The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-26 00:00:00

"NEW TIMCKS 11V NORTH AMERICA."

(From the Anglo-American Tames.)
This work is comprised in two well-illustrated vo-
lumes, descriptive first of the track from the Missis-
sippi River to the Rio Grande del Norte; next the na-
tive races of Mexico and Arizona ; the third, from the
Rio Grande del Norte to the Pacific Ocean; and
fourth, the Pacific Railways, of which there are
three, two projected or in course of formation, and
one completed ; the Omaha line, the Kansas Pacific,
and the Northern Pacific. The introduction con-
tins an elaborate description of the physical
geography of the Mississippi Basin, with the
water shed of the Rocky Mountains, as well as of the
Colorado Basin, and of the Great Basin, indeed,
generally of the geographical features of the conti-
nent. Part of the first volume carries the tra-
veller through the valley of the Kansas, and of the
Smoky Hill to Fort Hays, which in the spring of
1867, when Dr. Bell wrote, was an isolated Go-
vernment post in the heart of the most exposed
and dangerous portion of the Red Indian country.
Now the Kansas Pacific Railroad is completed up
to Fort Wallace, and will soon be completed to
Denver, 200 miles beyond. Nothing strikes those
best acquainted with the country, so much as the
rapid change wrought in a few yea's. Many ie
glancing through the illustrations will be shocked
by a woodcut hom a photograph entitled " The
Mutilated Sergeant " 111y4arns was an Etonian,
the process of whose wi d oat sowing placed him as
a sergeant in the U. S. Army at Fort Wallace,
shortly before Dr. Bell's arrival. Our readers may
remember that the year 1867 was marked by a com-
bination of the nomade Indian tribes to stop the pro-
gress of the Pacific Rail ways, and roll back the white
men over the Missouri River. The railway vigour-
ously progressing, and intended by Government
first forcompletion,was the Union Pacific, therefore
the Government put a military pressure along the
road through Nebraska, which had the effect of con-
centrating the attack on the Kansas Pacific as well as
the settlers along the Smoky Hill route. On leaving
Fort Hays the exploring and surveying party, to
which Dr. Bell was attached, entered a very unset-
tled country. Fort Wallace was found to be the
theatre of sanguinary engagements, which are pic-
turesquely described, and one of the victims was
Sergeant Wylyams. The mutilations are signs
showing the tribes which formed the attacking party,
and are not, therefore, meaningless barbarities. The
Cheyenne mark is a cut arm ; the Arapahoe, or
" smeller tribe," slit nose ; the Sioux, a cut throat,
the Comarche imitates the crawling of a snake, and
so on. The arrows, varied in make and colour, as
well indicate the tribes, and one for each was left
in the sergeant's body. Now this lonely station,
but little over two years ago the point of these
ferocious assaults, is passed by the Kansas Pacific
Railroad, and Sheridan, the town, not far, is a sort
of white pandemonium of civilisation. From Fort
Wallace the surveying party had to strike across
country for the Arkansas river, the survey com-
mencing from Fort Wallace. In reality the junc-
tion of the Denver branch with the Pacific branch
will not take place at Fort Wallace, but 50 miles
beyond. Hence the preliminary survey described
by Dr. Bell did not avail the company, as the road
is to run direct from Cheyenne Wells to Fort Lyon,
some distance above the old Fort Lyon on the
Arkansas, below which the first survey struck that
river. The interest of the work mainly consists in
its graphic description of the " new tracks" over
which the author travelled. When the explor-
ing party left the Smoky Hill route, the regular
mail line to Denver, it crossed over a desert but
little known. The survey had to be executed with
extraordinary rapidity, for there was no water be-
tween the rivers, a distance of 72 miles. Notwith-
standing the skill which enabled the surveyors to
map the country with such speed, a woodcut conveys
the result, as it depicts the rush of the mules with all
their harness on them into the Arkansas, which
they reached on the fourth day, the animals being in
a condition ready to drag waggons and all into the
river, unless quickly released, to satisfy their burn-
ing thirst. Not many miles west of Fort Hays
vegetation begins to suffer from the diminution in
the rainfall, dry arroyas taking the place of streams,
and no fuel is to be found. Both to the north and
south this line of demarkation exists, as the author
says, " between the well-watered plains to the east-
ward, and the more arid regions separating them
from the Rocky Mountains. To the north the line
deflects eastward, and to the south it diverges to the
west, so that a greater portion of Nebraska is dry
and unproductive than of Kansas, while Kansas,
taken as a whole, is less fertile throughout than the
Indian Territory south of it." Now this is what
we have always said, that the eastern portion of
Kansas is of the same character as the Indian Ter-
ritory, while Eastern Nebraska is of the same char-
acter as Eastern Kansas, the difference being
that the good land of Nebraska runs to a shorter
distance vl'estward than does that of Kansas, and of
