New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-09-02
Thc Colorado Expedition.

The report Of Lieut. Beale Of his recent expedition
across the continent 10 survey the route for wagon
road from Fort Defiance to the Colorado river has
been printed. Only forty-eight days were occupied
ID completing the survey and the eames were found
TO be admirably adapted to the journey, In the fol-
loving paragraphs Lieut. Beale gives an interesting
synopsis Of his report
A year in the wilderness ended. During this time
have conducted my party from the Gulf Of Mexico
to Che shores Of the Pacific ocean and back again to
the eastern terminus Of the road, through country
fol- d great part entirely uaknown and inhabited BY
hostile indians, without the loss OF a man. have
tested the value Of the eamels, marked q new road
to the Plcihc, and travelled four thousand miles
without an accident. tt Is the shortest from our
western frontier by three hundred miles, being nearly
directly west 1t is the most level onr wagons only
doaheiteaming once III the entire distance and that
O short hill and over surface heretofore 1nbroken
by wheels Or trail Of any kind It is wewatered /;
our greatest distance without water AZ any time being
twenty miles, II is we'll tlm1ered, and nmany places
the growth is far beyond that of any part of the
world have ever seen. 1t ia temperate in climate,
passing for the most part over all elevated region
It is salubrious not Que Of our party requiring the
slightest medical attendance from the time of our
leaving To our arrival. Tits well-grassed, my com
inaHd never having made bad grass camp during
the entire distance until near the Colorado. 1t
cE0sses the great desert (Which must be crossed by
any road to California ut its narr0west point. Tt
but little infested with Indians,
On The entire road until Our arrival at the Mohave
villages we did not notice in all over dozen Indians
and those Of timid and inotfensiVe character. At
die point af tue crossing Of the Colorado grain yege
tables and breadstuifs may be obtained ID any guam
titg from the Indians who cultivate extensively,
though radeiy, the fertile bottom lands of the Colo
Tado. II Is passable alike in winter and summer
These are the advantages which claim for the road
which we have discovered, marked, and explored
from New Mexico to this State.
From the Colorado end to the settlements the
country has been surveyed and mapped by the United
States Surveyor Of the STATE which, apart from the
iaot.that it does not come within my instructions,
leaves me butlitte to say in relation to it. shall
mention, them only one important fact that it leaves
to the option Of the emgrant the choice Of entering
California either st the city Of Los Angeles by the
regular Travelled road in the most fertile part Of the
southern portion of the State, or turning of from
that river aud BY an easy road frequently Unveiled
aud coming into the head Of the great Tulare val.
leYi and By good road through settlements an the
way, extending to Stockton, Sacramento, and the
more northern parts Of the State
Lieut. Beale il preparing to leave with second
party for the opening Of the read of which he has
surveyed the route.