small settlement called Egin, where we nooned. Learned that there were six or seven families here besides single men who have taken up claims upon the table lands which extend 16 to 18 miles up and down this north fork of the Snake river, and are from five to seven miles wide, and can be easily watered from this stream. In the afternoon we drove to the north of Fall river, a distance of about 13 miles. Fall river empties in on the east side and drains a very large timber country, the north east part of the valley, and the mountains north of the Tetons. Teton river, on East Fork empties in on the east side about 20 miles below this point, or north of Fall river. April 22.-This morning finds us in sand although we passed over about three miles of the worst last night. We drove about one mile and crossed Sand creek, and then, about two miles further on, crossed Spring creek. Thence we drove on through sage and sand and over ?? granite until we came to Parker's ford at the mouth of a small stream we named Birch creek, where we nooned and were detained an hour or two by a shower. From this point we packed our horses and went on foot, only one horse to ride between four of us. We were going to explore a region unknown to us. About two miles from this point we crossed quite a large creek which we called Beaver, as we observed the work of beavers. Thence we traveled across benches, small creeks and snow drifts about five miles when we camped for the night upon a small stream among the granite ledges and cedars. April 23.-This morning we traveled northeast about seven miles to a high mountain, where we left the horses. Pitching our camp here, we crossed the mountain to the banks of this fork, a distance of about seven and a half miles. The river from this point runs about due north. We returned to camp about 6:30. Saw an immense body of [line unreadable] miles wide, and from 60 to 75 long. The river through these parts has very high banks, in some places 1,000 feet high, through a lava or granite formation, which gives it a very forbidding appearance. April 24.-Started on our return at 7 a. m.; traveled about half way to our wagon; found good feed for our horses, and stopped two hours for dinner. Thence to Parker's ford where we had left our wagon.?? on to the wagon, drove a mile or two below Fall river, and camped for the night. The country were we traveled over, abounds in game, deer, antelope, elk, moose, geese, ducks, sage hens, and grouse, as well as fish in the large streams that flow into Snake river from the surrounding mountains. April 26.-Started about the usual hour in the morning and arrived at Egin shortly after 11 a. m. About four or five miles west of this place stands a fine grove of large, red cedar, which will supply the settlement with fuel and posts for fencing. The river bottoms are covered with groves of quaking aspen which will also furnish fuel and fencing. Certainly this is a good country for settlers and I think ere long it will be inhabited by Latter-day Saints. The bottoms are infested with mosquitos in the summer, but the table lands are free from these pests." Pres. Card's journal describes the return journey to Logan, where he arrived on the morning train April 28th, well satisfied with his trip. He speaks in high praise of the advantages which Snake river valley offers to settlers. It is a well watered and well timbered valley, within easy distance of the railroad, and settlers who go there will find abundant facilities for making homes. |