The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-12
From the ST Louis Union
Col Fremont -Sclsntlde Explorations.

Col Frsmont-scisntinc Explorations
Col Fremont arrived here Tuesday on his way to
the mountains. and will leave for the frontier probably
to morrow He will take with him a party of about
twenty men, who have hitherto been under his command
in similar expedition, and who cheerfully join him in
this which is undertaken at his private expense and from
his devotion science He has been engaged for about
ten years in scientific explorations of the region
stretching from the Mississippi to the Pacific and
his abors had not been interrupted by the California
difficulties. he would probably have completed by this
time the great work which he has been long
gagged and with which his name has been thus far iden
hed He has collected nearly all the materials necessary
for complete map OF that vast region, and during this
expedition will finish the surveys required After SO
long and unwearied devotion to this scientific enterprise
he has naturally felt unwilling that should be aban
doned from any whatever He has learned the geo.
gaphy OF the country thus far by the most patient obser
vations and researches. amid difficulties and privaons of
ordinary character and with knowledge OF the key
points remaining to be examined IN order to perfect the
whole he undertakes this private expedition If he
had not been prevented by unexpected during
the last two years, he would this have the
naming lines, and examined the unexpored DISTRICTS
to have been able TO give complies map, from actual
surveys of the vast country aversed, OF which little
was accurately known before his expeditions The va
departments OF our government, the people OF the
United States generally and the scientific of other
lands, have heretofore felt great interest these eyplora
tons, which have shed much light. not alone on the
gphy of the vast district taversed but also kin
dred sciences They will rejoice TO learn that the work
nearly completed is not 10 STOP but that the little
which remains to be done is to be executed by the same
has prosecuted it hitherto with so much success Every
familiar with the matter will readily perceive the
importance of the closing surveys in so great work.
and the necessity of their being conducted with the
strctest accuracy and in exact accordance with the
plan pursued to The present time slight may
mar the work of years The SYSTEM marked out and RI
gdy followed to this hour must be adhered to- or the
result will be piece of botch work. instead OF COM
plete and perfect whole honorable alike TO American
science and the explorers It is not strange therefore,
that Colonel Fremont should feel SO much anxiety and
enthusiasm this subject as to undertake the completion
of his great work. even at his private expense,
rather than il should now be abandoned. 10 leave
the matter it is at present would be the deseron
Of science at the very moment when the treasure so
perseveringly pursued for years was within his grasp
We feel sure that every generous mind will be pleased to
learn that he is resolved to finish these explorations him
self and without waiting for The slow action OF the gov
eminent The recent acquisition of New Mexico and
California renders this work OF vast practical importance
and emigration will soon flow ihither the emgrants
should be in possessions as soon as possible, OF all the
information which these researches can give
A part Of Upper California north and east OF Klamath
Lake. and the district the of the Arkansas,
Rio del Nore, &c, with the mountain region westward,
we believe, have not yet been explored They the
only portions of the vast region embraced in Col Ere
mons original plan which remain to he examined and
surveyed They stand therefore, the connecting links
to the whole work, on the finishing OF which correctly
the whole depends 1t is rather late period of the
son to venture forward on such an undertaking, but
Col Fremont and his companions Injured 10 hardship
and familiar with the life to be led They will be &C
companied on their journey and during their scientific
abors with the best wishes of the country. Their expe
dtion is peaceful one although by free from
peris, har1shps, and suffering 1t looks results
important mankind and TO the future prosperity of this
country the stirring scenes of war 1t promises
no other laurels those which science besows
her devoees, and rewards those which flow from
conscious merit and true devotion work in which
not only nation interested but the whole scientific
world 1t is duty which Col Fremont owed alike to his
reputation and TO science to undertake the conpet
of the task which he has been long employed and
we think it will be cheerully admitted by all that the
government ought TO have provided for the expedition
but, is, the merit of Col Fremont will be the greater
Generous enthusiasm in the OF science leads him
to embark in this expedition his private expense, and
trust he will not be left wholly unrewarded therefor
| by his countrymen