Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-19

)
the head Of the most important and advan
tageous exploring expedition which has
visited that country since the day Of Lew
is and Clark. This peak is enormously
printed in the maps, at 1850 feet il
height. Its real heigh is $4,000 feet
| This we have from Col. Long himself
who surveyed il. The head OF this peak
with those of its giant neighbors, rises n
bove the region of perpetual snow, anC
their frozen hrows defy the melting rays Of
the warmest sun. Here Lieut.. Fremont
arrived on the 4th of July. On the l4ll
he was at the Arkansas river, at the mouth
Of FontdSHe qm bout. He crossed the
mountains at the southwest Pass, and dc.
scended into the valley of the Mexican
Colorado. This is one of the most re.
markahle spots on earth. Here, at an
angle formed by the line dividing Mexico
from the United States, and the head wa
tiers Of the Arkansas, in the midst OF the
northern Andes, are the fountain springs
and branches of some of the creates RI
vers in the world Not far from each 9th.
er, are the head waters of the yellow
Stone, which flows into the far.rolng Mis-.
souri,; the Arkansas, which joins III nigh
ty Mississlpp; Lewis river, flowing into
the Columbia, and the Colorado Of Mexi.
co. rolling its waters into the southern Pa
cifc! With barren plains on one side,
vast ranges of mountains on the other,
and frozen submits above, the traveller
here contemplaies the geographical key Of
the North American continent.
On the Sd of September, Lieut. Ere
mont reached the great Salt Lake oil
northern Mexico, and spent week in
surveying it. On the 18th of September
he reached Fort Hall; and on the Doth Of
October, Fort Nez- Perccs. On the 4lh Of
November, he was at the Missionary Sta
ton Of Dallas, on the Columbia. This
was the northern termination of his Jour
ney on the territory IF the United States
On the 20ih of November he commenced
the bold project of returning amidst the
seventies of winter. There was then a
heavy fall of snow, and the thermometer
was 70 below zero. In the course Of few
days he found himself between the river
AHr Chutes and the Cascade Mountains.
Here vast parallel ranges Of mountains
continue TO run scuihward, and ho cont.
nuod to traverse their western base ill on
the 10Th of December, no was at Klamath
Lake. This was probably about 43e OF
north latitude and 42o Of west longitude
from Washington. This was a region of
great discovery and extraordinary interest.
His animals we're however, entirely worn
down, and there was no prospect Of get
ting east. lie then determined TO cross
the Sierra Merida, or great California
mountains, which lay between him and
the Bay Of San Francisco. lie did; and
the cold month Of February was consum.
cd IN crossing the SHOWS Of lofty noun.
tains. These SHOWS were from five to
twenty feet deep Early in March he de.
scended from icy regions TO the perpetual
spring Of the valley of the Sacramento
By the Mexcans he was received and
treated with great hospitality. AT the end
of March he proceeded up the valley Of
the Joaquin river, re-crossing the Sierra
at a very beautiful pass 10 the south. On
the 2lst of April last, he took the Spanish
road from Peubos dc los Angeles to San
ia Fe. Arrived again at the Colorado, he
proceeded northeast, passed the Euta
Lake, and cncamped at Browns Hole,
June 9Th, 1874. Crossing at Colorado,
be again passed the Rocky Mountains,
and proceeded to the north fork Of the
Nebra-ka. On the Both June, he was on
the Arkansas; on the I'd July, reached
Bent's Fort, and on the Dist OF July re.
turned to the mouth of the Kanzas river.
Such is an outline Of one Of the long
est and most adventurous explorations Of
our time. That part of tho expedition
which relates tho passage Of the Caifor-
MIA nonntains--the return 10 tho Colora-
do, and the survey Of that river, must have
peculiar interest, and will be new 10 the
public mind. The government deserves
credit for the zeal with which il has pur.
sued geographical discovery.