The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1858-04-08
P a / / 4 . III NJ.
RICHMOND APRIL g. 1853
For tie Richmond Palladium
Cha racter of the Country West of the
Mississippi Valley.
By ROWLAND T. REED.

By ROWLAND T. REED.
TO The mere student in Geography, who
with but little knowledge Of recently develope
facts, hastily glances his eye over map or on
country, picture is apt to be presented, painted
in no mean colors, and spread upon no dmiautvt
canvass. His fancy carries him into the future
he lifts the curtain from the grst half Of the TWEEN
tieth century his eye surveys that broad belt
of country. 1000 miles in width stretching
from the Atlantic to the far Pacific, Containing
from three to four millions Of square miles and he
is deeply impressed with the scene that lies before
him. He marks well our Territories west of the
Mississippi be sees what scores of tributaries
feed the Father Of Waters" from the left what
network Of rivers extend almost throughout
the mighty wilderness Of the far west either to
swell the waters Of the Columbia the Sacramen-
to, the Colorado AID the Rio Graude, or flo wing
directly into the Pacific and the Gulf Of Mexico ;
he perceives that scarcely one half Of our terrific
ry bears the impress of civilization, while the re
sources Of but a small portion, are as yet, fully
developed aud then remembering our infancy,
aud our twenty-five millions of population be is
lost in meditation over what he conceives to be
the manifest destiny Of the American Repub-
lie Similar, indeed must be the reflections of all
those who have not paid particular attention to
the facts elected within the last few years, as to
the character of the country west Of the Missis-
sippi Valley. True it is that many of its rivers
had been ascended long before the middle of the
nineteenth century, and had received their names
but little was known Of the adjacent country save
what could be seen from the waters edge, and
even this served almost as mach to deceive as to
enlighten for while river valleys may be exceed
ngly fertile and well tmbered, the surrounding
districts may be as barran the Zahara. Even
so late as 1913, no white man, unless we should
except few TrapperS ! had ever pene trated to
the great Salt Lake of Utah. In thai year Fre-
mont first set foot the shores of that remark
able sheet of water, and TO him is due the honor
both of penetrating, in person, large portions Of
hitherto unknown regions, aud Of stirring up a
spirit OF enthusiasm upon the subject, which can
never rest until every square mile of our territory
is laid open to the light OF civilization,
Notwithstanding there remain some consdera-
BILE districts ,f the interior If he greet West sfIl
unexpIored, regions oa which tLa white naaais eve
has never yet rested enouga Is now known TO en-
able us to decale, with toIerable degree of cor
sive and interesting portion of our coua,ry. 81
far from being like the Mississippi VALLEY, uniform
ly fertile well watered, aud mostly covered with
dens. growth Of lofty forests, its characteristic
features are the very reverse,
1t will be seen by reference to the map, thai
the 9Sth meridian of west longitude divides the
United States iato two nearly equal parts and il
is a fact which is no longer to be doubted, that
nearly all that vast region west Of this line except
narrow belt bordering on the Pacific, varying
from so to 200 miles in width, is deso'ate, in
hospitabe waste with bus little water, timber, or
other vegetation altogether unslited to the wants
Of civilization. IL consists mainly fbdrrau moaa-
tnirs. arid valleys, and high rolling table lands.
AlIusion has been made to the general absence
of timber. Nothing deserving the Gane Of for
est, seems to occur on the whole rou', from the
Arkansas river, TO the Sierra Nevada Mountains
True forests" are occasionally mentioned, bat
the term seems to be merely relative. Along the
water courses aud ia the more fertile valleys, cot
ton wood often occurs, in considerable quantities.
It seems to be tAe oaly tree distributed nearly
throughout the whole extent Of the country from
the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean, being espe-i-
ally abundant in the valley of the R.O Colorado.
Two kinds of Cedars are also common. aui sever
al varieties Of Pines abound among tAe mountains
and Oaks skirt the plains ami va .eys In travers-
ing the whole region Of c,antry feom the State o.,
Arkansas TO California, near the 4oth pa-altej
ouly forty-two varieties Of forest trees found
and these generally low, dEarish and scruhbv
and occurring for the most p1r1 in small clusters,
often widely separated from each other. For 4
distance OF $50 miles along this route, eastward
from Severn Lake, scarcely tree to be
seen except few lovhranchiug Ceiars among
tie Rock Hills west Of Greea River, which could
be used ID the construction Of a Rliiroad" Over
many an elevated plateau or unls'a.inz p,aa, the
eve Of the traveller wauders to the exte.t Of the
visible horizon, without discovering single tres.
bush or shrub to break the maaatouy.
Plants herbs ana gr4sses are more numerous vet
by no means abundant, OF the former a species
Of a-lemlsa called sage, f5a-ishes ever a c7u~.I-
cradle extent of the co4atey- It is low, scrub
by plant, on which Hungary ma1es refuse to feed
5ut II answers il some sort, for facl 1t seems 10
aocrish in snite of droush aud steri.ity II the
souther parts. many hiads Of Cactus seeas 10
abound bu. with this p.agt is always associated
the idea Of barreuness. The most remarkable
variety is the Csrsus Gjgsa'sat or tree Cactus.
which grows 1. the heigh: Of b fae;-sometInas
/ putting ont one or more brauehss-waieA as they
stand here aad there over the hills and plains,
give most singular appearance to the landscape.
Ga many oft-e mountain slopes bill sides, plains
and river bottoms several kinds Of grass are fouai
sometimes growing luxuriant'y- The mos, vaIa-
able, Is We'll as the most remarkable Of these is
the famous Grana grass -Anether species, B1f-
. r. =, -.
identical with the G7ana Faey a-e, az least
much alike. L is represented. as being only about
50 inch in hight, euriei crisp aad very nu;riejou<
1t is this grass which affords pasturags for tae
large bat diminishing herds Of sutf4lo Deer aai
Autelopes. that roam over the western pl.ias.
Ard from this it has been a--rsi. that though