The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-07-18
Northwestern Exploring Expedition.


Our readers may remember that an explo-
ration of the head waters of the Missouri,
and the country lying within the Missouri
on the east and the Rocky Mountains on the
west, was ordered during the last Congress.
That expedition is now being fitted out at
St. LOUIS, under command of Lieut.. q. X.
WARREN, of the Typographical Engineers
Mr.. W., for his past valuable services. has
received from our Government this high
proof of~their confidence in his ability and
htness for work which claims experience
and untiring energy, as well us scientific
skill and research.
The country to be explored may be num-
bered among the last hunting grounds Of the
Red Man, and by the time the Mississippi
and Missouri Railroad shall be completed
to Council Bluffs the northern and western
parts of Iowa will be populated, and this
same unbroken Indian Territory will be i'll
demand for the advancing tides of cultiva-
ton and civilization.
The interior of this vast region, lying be-
tween the Missouri and the Rocky Noun
tains. has heretofore been represented as
being occupied by broken and barren
range of hills, commonly called the Black
or Turtle Hills, but some late explorations
have shown that no such range exists in the
north, and Lieut.. WARREN is directed to cx-
anime the country assigned to the supposed
southern range, when 1t is quite probable
that no such hills or mountainous country
will be found.
TO explore the sources of the Little Mis-
souri, and the Cheyenne, with the country
contiguous thereto, will form one Of the
chief features of the Expedition, but an OBJ
ject of national Importance and one which
will be most attractlv c to the interest Of our
Western cities, is the duty assigned to Lieut..
W. of examining the course Of the Eau quiz
court (or Running Water,) and Of the Loup
fork of the Platte, with IA view to militia
~ road from the mouth Of the Sioux river,
in the northwest corner of Iowa, 10 Fort
Laramie, and thence to the South Pass
In case of the practcabiiity of this route, it
will be the proper line for. the continuation
of railway from Chicago across the northern
parts of Illinois and Iowa thence to the South
Pass and the region of the great lakes, and
would be the shortest and most direct way
for the great Pacific railroad.
Lieut.. W. is charged to investigate the
climate, Typographical and agricultural re-
sources of these indian Territories, and be-
ing well furnished with every modern ap-
pllance for the successful prosecution of the
Expedition, we shall look for the details
thereof with pleasure, believing that it will
render much valuable information respect
ing these almost unknown Western regions,
and open new fields to progressive industry
and skill of our people.
We mark with interest each first step in
the advancing civilization Of our people.
but are wildly reminded thereby of the vast
decay to which the forest tribes of North
America have been already subjected, and
Learn the great truth. on our own behalf,
that to the demands of knowledge, Science
and acknowledgements, ldieness and
uncultivated BarbaIsm must yield their
sessions.--DateRport Netrs.