Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-13

place OF the grass is usurped by the artemsia other
localities, where there is deficiency of pasiurage,
are found on both sides of the mountains These
expeditions, however, will furnish to trading cara
vans, or to emigrating parties, knowledge OF the
most practicable routes, where they may most
generally find sustenance for their animals and wa
ter and fuel for themselves. The road TO Oregon
will be made comparatively easy: and although
the emigrant who contemplates taking up his line
Of march to that distant region ought to be apprized
of and guarded against the dangers The difficulties,
and The priUafionS he WM hare to encounter, yet
he may be cheered by the certainty that he will
meet with nothing but what foresight and prudence
may in great measure protect him from, and cour-
age firmness, and perseverance overcome. He will
be called upon to exercise all these qualities and
the most dangerous error into which he fall is
to imagine that the journey is easy one, and the
toll and suffering which he will have to undergo
trifing and unimportant
The Great Salt Lake, the Bear River Valley, and
the rivers the valleys, and the mountains of Upper
California may be said to be now first brought to
the knowledge of civilized man by these expedi-
tons. The correction of our former geographical
errors with respect to the river BuenaUentura we
owe to Captain F.. the existence of great cen
trail plain basin in California is established by
him, is also the important fact that there is
river of any navgable size which has its outlet d.
rectiy into the Pacific, and communicates acii the
westera slope Of oar continent, except the Column
bia between fifty degrees of northern latitude and
the Gulf of California In military point ofview
these expeditions point out where forts and posts
may be most advantageously established, with
view to the safe occupancy of the country and the
protection of the inhabitants and the trader from In
dian outrage, or from aggressons or neferences OF
any kind. This, we believe, was the professedly
authorized object of Captain Fremonts expeditions;
but his ardent and active temperament and his love
of science and knowledge, could not rest satisfied
with bare performance Of prescribed duties. He
has submitted to his countrymen and the world, IN
his unpretending and modest narrative, vast body
of botanical geological, and meteorological informa-
lion. The soil and the mineral waters have been
subjected to analysis. More than four hundred and
thirty astronomical observations are recorded, the
altitude and longitude of important points accurately
and the elevation of mountains ascer
aimed. The survey of Captain Fremont from the
meets that of Captain Wilkes from the
and, so far is requisite for all imme-
liate practical purposes, the map OF Oregon is COM
plete. The appendix to Captain Fremonts nara
live contains d. James Halls (of New York; re-
port upon the nature of the geological formations
the portions Of Oregon and California
traversed by Captain Fremont, as deduced from his
and the specimens Of minerals and
collected
Professor Torrey makes the following statement
with respect to the botanical collections of the
petition:
When Captain Fremont his second expedition
he well provided with paper and other for making
extensive botanical collections and understood that
his return, should conformity prepare full of his
plants to be appended to his report About fourteen hundred
species collected many of them in regions not before
pored by any botanist In consequence however, of the
great length of the journey, and the accidents
which the party exposed, but especially owing the
dreadful flood of the Kansas which deuged the borders of the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers than half of his spec
ruined before he reached the borders Of civilization
Even the portion saved greatly damaged that many
instances, has been extremely difficult TO determine the
plants As there sufficient time before the pubica-
ton Of Captain Fremons report for the proper study Of the
remains Of his collection it has been deemed advisable
the greater part of them incorporate with the plants
which expect he will bring with him returning from his
third expedition upon which he has Just set out.
''The loss sustained by Captain Fremont and may say
by the botanical world, will trust be partly made up the
present and seasons, much of the country viii
be passed again. and regions explored Ar
angemens have also been made by which the botanical col
ectons will be preserved least from the destructive effects
of water and person accompanies the expedition who TO
make drawings Of all the most interesting plants Particular
attention will be given the forest and the vegetable
productions that useful in the arts that employed
for food or medicine"
Professor Torrey furnishes in the appendix de-
scriptons of about thirty genera and species of
plants collected by Captain Fremont.
The objects Of Captain Fremont's third explora-
tory tour are, we believe, correctly detailed in the
following paragraphs, which we extract from late
number of the Western (Missouri) Expositor:
ssThe expedition to the Rocky Mountains under command
Of Captain j. G. Fremont Of the IT, s. Army being the third
exploring Of that officer left Westpo the 26th June
Captain Fremont assisted by Junior officers Of the To-
biographical Corps and employs eighty The design Of
this expedition complete the surveys of the plains and
intervening between the boundary of the
Pacific heretofore partially accomplished by the exploring
squadron and the former expeditions of Captain Fremont
As far learn, this party will proceed survey the
Arkansas TO its source after completing which the party
will be divided One division will then by way Of the
head Of the Rio del No through the country Of the Canaan
che Indians the Of the Red river and by the low
waters Of the Arkansas The main DIVISION under Captain
Fremont will the Colorado complete the survey the
Great Salt Lake. and penetrate by the waters Of Mays river
which flows westwardy through Upper California, in the vi
cniy Of the AID degree parallel of latitude and is lost in
lake at the base of the California Mountains II
believed that from point Mays river, days journey
its mouth the head of the Sacramento may be reached
days travel The then by which Captain Fremont
proposes penetrate the Pacific is the shortest and
direct from the lower Missouri Of this the portion from the
Arkansas the head Of the Sacameno about hundred
and fifty miles in distance, yet UNEMPLOYED by the white
man. and generally designated ssthe Great California De-
sert None Of its except the Colorado reach the
ocean they absorbed or disappear by evaporation
After passing the winter among the settlements Of Upper
California the exploring party will if the country be found
practicable pass round by the lower from California,
crossing the Colorado below the great Kennon and return
the Arkansas by the waters Of the ella and Juan large t
butaes Of the lower Colorado which have their
Of the mountains Of New Mexico This sketch conempaes
route Of five six thousand miles II will probably