THE BASIN RANGES.—Although this region is divided by the Colorado River into two parts, in one of which the basins are closed, and in the other open, the physical characteristics of the whole area are in other respects so much the same that it may be considered as one. The topography of the country is broken by many short and narrow block ranges, and the arable land is con fined to the valleys and to the plains built up by the debris washed down from the mountains. Climatic conditions are on the whole unfavourable to agriculture. Except in parts of Utah and Arizona, the rainfall is less than 15 inches per year, and over the greater part of Nevada it is less than 10 inches. Cultivation is therefore at present confined to the river valleys where irrigation is possible, and only an insignificant portion of the whole region is under crops. In the northern and central parts of Utah, where the rainfall is slightly over 15 inches, and where Mormon industry has developed an extensive irrigation system, cereals and alfalfa are grown, but beet is the only plant in the production of which the state takes a prominent part. About 10 per cent. of the United States crop is grown there, and the yield per acre is considerably higher than the average for the whole country (14.54 tons as against 9.71 in 1910). The success of beet-growing in Utah is mainly attributable to the fact that its cultivation requires a considerable amount of labour, and the Mormons, who for religious reasons desire to live in communities, are able to find employment without leaving the vicinity of their towns. Within recent years, also, attempts have been made to cultivate many of the plains, which lie beyond the reach of irrigation, by means of dry farming. The rainfall
occurs chiefly during the autumn, winter, and spring months, and a precipitation of 15 inches, or even less, is sufficient to grow good crops of wheat and alfalfa by this method. The agricultural potentialities of the region are, however, not great.
The mineral wealth of the Basin Ranges is of considerable value.
The output of gold in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona amounts to about £5,000,000, and practically the whole of that is mined in the region under consideration, the chief producing area being the Goldfield district on the southern rim of one of the typical basin ranges in Esmeralda county, Nevada. Over one third of the silver obtained in the United States comes from the Basin ranges, mainly from the Tintic and West Mountain ranges of Utah, and the Tonopah district of Nevada. Arizona is the chief copper-producing state of the Union, and, along with that part of Utah which falls within the Basin Ranges, yields over one-third of the product of the whole country. A considerable amount of lead is also obtained in the latter state.
There are, therefore, within this region several distinct types of economic activity. Arable farming is carried on chiefly by members of the Mormon community, ranching partly by Mormons and partly by " Gentiles," and mining almost entirely by " Gentiles." The region is one in which development beyond this stage will probably be very slow.