Kansas than of the Indian Territory. But what the
character of the western soil really is has not yet
been satisfactorily settled. Where buffalo grass
abounds it binds the earth into a hard surface, its
close,thickly matted fibres, preventing the rain from
penetrating. It is a delicate grass, with beautiful
bunches of pink stamens and curious clusters of
pistillate dowers which stand the In avy tramp of the
buffalo herds ; but as these are replaced by do-
mestic animals, the coarser, more vigorous, and
deeper rooted grasses destkay it, loosening the sod
and retaining the moisture7vhich before had run off
as from. a slate roof, producing sudden and violent
inundations: This effect has lately been asserted,
though it may not yet be fully settled, but there is
another claimed regarding timber. Almost due west
of Fort 'Wallace, Dr. Bell speaks of a pine-covered
spur as jutting for 40 miles into the plains, and curi-
ously enough beneath the soil is a grand bed of coal.
Around this district the moisture is abundant, the
vegetation luxuriant, and the country beautiful. It.
is an established fact in theffest that as corn is
planted and trees grow the rainfall increases, and
Salt Lake is given as a striking illustration,
the rainfall there since the Mormon settlement
having more than double]. There is much dif-
ficulty in protecting the young trees, for the buf-
falo not only eat the tender shoots, but pull down
numbers of trees along theriver banks when shedding
their coats. Almost the only tree to be found in the
district of which Dr. Bell then wrote is the cotton-
wood of the willow and poplar family, so called
from its white downy seeds. It grows rapidly and
gives avery plentiful shade, but it as quickly rots, the
timber being unsuitable for domestic purposes. But,
again, as settlement advances, this tree gives place
to the alder and ash, and more slowly following
behind come the heavier timber of the Missouri.
Often the shady leaves of the line of cotton-wood,
on each bank of a stream deceives the traveller into
the idea that he is approaching a vast forest. These
streams are numerous, coursing through the country
for two, three, and even four, hundred miles, re-
maining small enough the whole way to jump across.
The banks of dark rich clay are low, the water
muddy, alkaline, and often reddish. But such
streams cannot make their way through the arid
western district near the Rocky Mountains, where
they become absorbed. The only rivers of magni-
tude sufficient to get through are the South Platte,
the Arkansas, and the Canadian ; the Rio Grande
in reality deriving its waters from the western slope
of the Rocky Mountain shed.
Theparty which Dr. Bell accompanied excited much
attention and interest in America at the time it
started, and its progress was frequently mentioned
in our columns when intelligence from the explorers
reached civilized parts. We then mentioned that
the young Cantab was compiling a work which
could not fail to be of the deepest interest., unless he
failed in the ability to handle his subject ; but we
are happy to say he has been equal to the task both
with pencil and pen. The country through which
the party penetrated is not only what Dr. Bell de-
scribes it, New Tracks, but among the most inte-
resting left open to the explorer This does not arise
from the fact alone that a portion of it is the most
extraordinary to be found in the world ; but that
it was inhabited by races now almost extinct, and
which furnish to the American archaeologist his
richest, most plentiful, yet least known relics.
We are in the habit of regarding the Red In-
dians of the plains, nomade savages of an irreclaim-
able type, as the only dwellers ever in the land,
yet here is a 'country stretching over a domain
which in magnitude would swallow up such em-
pires as France or Germany, covered with the ruins
of its ancient inhabitants. There are the ruins in
the Rio Grande Valley, on the southern tributaries
of the San Juan River, on the Colorado Chiquito
and tributaries, extending throughout New Mexico
and Arizona. " There is scarcely a valley in the Rio
Grande Basin in which the stone or adobe founds-
times. of villages are not to be found ; there is
scarcely a spring, a laguna, or marsh upon the
plateau which is not overlooked by some ruined
fortress. Usually these relics crown a command-
ing eminence, not always in close proximity either
to the fertile land which supported the community
or even to the spring which supplied them with
water. If a stream runs near them the remains of
acequias or irrigating canals are generally to be
found. There are many places, however, where
cultivation had been successfully - carried on
without them, the rainfall alone being relied
npon, while some ruins show signs of reser-
voirs and terraces similar to those still in use
among the Moquis." These ruins Dr. Bell classes
under three heads—those of many storeyed Indian
strongholds ; those evidently constructed under Spa-
nish rule ; and those of which the foundations alone
remain. East of the Rio Grande there are, besides
others, the ruins of four towns of the first order,
Pecos, Quarra, Gran Quivers, and Abo, all, how-
ever, containing remains of 4,paniAli as well as of In-

