Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-03-12
The United states Expedition 10
The River La Plata.

| nlted States steamer water Wllcn, n
10y order of the Government, made nm ex-
tended and very successful exploration of
this important river.
The Attention of the Government of
the United States has only within a COM
paratively few years, been properly direC-
ted to the value of explorations and geog-
raphical Investigations, with reference to
the increasing and now vast of
our country. This description of opera
tons has long been held to be of the most
vital Importance, by the powers Of Europe
and in no Inconsiderable measure, the
wealth and commercial ascendency OF
Great Britain are to be traced TO this poll
icy. From the time Of Captain Cook, and
even to date from a previous era to the
present day, the naval explorations made
under the auspices of the British Govern
mcnt have been of the most extensive
character, and have been made in almost
all parts Of the world. People, before al
most unknown to civilized men, have been
visited, treaties entered into, and new
markets opened forcommercial enterprise
and a high and perhaps the most lasting
fame has been awarded by the whole
world, for those missions Of peace and ann
ity. The reader of the voyages Of Drake
and Cook of Wilkes and Perry, of Ross
or Franklin, will not feel his interest at
all lcssened by the consideration that those
were essentially commercial in their OBJ
jccts and consequences.
The United States has not been behind
other nations inthis important auxiliary to
the march of civilization. Numerous eX-
petitions have been organized ana have
completed their proposed business with
great success, and have added lustrc TO
the National Character. With a vast OK
tent of previously uneXplored territory
these explorations have necessarily been
by no means idle, nd one of the most i'm
portant of services of this description, TO
which we alludc, has just been completed
by the squadron under command of Cap
tain Page.
The River La Plata and its tributaries,
among which is the riAer Parana, were
thoroughly explored and surveyed, and
were ascended to the astonishing distance
of 1000 miles from the ocean. The en-
tire countries on their banks including the
hitherto little known and.almost mysterious
country of Paraguay, were completely ex-
plored and a synopis of their commerce
and resources is given in the present re-
port. When we remind our readers that
among the products of those countries are
classcd many of the richest products of
the mine-many of the most important
medicines known, that they abound in cat
tie to such an amazing extent as to be al
most capable of furnishing the entire world
~dispensible products of his art; that a vast
number of woods rarely seen as yet by
the cabinet maker, are produced ahundantly
in those forests. that in short all the in
ducements to commercial Intercourse and
most valuable accessories to the goood of
society are to be found in the countries
the importance of this expedition and its
probable results may be estimated.
The tea of Paraguay, long a favorable
article of diet in all the countries of South
America, is now attracting much attention
in Europe, and very probably will become
an article of extensive expectation. From
, the city Of Ascension alone it is exported
, mainly to other states of South Americ;
laragly, the value in 1854 reached S2S2
a, 4S9. The commercial investigations BY
, Captain Pages expedition are of the mos
valuable description.
In geographical science and matters 0
O general interest, this expedition has ais
!, produced Il vast accession of information
For the first time accurate surveys wer
made, and the courses Of rivers and posi-
Il tons of towns, in some cases %containin
r large populations, care ully asccrtained'-
The climate, customs Of the people, disea
), ses, in fact, 10 less than 66 medical plant
! used by the people of Paraguay, were oil
h tanned and brought home in safety. Tn
superior quality of the tobacco grown i
those countries is alluded to.
81 Much information was obtained relatin
. to the curious and almost unknown tribe
/ Of Aborigines which inhabit the countrit
! Of the Interior Of South America. Twic
the expedition was attacked by hostile II
o dians, fighting on horseback, armed wit
: spears. Large collections in natural hi
tory were secured and brought home j
safety.
i We hope to see the very important IT
suits of this expedition published at an ear
d " period 10y the authority Of the Unite
e States, and venture to say that such a col
e tribution to commercial geographical an
ID general information will have very rare
been made by any governmental The Penn
d SyIranian.
# SmAML.-An Indiana exchange, in con
h plimenting Governor Joseph a. Wrigh
of thot State upOn retiring, saws he h;