Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-06-29

! Hill Aass-one of the most practicable IN the ST.
ezra Blanca, and above those usnallv traveed--at
one of the remotest head springs Of the Huerfano
river, the eye Of the traveller follows down with
out obstruction or abrupt descent along the grad
ual slope Of the valley 10 the great plains which
reach the Missouri. The straight river and the
open valley form, with the plains beyond, one great
slope, without hill 10 break the line of sight or
obstruct the course Of the road. On either side of
this line hills slope easily to the river, with lines
of timber or yellow autumn grass, and the water
which flows smoothly between is not interrupted
BY fail in its course TO the ocean. The sur
| rounding country is wooded with pines, and COW
cred with luxurant grass, up to the very crags of
the central submits. On the Sth of December we
found this whole country free from snow, and
Daguerrean views taken at this time show the
grass entirely uncovered in the passes
Along all This line the elevation was carefully
determined BY frequent barometrcal observations,
and its character exhibited by series of daguer-
reotype views, comprehending the face of The
country almost continuously, or at least sufficiently
so to give thoroughly correct impression of the
whole.
Two tunnel-like passes pierce the mountain here
almost IN luXtaposltion. connecting The plain coun-
try on either side by short passages from five to
eight miles long. The mountains which they per-
forate constitute the only obstruction, and are the
only brea; in the plain or valley line of road from
the frontier of Missouri to the summit hills Of the
Rocky Mountains. distance Of about eight hun
dred and fifty miles, or more than half way 10 the
San Joaquin valley. Entering one Of these passes
from the eastern plan. distance Of about one mile
upon n wagon road. already travelled by wagons.
commands open view of the broad valley of
San Luis and the Great range Of San Juan beyond
on its western side. here connected the line of
the present expedition with the one explored in
1SiS-l9 from the mouth Of the Kansas to this point
and the result Of both will be embodied in fuller
report.
At this place the line enters the middle section
and continued It's western course over an open val
lev country, admirably adapted for settlement
across San Luis valley. and up the fat bottom lands
Of the Sab watch TO the lights of the central ridge
of the Rocky Mountains. Across the wooded
heights-woodcd and grass-covrred mp TO and over
thoir rounded summits--to the Coocha-to-pe Pass,
the no followed good. open. easy, wagon wav.
such rs is usual TO a rolling country. On the high
summit launds were forest of confcrous trees, and
The snow in the pass was four inches deep. This
was on the 18Th Of December. A day earlier our
horses feet would not have touched snow in the
crossing Up TO this point we had enjoyed clear
and dry. pleasant weather. Our Journey had been
all along on dry ground; and travelling slowly along
waiting for the winter, there had been abundant
leisure for becoming acquainted with the country.
The open character Of the country. Joined to good
information, indicated the existence Of other passes
about the head of the Sah-watch. This it was de-
srable to verify, and especially to examine neigh
boring and lower pass connecting more directly
with the Arkansas valley, known as The Poo"-
che.
! But the winter had not set in over all the noun
tain regions. and the country was constantly ell
veloped and hidden with clouds which rested upon
it. and the air 50 darleucd by falling snow. that
ploring become difficult and dangerous, precisely
where we felt most Interested in making a thorough
examination. We were moving in foEs and clouds
through region wholly unknown 70 US, and with
out guides, and We're therefore obliged 70 content
ourselves with the examination Of Il single line. and
the ascertainment Of the winter condition of the
country which passed; which was in fact the
main object Of our expedition.
/ Our progress in this mountainous region was ne
cessarilv slow. and during ten days which it occu
pied us TO pass through about one hundred miles of
the mOuntry bordering the eastern side of the Co.
dorado valley, the greatest depth of snow was
among the pines and aSpens on the ridges about two
and half feet and in the valleys about six inches.
/ The atmosphere too cold and DRY for much snow.
and the valleys protected by the mountains are
comparatively free from it, and warm: We here
found villages of Utah indians in their winterirg
ground in little valleys, along the foot Of higher
Of the Colorado yaller! Snow was here (Decem-
Der 25) only a few inches dccp--thc grass Ccner-
ally appearing above it, and there being none un-
der trees and on southern hill sides.
/ The horses Of the Utahs were living on the range
and notwithstanding that they were used in hunting
were n excellent condition. One which we had
occasion to kill for food had on il about two inch
es of fat. being in as good order as any buffalo We
had killed in November on the eastern p!a!nS.-
Over this valley cOwtrv-abOut 100 miles across
the Indians informed us that the snow fall only
few inches in depth; such as we sa" Il at the
time
The immediate valley of the Upper Colorado.
for about 100 miles in breadth. aud from the 7th
TO the 22d Of January, was entirely bare Of snow
and the weather resciubled thar Of autumn III this
country. The liie here entered the body of the
mountains known a. the Wah-satch and Ar-te-rla
ranges which are practicable al several places III
this part of their course but the falling snow and
destitute condition Of my party again lhterteFed 10
/ TO impede examinations. They lie between the
Colorado valley and the Great Basin. and al their
western base are established the Mormon settle
ments of Parowan and Ceday City. They are
what are called fertile mountains, abundant in wa
ter, wood and grass, aud fertile valleys, Offering
inducements TO settlement and facilities for making
road. These mountains are q great stOrehouse
of uaterials-timber, iron, coal-which would be
of indispensable use in the construction and MAIN
tenauce of the road, and are solid foundations 10
build up the future prosperity of the rapidly ncrea-
sing Utah State.
| Salt is abundant on the eastern border-moun-
tains, as the Sicrrc de ST., being named from it.
In the ranges lying behind the Mormon settlements
among the mountains through which the line pass
es, are accumulated great wealth of iron and coal
and extensive forest Of heavy timber. These for
ests lre tae largest ! am acquainted with in the
J Rocky Mountains, being in some places twenty
miles in depth Of continuous foresti the growth
lofty and large, frequently over three feet Ia diam
eter, and sometimes reaching tive teet-the Ted
| spruce and yellow pine predominating At the
actual southern extremity Of the Mormon settle
ments. consisting of the two enclosed towns of Pa
rowan and Cedar City, near to which our line pas
! ed, coal mine has been opened for about eighty
| yards, and iron works already established. Iron
here in extraordinary masses, IN some parts
accumulated into mountains, which come out in
crests of solid iron thirty feet thick and hundred
| yards long.
In passing through this bed Of mountains about
fourteen days had been occupied, from January 81
to February I, the deepest snow we here encoun-
tered being about up to the saddle skirts, or four