dian origin. The only conspicuous buildings in the
ruins of Pews are the Spanish church and the
Mexican temple ; where for a century the two reli-
gions probably flourished side by side, inceme
aicending from the altar of the one, and the fire of
Montezuma burning day and night in the estufa of
the other. But a remnant only of the inhabitants DOW
dwell at Jemez. The next class of ruins are on
the Colorado Chiquito, but the most extensive are
on the Rio Gila. The Rio Verde, one of its tri-
taries, was explored by Leroux in 1854, and along
its fine rich valley the river banks were lined with
the ruins of stone houses and regular fortifications.
the work of a very civilised race, but uninhaited
for centuries. lie found a well-built fortified town
ten miles distant from the nearest water. When the
Rio Gila leaves the Santa Rita and other ranges it
meanders for 100 miles through a wide open valley,
which is studded throughout with deserted pueblos,
and one of the guides, %Om knew the ground well,
gave it as his opinion that there dwelt there at one
time at least 100,000 people. Curious illustrations are
given of many Astec ruins and the plans of the forti-
fications. These Astec tribes were driven out by the
nomade Indians, principally tl Navajo Band the.Apa'
ches ; the Navajos to the north and east of New Mexico
warring for plunder but not for ruthlt ss death, the
Apaches throughout Arizona and northern Sonora
never sparing life, and capturing only to torture to
death. They are the hereditary enemies of all cul-
tivators, whether Astec, Mexican, or Anglo-Saxon,
and on the decline of the Spani,h power in Mex'eo
the raids of these bloodthirsty savages increased
till gradually they swept away what the Spaniards
had left of the former inhabitants.

A stormy discussion has probably been raised in
Congress after it met on the 11th regarding a new appor-
tionment of Congressional representation between East
and West. Mr. Judd's bill, fixing the representation at
300, will furnish the opportunity for a fight between
the Eastern and Western members. The census will be
taken this year, and by law the representatives are then
apportioned in accordance with the population.. Suppos-
ing 241 members were retained, by the new census the
New England States will lose 6 and the %Eddie States 7
the Western States gaining 14, and the Southern 4. Tho re'
presentatives do not increase because the population in-
creases, but the number is lessened in one State and in-
creased in another in relation to the population. What the
Western members desire is to have the whole number of
representatives increased, Mr. Judd's bill fixing it at 300.
This would give an addition of nearly three score after
Texas and Mississippi are brought into the Union, Virginia
having been admitted by a vote of the Representatives last
Saturday by 149 to 49, the preamble of the bill, declaring, that
the State had conformed to all the requirements of the Re-
construction Act. The Constitution provides that a census
shall be taken every ten years in such manner as Congress
shall decree ; the number of Representatives shall not
exceed one for every 30,000; but each State shall have at
least one Representative. Except in the instance that
every Representative shall have a constituency of at least
30,000, no numbers are specified, and the Western States
now express a desire to. enlarge the number of the Ile-
presentatives sent to Congress. It is asserted that the
constituency has.grown out of all proportion to what the
Constitution named, 30,000 represented to 1 Representa-
tive; the population of the United States being now close on
40,000,000, while the Representatives have only been in-
creased by the addition of new States to the Union. If
Mr. Judd carries his Bill 40,000,000 of men, women, and,
children will have 300 representatives, which would give
a constituency of about 130,000 to each. The effect of
the Census will be to reduce the representation of the
Eastern States and to increase that of the Western, inde-
pendently of Mr. Judd's Bill, but we will learn more of the
merits of the dispute when we hear what both sides have
to say.

