The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-17
Important Survey OF the Colorado.
CAMP YuNAs, on THE COLORADO OF THE WEsr.
One Mile below the Junction Of the Gila,
January 3, 1851.

4 {
| January 3, 1851. }
| TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
the pleasure In laying before the public the
| followi 2g information, which will be of great i'm
| portance 20 those who intend crossing the conti
nent durinay the coming season Within the mast
few days a voyage of discovery has been made
down the Col orado of the West, and the opinions
Of Emory and Ohnson, as expressed in their pub
fshed reports resHsing its navigability, are con.
fined by actual souadings. The homer of the ex.
Iteration belongs TO Is John l.. La Conte, a gen.
tleEan well known to fSe scientific circles of New
Yors. and TO DR.. George Ogden, of Mississippi, the
President of the Colorado Ferry Company. They
started from this place, ana desce AIDED 100 miles in
an open sAiff, until they met tide water. The least
depth oossinsd in the channel, IA miles below the
mouth OF the Gila, was five feet, while there was
an average Of nine feet. The nver is winding, and
The current in many places rapid There are bun
Iew sunken trees, and these Gre teo small to de-
serve the name OF snags. Since DR.. La Conte's
return, intelligence has been received of the arrival
OF tho United States schooner IngincIble, Mt the
point where hrs observations terminated. This
discovery oil an avenue of wafer communication
into the heart Of the Californian desert and the
steps which will be taken Immediately TO open
steam navigation, Tnst render the southern route
by tar the most inviting to the overland emigration
A military post, composed of three companies of
the second Y. , Infantry, commanded by Major
where the emigrsnt trail strikes the river. The
presence OF this force Will keep the Indians along
the road in check, and obviate all danger TO life
and property. Cheap and safe ferriage is provided,
thus removing delay and rick IN crossing the Colo
RADIO, which have hitherto been the most serious
objections to this route. Provisions will be sur.
nished al reasonable price, rendering il necessary
to bring only sufficient to last this place. epabliay
trains 10 travel more expeditiously, and making a
great saving IN the wear and tear Of animals. A
few miles below the crossing, there is an abund-
ance OF the finest grass, where stock can be
refreshed and put in good order for the markets ia
the settlements. There isa tendency manifesto 4 |
by the people OF Sonora to emgrate to the banks of
the Gia and Colorado, for the purpose of cuuva.-
iRg their excellent SOIL and to enjoy the protection
of the United States government.
belief exists, founded upon direct testimony |
and upon historical evidence, as well as confirmed
by The geological formation, that gold and SILVER
mines OF great value contained Ia the mountains
IN which the branches of the Gila take their rise
have received the statements Of several ntelli-
gent Mexicans, who declared they had visited these
mines, and taken out both gold and silver ore |
The hostility of the Apaches has hitherto prevented
their being opened and worked. gentleman |
thoroughly acquainted with the subject is asoat TO
proceed an tour for the purpose Of examining the
reported localities. There isevey to suppose
that the Colorado can be navigated by light draught
steamers for two hundred miles above the mouth of
the GIla and the same remark can be applied to the
latter stream, during its high stages. The junction
OF The valleys of these two rivers must be the seat
of a pcpulous and fourishing town at no distant
penod. The hnest location for a city is upon the |
eastern bank OF the Colorado, between the bouu-
Diary line and the river, commencing at the mouth |
OF the ella. This would enable an American aud |
Mexican city TO grow up side by side, separated |
only by a street. The position of GiIa city, which
exists only on paper, is untenable, being cut OIL |
three months of the year by large slough.
Whatever the future shall develope, Tor the pre-
sent earnestly call the attention of emigants TO
the facts have stated.
Very rssp'ly. / am, SIR. your obdt ser='t,
IL. 5. HUNT, Asst Surveyor, u. ;. A.