New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-27

..,h vov mo The Pacs3 Aaa Aia,tic. I.e Sc 'adi'
-sn,c,s riz.d by IA lofty and unNroksl me u rooY
2ssb., forming great wal stohg zoe tso, ssJ ,hs ,h
kro well separated from the first y the valleys of the
Colorado and Green Rivers N .he south aoi snake
River IL the north, While on tie west u sep Na'ea
rom the secord group by the welNdenned nhe o'
snory hphfs Of the Sierra Nevada, and farther south
nv the low valley OF the Colorado Desert and the u III
az California Il will thus be seep that these DIVISIONS
of tie mountains are founded upon geograp1lcA dx-
and not the geological ages or relations OF
tho chains although il IL beeved that the same ul-
yision viii be convenient for geological DESCRIPTION.
Two other groups may be formed, OF tbe ong me oi
azoc rock eI+noDg DoIth west from the Great Lakes
a. the Appalachian chain and rs tnlough
New England and Canada, and thus the principal
cba,n. OF the Continent will be included IN hge groups
We find the northern portion OF the nrst group W De
composed of three principal and nearly parsne' ISnee'
the Rocky Mountains proper, the Bitter Root h0sn'
,aps and the Ceur d'Atne Mountains. Tsetwo isst
ranges are ntersected by the head waters oi the 20
uu,bia River but they are very properly referred "
,bs oronp The Bitter Root range extends from about
lat. 46 deg. to Cark's fork OF the Columbia, and Is
prolopgsd beyond 1t to the eastern side of lotoo1
Lake where II is known by another name. a parauel
chain or possibly portion OF the same Is caied Tue
Kootanie Mouptair s. The Bitter Root range u con'
sidered more lofty and rugged than the Rocky Noun
taps with which it is joined by the dividing ridge. be-
tvee the Bitter Root River and the JEFFERSON iork OF
the Missouri. The Salmon River NouLtalne, further
soutb ma, be ega ded connected With these ranges
IN. Rocky Mountains proper extend in our territories
from the boundary IN direction b 70 deg. T., 2oo
e, TO lat 46 deg where they curve 70 the southweet
and unite with the Bitter Root range From this point
south th, re but range, of watch, hoseyer vy
little is Known, until il unites with the Wied Rver
Mountains, which extend 5. 40 deg +. for sooat lO
miles to the depression known as the South Psss La
this spge we have the highest point in the grjup-tfe-
monts Peak-l3, $40 feet in altitude. From the end
of this range 10 the next continued Mr. III IKE there
IL a wide interval without any mountains. Inc cOun-
Try table-land gently rolling prairie, 800 lee.
above the ocean About 40 mles ). +. We nnd the
ranges again in parallel ridges trendng southery ana
incosiI wide rect angular valleys known as the Parks
The frst Medicine Bow range, is neIly coinciient IN
direction with the Wind River III Mountiins, and
is separated ftom parallel range by the head
waters of the Platte. These mountains, south
of the Medicine Bow range, display on the m,Ps
a singular rectangular intersection OF tAe ridges,
Arising partly from of drawing. Ihese
mountains are known the Park ntalns, ana
extend touth to the sources of the Afksnsas hlvsr.
Some of the highest points of the group are here suca
as Pixies and Long Peaks. Tne long ridge usually
tpresS1ded bet geen Fort Laramie aud Fort Cnon,
cal ed Back Hills, does not exist as recently deer
mined by Lieutenant g. h Warren. The great CEN
al chain in the territory OF the United States IS about
4OO miles in length, copslstiCg principally OF range,
ruling about n. y. w. and s. 5. L. The pndcpal
eur, meDts by which we can estimate It's general
elevation have been made 10 it's lowest pon;s or
passes Mr.. Blake here read list OF passes, Nights
AID authorities, which We throw into tabular iorm-
TABLE OF PASSES II TIRE ASAHUAcIAN CHAIN.