The railroad car prepared for the removal of
George Peabody's remains from Portland to their last
resting. place in the cemetery at the town of Peabody has
been arranged as follows : —The seats have been removed,
and a raised dais, ten feet in length and two feet square,
has been erected in the centre. It is covered with black
velvet, bordered with silver braid, and festooned with
massive silver fringe, studded with massive silver rosettes
and tassels. On this dais the coffin is to rest, securely
fastened. The car is lined with alternate stripes of
black and white alpaca. At' each end the cross of St'
George and the flag of the United States are hung, and
are covered with black crape, so that the colouis are
dimly seen through it. The Miantonomah, Terror, and
Alaska are at Boston awaiting the Monarch with the re"
mains of the philanthropist, expected on the 18th at Port-
land. The Monarch was to take the post of honour with
the Plymouth, and other ships of war following in line
ensigns at half mast, in conjunction with the British flags-
Admiral Farragut is to command, and Mr. Thornton is to
represent the Queen at the obsequies. During the dis-
embarkation the minute guns will be fired from the 15-inch
artillery, and the body when landed will be surren-
dered to the authorities of Maine, and the funeral escort
from Portland to Peabody will be accompanied by do'
legates and officers from many parts of the Union•
A sad accident occurred to the tug Maria when convoyr-
ing the Miantonomah from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Tile
Miantonomah steered wildly in the heavy swell, and the
Maria, which had burst a feed pipe, passed ahead of the
monitor, which reduced speed to give the Maria time to
repair damage. Thinking the Miantonomah had stopped,
the Maria attempted to turn to ascertain the reason, when
it was discovered that she was quickly approaching, and
the tug could not get out of the, way as her steam was
nearly exhausted. The blow struck by the monitor al-
most knocked the tug to pieces, killing a man, who was
oiling the engine, which it utterly wrecked, dashing every-
thing inside into a confused mass and setting the vessel on
fire. Four men in the Maria were killed or drowned, and
the rest were saved with difficulty. It was impossible to
lower a boat in the sea-way, and the tug only kept afloat $
few minutes by hanging on to the ram.
The fires which occurred in the United States
daring 1869, where the losses exceeded $20,000, have
caused a destruction of property amounting to $40,684,000.
The losses for each month were as follows ; January,
$2,294,000 ; February, $2,637,000 ; March, $2,892,000
April, $4,672,000 ; May, 3,830,000; June, $1,060,000 ; July,
$1,677,000; Aug., $6,838,000 ; Sept., $3,2.42,000; October,
$2,792,000 ; November, $2,650,000 ; December, $4,900,000.
It will be seen that the heaviest losses occurred in
August, and this fact is due to the fire on the sth
of August at Patterson's block, Philadelphia, at which
the loss is placed at $4,000,000. The next heaviest
loss took place on the 14th of January, the fire
Caldxvell's store, Philadelphia, at which the loss was
$1,300,000. Tho fire at Galveston, Texas, on December
00A, 01p01rOti o cocf u
April,rre d oant
at haen
c2o9etkh,
mMiacrhcihg a ant •; Sot •
3d, involved a loss of $1,000,000. Fires involving a
Louis;
loss
i2soB; ft
ho 1805tf0h at Helena, Montana Territory;
May 10, at Paterson, New Jersey ; on May 25, at Hunter 'e
Point, New Ycrk ; on December 27, at Syracuse, New
York. The losses by fire for the last fourteen years, be-
ginning with 1856, amounted to $380,229,000, or an
average of $27,130,646 per annum. During these four-
teen years the least loss occurred in 1858, when it amounted
to $11,561,000, and the greatest in 1866, when it amounted
to $66,410,000.

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remedies -to throw out from the blood at once the morbid
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they banish the poison.

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Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other rem''
dies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta
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