Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-06-21


,ha, ultimate poiu, he returned by the valley d
the Great Platte, following the stream in ii'
whole course, and solving all questions in re-
lation 10 lis navieability and the character Of
the country through which il flows.
"Oyer the whole course Of this extended
rouic. baromeirica observations were made by
Mr.. Fremont, to ascertain elevations both Of the
plains aud of the mountains astronomical Obj
servaiions were taken TO ascertain laiitudes and
longitrdes; the face Of the country was marked
as arabic or sterile the facility of travelling,
and the prlcicability OF ruutcs noted. the grand
features Of nature described, and some preseai-
ed 10 drawings military positions indicated I;
aud large contribution to geology aud botany
was made in tie varieties Of plants, flowers.
shrubs, trees. and grasses, aud rocks and earhs,
which were enumerated. Drawings Of some
grand aud striking points, and map Of the
whole roaie illustrate the report aad facilitate
the understanding Of its details. Eight carts
drawn by two mules each accompanied the ex-
pediiuu. a fact which attes,s the facility
Of travelling in this vast region. Herds Of buf
faloes furnished subsistence tn the men a shur,
nutritious grass, sustained the horses and mules.
Two boys, Zone Of twelve years Of age, the
other Of eighteen besides the enlisted men, ac-
compauied the expedition, aud took their share
Of IFS harlships which proves tia, boys, as
well as men, are able to traverse the country
to the Rocky Mountains.
The result Of all his observations Mr. Free
mont had condensed inioa bicf rcpori-enough
to make document of ninety or one hundred
pages and believing that this document would
be of general interest to the whole country. and
beneficial to science, as well as useful to the
government, ! move the printing of the extra
number which it has named.
''ln making this motion, and in bringing this
report to the notice Of the Senate, | take a
great pleasure in noticicing the activity and i'm
poriance Of the Typographical bureau. Under
its skilful and vigilan, head Col. Albert nu-
merous valuable and ineessani surveys are made
and mass of information collected Of the high
es, importance to the country generally, as we'll
as TO the military branch of the public service
This report proves conrlusiycly that the coun.
Try, for several hundred miles from the frontier
of Missouri, is exceedingly beautiful and fertile;
alternate woodland and prairie, and certain por-
lions well supplied with water. 1t also proves
that the valley Of The river Platte has very
rich soil, aaording great facilities for emigran,s
10 the west or the Rocky Mountains"
The London Athenenm Of March, 1914
commences a review Of this repurt in the fol-
lowing complimentary strain:
! "Tho government Of the United States did
we'll when in fuTiherance Of the resyluiiOn to
survey the road across the Great Western
Prairie aud the Rocky Mountains 10 the Ore. on
territory, it selected Lieut. Fremont for The ex.
ecuion Of the work. Wehave rarely met with
production so perfect in ia kind as the unyre-
tending pamphlet containing this report The
narrative, clear, full aud lively occupies only
70 pages, TO which are appended 1870 pages,
filled with the results Of b0tsnical researches,
of astronomical and meieorogcal observations.
What contrast does this present to the volu-
mlnous emptiness and conceiied rhodomontade
so often brought forth by our costly expeditions.
The country gone over by Lieut.. Fremont is
certainly not the most interesting in the world
nor is II quite new. Yet he is evidently not
the man To travel 1000 miles without observ-
ing much which is worthy Of being recorded OF
to wrile page which is likely TO prove tedi-
Gus in the reading. His points Of view are so
well chosen, his delineaiion has so much truth
and spirit, and his general remarks are 30 &C.
curate and comprehensive, tina, under his gui-
dance we find the far west prairies nearly as
fresh and tempting as the most favored Arcade
an scenes, the hallowed groves of which were
never trodden by the foot of the squalting emf
prant mr. fnr trader