ducts. Even the deserts, where living
things of every description find the struggle for existence very
hard, become indispensable. If the climate in the Great Basin had
been moist, the salts would not have been preserved, but would
have been carried away to the ocean, from which only common salt
could have been recovered in commercial quantities.

[Illustration: FIG. 46.--MUSHROOM ROCK, PYRAMID LAKE

Formed of calcareous tufa]

The crossing of the Great Basin was dreaded by the early emigrants
on their way to the Pacific coast. In many cases the locations of
the few springs and water-courses were unknown, and the journey
over the vast barren stretches was fraught with danger.

Stand upon a mountain in the desert some clear day in summer and
you will see range after range, with intervening sandy wastes,
stretching away to the horizon. The air below is tremulous with
heat, and every living thing that can move has sought the shade
of some rock or cliff. The plants seem almost dead, for the little
springs, hidden at rare intervals in the deep canons, are of no
use to them.

What transformations would be wrought upon these desert slopes if
it were possible for the soil to receive and retain large quantities
of water! Forest-covered mountains, green hillsides, rippling streams,
lakes, farms, orchards, and towns would appear as if by magic.

FREMONT'S ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT BASIN

Fremont, "the Pathfinder," did greater service than any other man
in making known the geographic features of the Cordilleran region.
In the fifth decade of the last century, while California still
belonged to Mexico and the pioneers were turning their attention to
the Oregon country, Fremont organized and conducted three exploring
expeditions under the direction of the government. When in California
upon the third expedition he took part in the skirmishes which
resulted in the transference of this section to the United States.

A fourth expedition, undertaken by Fremont on his own account,
resulted disastrously. The explorers foolishly tried to cross the
Rocky Mountains in the middle of winter, but had to give up the
attempt after many of the party had died from cold and starvation.

It is hard for us to realize, now, that only sixty years ago the
territory lying between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast
was practically unknown. Try to imagine the feelings of emigrants,
bound for the gold-fields of California, who have pushe