The Placer herald., 1865-04-15
Navigating the Colorado.

The complete success OF Captain Thomas
E. Truewortby in ascending the Colorado
River to within four hundred miles Of Great
Salt Lake City, in the steamer Esmeralda,
towing barge and transporting one hum
dred tons Of freight, may be considered an
era in the trade Of Utah and Arizona Terri
tories. Until the accomplishment of this
attempt of Captain T., the public has been
assured. and generally made to believe, that
the Colorado was totally unnavigable above
Hardyville, which is about five hundred miles
above the mouth OF the river. 1t has been
con ntnually pressed upon the public and the
Government, that appropriations by the lat
ter were absolutely necessary to make the
channel navigabe. A large amount Of
freight having accumulated at the mouth Of
the river, and great difficulty being expe
renced in efforts to get it transported to its
destination, Captain Trueworlhy was induced
by Mr.. Samuel Adams to test the character
of the rivers channel, by running steamer
and towing barge loaded up the river as
far as possible. Arriving at Hardyville, they
were assured that the river could be naviga
bic only thirteen miles further. Hardyvle
is two hundred and eighty miles above La
Paz. Up to the former place the Esmeralda
steamer had progressed, towing barge one
hundred and twenty-six feet in length, at a
time when the river was at its lowest stage.
The current was reported very swift and
difficult, and the channel but twelve to fifteen
feet in breadth. The steamer was twenty.
eight feet in breadth, but she was hauled
through easily, the channel proving to be
from lhirty.fve to thiry-eight feet wide, and
fifteen feet deep. Explorers Rock" fifty
three miles above, vas said to be another
impossible barrier, fftyfour feet in length.
This is the point where Ives Expedition was
brought 10 halt. Both steamer and barge
passed above it before the terrible barrier
was discovered-a rock few inches below
the surface. On each side the channel was
from ninety to a hundred feet wide, and ten
feet deep, the current running only about
two knots. The steamer assembled ten miles
further, to within twenty five miles of CALI
vile, and could probably have reached the
latter place without difficulty, and only stop
ped short of it because the warehouse had
not been completed and the parties who
were to have built it had been induced TO
leave through Misrepresentation by inter-
es'ed persons. Between Hardyve and
Callvile more water was found than from
the mouth Of the river to the former place,
a distance of five hundred miles. CaIvile
is only three hundred and ninety miles from
Salt Lake City, the road between those two
places being good natural highway, over
which goods may be hauled at all seasons.
The success Of the expedition proves that
vessels of one hundred and twenty five tons
can nav gate the river at all stages for six
hundred miles from its mouth. This result
may be considered as the turning point in
an extensive trade which will henceforth pass
through that route. 1t opens an outlet and
inlet for the Salt Lake trade, which is prob.
ably destined to supersede the former over,
land transportation from the Missouri, long,
tedious, and expensive, and it will give 10
the producers of Utah an available and prof
table market for their productions. For, at
lhe mouth of the river, ships Of the largest
tonnage can find a good and safe harbor.
AT present, there is new storeship, the Vic-
toria, Of seven hundred tons burthen, ready
to receive and discharge freight. 1t is well
for our merchants and traders interested to
look into this avenue for their enterprise.
Arizona, as well as Utah, is fast growing into
importance Its mines have already attract
ed quite population. The only thing
wanted is comparatively cheap mode of
supply and ready access. It's mines are un,
doubtedly rich and extensive. What has
heretofore been supposed one Of the most
sterile of countries, is proven to possess abun
dance of excellent agricultural lands, fine
timber and good water. AT time not far
distant, it will contain a large population,
and require large supply of goods. They
who judiciousy start in to take advantage
Of the facilities now offered, and thus antici-
pate the future demand, will undoubtedly
realize generous reward for their enterprise
s. f. Call.