Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-27

mite. The hrst organised expedition for Ia
exploration was cent out In lbAO, BY the
Viceroy Of New Spain, undsr the command
Of VOsqusE de Coronado, and discovered the
Colorado and followed it TO its mouth
Their general description Of the river and
the tribes they met agrees with The present
condition, though some statements were lit
lie exaggerated. Another expedition was
sent out about the same time under thesame
auspices, command BY Capt. Fernando AlSr-
con, which sailed up the Gulf Of California,
and assembled the Coloraso in boats for =
long distance, the account Of which corrob-
CRATES that Of Coronado. Cardinas, Cap
tain in the expedition under Coronado,
visited q portion Of the river far distant
from that seen by the others, and gives the
frat description of the famous Big Canon
Several times, during tho two succeeding
centuries, the lower part Of the river was
visited by Catholic priests. In l774 Jesuit
missionary went thither, and following the
course of the ella, travelled extensively in
both New Mexico and Sonora. Subsequent
ly about thirty years the Jesuits establish
ed missions among the Yuma Indians, st
the junction Of the 9ila and Colorado. In
l776 another Catholic missionary Travelled
from Santa Fe 70 Utah, and having explored
the region south Of the Great Salt Lake, pur-
sued q southweSterly course, toward the
sources Of the Virgin, and then crossed to
the Colorado, reaching it at point which
seems to have been almost identical with
that attained by Cardinss from an opposite
direction.
Since this time, until within the paat ten
or twelve years, the river had
preached, exceptit il were BY an occasional
trsPper or an overland party en- roEts 70
California. In the winter in 1851, re-
connoisance was made by Lieut.. Derby, by
command Of Gen. Smith, commanding the
Division of the Pacific, with view to es-
tablishing rOute via the Gulf of California
and the Colorado for the supply of the gar
rison of Fort Yuma, established in 1850 at
the mouth Of the ella TO keep the Yumas
Indians under coptrol. This reconnoisance
established a route which has since been in
operation. In the summer of 1881 Captain
sitgreaves msde an exploration from Zuna
westward, but was unable from his invssti-
cations to give favorable opinion regard
ing its navigability. In the spring Of 1854
Lieut. Whippls, in command Of the expe-
dition for the exploration and survey Of 3
railroad route near the s5th parallel, as
ceuded the river about fifty miles from the
mouth of Bill williams Fork, and from its
condition at that time, it was his opinion
thst it would be nsvigable for steamers ef
light draught. 30 far, il will be seen, but
little tbstwss favorable to the navigability
Of the river, to inquire into which was the
primary objects of the expeditions sent out
By our Government, had been sscertained.
Subsequently, however, the establishment
of new military stations in New Mexico and
Utah msde it particularly desirable, if
not necessary, as q measure of ecouo-
my, to ascertain how far the the river was
navigable, and accordingly in the
summer Of 1857, the then Secretary of War,
John B. Floyd, having the disposition Of
certain amount to be expended in field ex-
aminstlOns, SET apart portion of il for the
expedition Of which the report before US is
history. Lieut.. Ives, upon being ordered to
organise the expedition, proceeded with all
possible dispatch in the work. He had an
iron steamer, fifty feet long, built in sections,
and the parts 50 arranged that they could be
transported BY railroads. This was taken to
San Francisco, from which point the expedi-
tiOn started. The several departments Of
the expedition were headed by able and sz
Perienced scientific gentlemen. DR.. ]. s.
Eewberry, of this city, was appointed Physi-
clan, and also to take charge of the Natural
History Department.
In the middieof October the members of
the expedition assembled in San Francisco,
when they were divided into three parties.
On the 2sth of October two parties of the ex-
pedition set out, one, under DR.. Eewberry,
going by way of San Diego to Fort Yuma /;
the second by way of San Pedro, and the
third, under Lieut.. Ives, started on tbs LIST
of November, going by sea to the head Of
the Gulf Of California, thence ascending the
Colorado in the iron steamer, and joining
the other parties at Fort Yuma.
We are unable at this time to give in de-
tail the many valuable facts resulting from
this exploration. The report is amply sup
piled with magnificent typographical, geo
logical and geological charts and engrsvings,
and presents in these several departments,
as well as in a general way, most graphic
and interesting accounts Of what Is certainly
a most wonderful country. With regard to
the navigability Of the Colorado, it may be
interesting TO note some facts presented by
Lieut.. Ives. From the mouth of the river
to Fort Yuma is one hundred and fifty miles,
thsugh only half that distance in a direct
line. The width varies from one-eighth to
half mile; the depth of the channel is
from eight to twenty feet, but bars are fire.
quently encountered where there are not
more than two feet Of water. The course is
excessively toFtuous. The shifting of the
channel, the banks, the islands and the
bars are almost continual, and the conse.
quence is Of course serious hindrance to nav
igstiOn, which is rarely attempted at low
water. Under the most favorable circum-
stances the trip between these points is made
in three days, though 1t sometimes requires
two weeks. It Is the opinion Of Lieut.. Ives
that experience alone can impart the knowl-
edge necessary to navigate it suco sssfully.
From Fort Yuma to the mouth OF Bill
Williams Fork is one hundred and ninety
miles; between these points the same Obstruc-
tions from sudden changes in the channel,
bars, &c, are experienced as below Fort
= 4.