The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-05

by the people generally.
There will be some sport at Albany this win
ter, in consequence of the anomalous condition
of parties there.
They stand'as follows
Wing majority in the House. is
Democratic majority in the Senate. 10
Wing majority on joint ballot. ...........s
Neither party can pass measure that will not
please the other. The consequence will probably
be, that we will have short session, and no laws
of doubtful public good will be passed
The new constitution has abolished the slate
office seekers are, therefore, in the dumps.
The Resources OF the Great West-Thc Re
suits Of our Exploring Expeditions.
Through the poiteness of J. ]. Albert, Esq,
Colonel of the Corps Of Typographical Engineers
at Washington, we have obtained a copy of the
report of an expedition led by Lieut.. Albert, on
the Upper Arkansas, and through the country Of
the Camauche Indians, in the fall Of the year
ISI5.
1t appears that Lieut. Albert and his company,
composed part of Captain Fremont's expedi-
ton, and were despatched by that officer from
Benrs fort to survey the waters of Purgatory
Creek, the Canadian and False Washita Rivers.
9th of August, 1916, properly armed and equip
ped for the perilous journey before them, and
consisted Of thirty four souls, all tod and four
wagons. Lieut.. Albert kept diary of each days
journey from the time the expedition started on
its journey until it reached st. Louis, OH the oath
of November iollowing-a period of three months
and fourteen days. 1t is replete with interesting
narratives of risks by flood and field, of dangers
and midnight watchings, Of Indian intrigue, buff
falo hunts, and valuable information on the geoo-
gy, mineralogy, fertility ana general appearance
ofthe extensive country through which the expe-
diton passed.
The officers and men acquitted themselves very
creditaby, and performed their arduous duty in
highly prsiseworthy manner, the results Of which
will be of incaculable advantage to our govern
ment.
Our readers are aware that we drew very
largely on Captain Fremont's report, by publish
ing considerable quantity ofthe reading matter,
as well several sketches of scenery in the great
western wilderness. We shall take similar liber-
ty with Lieutenant Aberts' report and in few
days publish some sketches from it, and have en-
graved some views which that officer sketched in
the course Of his journey.
The importance of having the vast country,
extending from the confines of the State of Mis-
souri, to the Pacific Ocean, surveyed and ex-
plored, its character and resources ascertained,
and knowledge of its climate, fertility, &c.,
diffused throughout the nation, cannot be too
highly estimated; and the administration
who will commence and carry out an enlarg-
ed exploration OF that vast territory, will
confer a great boon on the country, as well
as add considerably to the cause of science Eu-
ropean nations equip expeditions to the north
pole, to explore in that nhospitable region pas
sage to the Indes-they fit out expeditions to dis
cover the source of the Nile-they incur great ex-
pense in exploring the remotest parts of the
word-the results OF which are of doubtful va
lue, except as to the addition they make to
science. The United States have millions o.
miles OF circumference never yet visited by the
white man-territory over which the buffalo and
red man exercise undisputed sway; and it was
not until recently that we had the slightest know
ledge of it in any way, although it would be Of
great benefit.
Captain Fremont discovered the existence o.
an immense valley, bounded on three sides by
mountains Of great alti.ude, and on the fourth by
the Pacific ocean, the ground of which was never
marked oy the track of white man, except per
haps that part which bordered on the ocean
This great basin comprises in diameter eleven
degrees of latitude and ten degrees of longitude
In speaking of this great basin, Captain FIRE.
mont in his report says -
ats existence is vouchsd for by such of the American
traders and hunters as have some oha regon
the Of the Sierra Nevada range ofmountains
quires to be there and my own observations confirm
il. Mr. Joseph Walker, who is so well acquainted in
those parts, informed that from the Great Salt lake
west there succession of lakes and rivers which
have outlet TO the sea- nor any connection with the
Columbia with the Colorado Of the Gulf of California
He describes some of these lakes being large with
streams and even considerable rivers falling
into them In TACT, al cSncnr IN d the general report o.
standing the force and power OF evaporation which
establishes equilibrium between the loss and sup
ply OF waters the fable of whrlpools and suberraneous
outlets has gained belief as the only imaginable way
carrying off the waters which have visible discharge
ton of interior lakes for the waters which would col
lect between the Rocky mountains and the Sierra Ne
sda not beng So,s 10 or or0s s ,a
collect into reservoirs each Of which would have il
little stem Of streams and rivers to supply IT, This
would be the natural effect and what saw went to
confirm it, The Great Salt lake is formation OF this
kind, and quite large one and having many streams
long, falling into il This lake and river saw and OK
ahmed myself and also the Wah. satch and Bear
River mountains which enclose the waters OF the lake
the east and constitute in that quarter the rim oil
the Great BASIN. Afterwards along the eastern base
the Sierra Nevada, where travelled for forty.two
days saw the line OF lakes and rivers which lie at the
foot OF that Sierra and which Sierra is the western rim
the Basin. In going down Lewiss fork and the main Co
lumba crossed only inferior streams coming in from the
left such as could draw their water from short distance
only and often the mountains their heads white
with snow; which, ell accounts said divided the waters
of the desert from those Of tho Columbia and which could
be other than the range Of mountains which form the
rim OF the Basin its northern side. And ia returning
California along the Spanish trail as the head
Of the Santa Clara fork Of the Rio Vgen crossed only
small streams, making their way south TO the Colorado
lost in ssndas the Mohahve while to the left lofty
hair "a wit
visible and which must have turned water to the north
we'll the SOUTH and thus constituted on this part
the southern rim of the Basin At the head of Santa
Clara fork and IN the Vegas de Santa Clara
,phi a fsro sofuu