The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-28

Snow very deep the mountains.
There sickness amongst the emigr ants fallen in
with on the Ioute.
IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES.
Additional Sketches OF Expeditions Fitted out
by the United States Government and Indi-
viduai Enterprise.
We complete our history of the pubs and private
petitions fitted out in the United States with the follow
ing brief sketches
CE TRIAL ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.
We cannot better prove the enterprsng spirit of
people than by recording the private expedition VIII
lately started from St. Louis to accompany Lieutenant
Beal in his survey of the route to the PacifcMr
Elisha Riggs, his brother William Henry and H. Rodgers
Esq, members of the bar at Washington and of the
late Commodore Rodgers. These gentlemen have
government employment and go amateur travellers
to see the grand features of their country and to
form their opinions of the prac liability of the
noblest work which the mind of man ever conceived.
They have Europe and Asia, and TO see the
insioe OF their own country We understand that the
Secretary at War; Hon Jefferson Davis is organizing
expedition for the exploration of the central route to the
Pacific and has associated with it Mr. R. H. Kern, who
of FIemonts sdes and with him in his last
disastrous expedition, and has also authorized him to
employ st. Tapln. who also Of Fremonts com.
rades and with him when his expedition buried in
the terrible Of the Sierra San Juan. This is
piment to Fremont, to employ two of his comrades to
take up his work where he stopped AS for Fremont
himself he will be detained understand, too long by
the writ agaiost him for the debt of the United in
London to come home in time to ba employed in any Of
the government expeditions fitting out He is col
ectng One instrums nts in Lendon and will PROBABLY be
home in tine to make winter expedition and prove the
praccaby Of his cherished central route in winter
well as in summer.
JONES' EXPEDITION THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,
IN 1850.
In the year 1850, Gen. VIM. C. Jones, OF Missouri,
made expedition through ridge of mountains which
divide Western territories in company with the
Che, okee Indians The route which he explored is
important than any other yet found being nearly parallel
with San Francisco and therefore direct for the
Great Pacific Railway Commencing AT Independence,
it follows the Kansas and Republican fork Of that stream
through fertile country, with WOOD water and grass in
abundance to the of said stream; thence passing
elevated table land into the valley of the south
fork of the Nebraska it that at the mouth
of Vermion creek thence in northwest dirsc ion,
passing by Lewy discovered gold fields it skirts the base
Of Longs Peak crossing the Medicine Bow mountains by
of the head streams OF the Laramie river into the
north part thence by OF the of the North
fork the Nebraska to the head OF the YamPa river
thence directly west the mouth Of Henrys fork the
Green River Upper Colorado Of the West thence in
line nearly due west through the npanogos range Of the
Wassatch mountains to the head streams OF Weber
river and tue Great Salt Lake City, thence s,uth Of
the Great Salt Lake by the Valley Of Fountains makiag
detour to southwest to Ovens river and the head of
the lake fork Of the San Joaquin This route is pracca
BILE for railway, fifty loaded wagons having passed over
it in $780, when it perfectly painless, and without
meeting with any distractions The pass the main
D,cI plafc 10 IN
forty four minutes being nearly parallel with the
Salt Lake City. 1t is rolling prairie upland, but
4O3 above the level Of the sea- and in fact lower
than some Of the foot hills around Upon this route and
between the Yampa river and the mouth Of enry's fork
the Green river Upper Colorado, is mountain Of
stone coal larger probably than any other depose Of
that mineral discovered These facts should elicit
ipvestie alton from Typographical department
| COL. RAMsAY's EXPLORATION or MEXICO.
Among the many valuable discoveries which have been
made respecting the geological and geographical
Of our continent entitled to consde ration
than those made by Col Ramsay in expedition through
Mexico During the between the United States and
the Mexican republic Col Ramaay commanded OF the
Penns ylyana regiments engaged in that contest After
the termination of hostes between the two republics
he returned to Mexico where for the part, he
poy ed his time 10 making explorations and Investigations
OF that country which have enabled him to correct many
mportan. made by the great Humboldt, especially
in reference to the navigation of its rivers COL Ramsay
says the volcanoes Of Popocatapet and Ixtschnati
the range Of tans to the of the city Of Pueb
rise far above the line OF perpetual spow tho rmer be
IL $50 feet above the level OF the soa ad she latter
l5 700 feet In their altitude the summer line fos
is at a. 763 feet and tho winter line ot II las Ao
I catapctl towers aio!t even abors :, ." fopo
Blanc which Is onlv AIS, foo. ,nona aaue 90 o' MON
Of the sea- The highest Init of yepetation = :,
. altitude, and at Iz,sA pines are found
growing AT the elevation of 10, 800 fee, barley
| and rye are sown where maize will not rpen
Colonel Ramseys discoveries in mineraogy AID botany
very important and his description of the m amer
and character OF the inhabitants of portions Of
Mexico exceedingly interesting The following is an ex
trsct from his writings in regard to the Pntos or
painted people" 1t is impossible to convey by writing
any distinct idea of the appearance of the Piutos'
No two of these people alike in color or marks on
their person. You will sec pretty formed girl with one
hand white and the other black. Her face spotted Of
gray, blue, black white color. Sometimes a man
will have half his face lead color and the other half
a copper complexion. Nothing this earth more yis
bly, depicts despair, and extngushes all emotions Of hu
man sympathy within you than the sight Of some of
these human beings. Some created feeling of horror
but the larger portion of them revolving In the r
appearance, bat only repulsve from their looks They
live for the most part villages by themselves speaking
only the Aztec language, ignorant poor superstious
and without any hope ambition. In tho war with
the United States the regiments raised from among them
not allowed to defend the capital even to
camp with the other soldiers. They are kind simple
honest and Industrious where there Is any occasion to
work. This history while itnstructs also deeply inter
espg recording does the condition Of that unfortu
nate people who known the ruer Of America
as the Of the Montezumas but who have fallen be
fore the march OF the Cauca,ian and only
corded the "Iast Of Aztecs" Col Ramsay has demon
srated aKd established the fac. OF the river Mescaa bs
ing pavisable up to certain height for vessels of
siderable burden, whereas heretofore its course was
almost unknown, and its navigation considered mpract
cable No stronger evidence be desired Of the accu
races Of u maps and charts made from the surveys
Col Ramsay, than that the Mexican government itself
has endorsed them as the only correct ones extant