The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-31

retF6on
ID within all the fora and fauna which characterize
10 northern and temperate regions almost disappear,
a. are not entirely supplanted BY those Of the tropics
n, indeed, q neutral region having peculiar charac.
rstc: 80 different - TO stamp upon vegetable ana
lmh Life features Of It's own.
The most remarkable and apparent difference between
PIE region and the States Of the Union generally, and
vt which perhaps creates as much as any other ena
uss the difference in it, botanical and geological pro
ctions is the hygrometric state Of the atmosphere
Or whie the plants and animals assume ne forms In
s crust q hs earth the soil m snS sn1
snilcs-over the rest Of the American continent
Is very arid; but this is also the character Of all
20 degrees meridian Of longitude until you reach
70 last slope to the PaGjdc-a narrow belt seldom
tenn The 1ons extending from the Gulf Of Mexico to
e Paoidc, embracing the boundary, contains large
oportion Of arid lands yet this airy region perhaps
on Of the continent north OF within the limits oil the
nited Sates and occasionally refreshed by sho xers
the summer season. and far presents an advantage
yer the arid belt TO the north.
e neral description OF Typographical features Of
Q couatry along the boundary between the United
ates and Mountaineering the whole breadth Of the
bntnent--cannot be made comprehensive without pre-
nng in the view the great outline Of the continent
i, is well known the most extensive feature in the
pntnent is the steau or table land, which traverses
is country from the unexpored region OF the north
It's southegnmcsi extremity, ranging in width i've
lies TO one thonsand attaining its greatest elevation in
70 Andes Of Sorth America, its least elevation and
Feadtn the hthmus OF Panama and in Central
merica, and its greatest breadth about the parallel
80 degrees north latitude On the northern portion OF
continent this plateau attans its greatest height in
exco, where II Is ten thousand feet above the level of
sea- Its lowest depression Is along the line OF boun-
Ary, about the parallel Of 80 degrees north latitude,
here il Is about four thousand feet above the sea.
hence ascends again and preserves elevation vary
from to eight thousand feet, to the 49h
ralel, where 1t again depressed. This plateau both
North and South America, occupies the western Side OF
continent, and is trsversed by ranges Of mountains,
las, seventeen thousand feet above the sea; and in
ruth America is Mount Aconosgua, twenty one thou
re in this plateau within the United States % excessive
yness and great changes in temperature between day
Tho principal ranges Of these mountains in North
merica, naming them in the order OF their prox-
piy 70 the coast Of the Pacific ocean, are
the coast range of mountains Second The Sierra Ne
do, (Which, as its name denotes is ridge Of noun
ns and craggy rocks covered with snow) Third, The
ezra Nadre, another range Of mountains which were
opposed to separate the water flowing into the two
Ssa "a! And fourth The Rocky hS Sa.
Pneraly adopted by the Aexicans yet doubt very
UGH any continuous ridge chain Of mountains
40 fron those flowing into the Atlantic also quite
ell satisfied that the mountains known Sierra Msdre,
that name In Chihuahua and Sonora, and that both
snct from the range west and south of Monterey, Of
e same name; but the coast range-the Sierra Nevada
I'd the Rocky hountans-preserve . very considerable
ntinuity throughout the limits OF the United
ates The coast range follows the generally north.
I'D for . very considerable distance rises abruptly
ON the sea. Along the whole coast il ia in view Of the
Evgator, presenting an imposing and ever.changing
lnorama II may be said to terminate at Cape San
icas, the southern extremity Of Lower California.
is the slope towards the sea of this range Of noun
ns which forms the western border OF the arid region,
Id Ia In my opinion, the only continuous agricultural
untry west Of the Tooth meridian. Tere many de-
tched valleys and basins aording facilities for rriga
bn where the cereals the vine and all the plants which
induce TO the comfort Of man, produced luxurany,
b esoa sn on ne
The Sierra Nevada the Cascade range and the Rocky
ountain ranges preserve general paraelism 10 each
her, and to that Of the coast range. Commencing st
north, they can be traced continuously until reach
within few degrees OF latitude OF the region OF the
undary where occurs in all except the range the
maabe depression in the Continent or rather absence
the continuity Of the ranges Of mountains hereafter to
The Sierra Nevada natitude 80 deg north branches
great division uniting with the coast range and form
the elevated promo atory OF Lower California, aud
esenting when figured on the map the appearance OF
letter Y, (Tuare valley resting the fork Of the let
n; other branches or spurs are thrown OF In south
lies above and traversing the newly acquired terri
~ in the meridian Of Santa Cruz and Tucson Tina
rge, together with the Sierra Madre and the Rocky
ouniains, about the parallel OF 50 deg lose their
huous character, and assume what graphically de-
rbed Ia the Western country lost mountains that
say, mountains which have no apparent connection
th each other They preserve however their genera
recion, northwest and southeast showing that the up
aving power which produce them was the same. bu,
diminished and irregular force They rise abruptly
pm the plateau and disappear asuddeniy aud by wind
around the bases OF these mountains II Is possible 10
y
rae OF 80 deg almost the level OF the plateau
1T II the TO rise 1900 feet above II, present
vel, the navigator could cross the continent ths
ID parallel OF latitude. He would be on soundiugs Of
pforn depth from the Gulf OF California TO the Pecos
YER BE would see 10 the north and to the south promi
mt peaks and sierras and at times hts passage would be
rrow and Intricate. AT II Paso he would be within
nshot OF both shores.
Passing 10 south Of this parallel Ia about that OF
deg, We and the plateau rising rapidly to the table
nds OF Mexico; the ranges above described are no
niger traceabe and the plateau gives evidence OF hav.
To- been ed by tran ous and
mountains assume q lofter and more rugged and
vershed appearance AS have said before, the Sierra
lab present information. The Rocky Mountains,
the head waters of the Rio Bravo, throw OF spurs
heh add 1, the confusion. and make 1t difficult TO
parste this range from At called in New Mexico, the
Ezra Madre.
II may 30 question whether the Rocky Noun.
In range Is not divided by the Rio Bravo, and II so,
at whi,h have designated ~ the Sierra Madre OF Now
exico will In that case become spur OF the Rocky
puntains. The geological formations TO which shall
esenty refer seem 70 favor this hypothesis II that
pothess be true the Sierra Madre Of New Mexico and
hScsy Mountain MA system p are me same ana are
YES NOT affect the general topog aphical description OF
country, and may be disrcgarded here. What have
the Rio bravo del Norte.
The Rocky Mountain system, commencing Ia tho
rth beyond the OF this river, and beyond the
hs Of the forty ninth degree Of north latitude, Is the
tingusbng feature OF the country east OF that river,
MI We reach the great plains lying between the base OF
ose mountains and the valley OF the Mississippi The
is Of maximum elevation preserves a general paral.
ism 70 the Sierra Nevada range. Its principal chain,
passing the thirty sixth parallel OF latitude becomes
eevstcd, and finally terminates in the Organ noun
MS ncar n Paso, reappcaring again TO the south and
st. and becoming at last merged with the great noun
n masses In Mexico.
branch Of these mountains DIVORCES about the
I'D OF the Pecos and running south, with unequal ele
tos, crosses the Rio Bravo between the 102d and
9Th meridian OF longitude forming the great bend in
Ai river, and producing one Of tae most remarkable
tures the face of the globethst Of river travel
", Of an obgue angle, chain OF lofsy mountains and
liking through these, on gigantic scale, what Is called
Spanish American canon-that Is, . river hemmed
by vertical WALL.
These euntaIns 70 the south OF the river expand in
dth and height attaining great elevation In the neigh
rhoed OF Monterey Saullo and Buena VISTA and from
side Of the Bolson Malpirni and u Is my impression
h these mountains Identical with what u there
He'd, Ia Neuvo Leon, the Sierra Madrc.
third but subordinate range branches from the main
Sin shout the same parallel s that au described, and
Fmnstes In the Lano Estacado, the stake plains,
I'm which issues the Red river aud other rivers OF
xas From the foot OF the Lsno Esaoado the country
h. sonet mes by steps, but most generally by gentle
pes, 20 the shores OF the Gu OF Mexico, the crust
~ broken IN few pieces by the washing Of streams
by the protruson Of igneous rocks. This igneous