New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-11


gon all Washington Territory on tic Pacific Idaho aad
Montana caa. uous % DE British Province part Of D.
cotL, C'o4d1 AM New Mexico toward the cas., arl
in the center aal so,h-wes Utah, Arizona and Nevada
c ceral n 1otv remote failure, 10 exercise marked
i.fuelco over Tie lc ries e. the american LepLlAo
a1d Oh tie monet. ny a4l.ls of the civilized ord.
The region ,f Tie Far West" is traycrscd ~ foar
rrea. mountain a-cs which, wherever explored, have
been found saeuary rch in mineral IesouTccs These
ranges though wide apart, are known by the common
name Of the Rocky Mountains. They are @ continuation
Of the Mexican Codlaas, aud their general course is
rorh-rc.t and southeast, but thdr spurs ead lateral
ranges have various directions to which Nc single descrp
ton viii apply.
The most eastern range, after passing through New
Mexico, Colorado Daeoiah, and Montana, enters the
British territory AID terminals the Arctic Ocean IN la
tude 7O north. This i, the principal range and that
10 which was originally applied the name Of the Rocky
Mountains. The central or Wasatch range, runs from
the borders Of California through Utah and IDAHO whero
it connects with the east range il latitude -
north. The third range called in one part the
Sierra Nevada Mountains il another the Cascade Noun
tains, trayerscs California Oregon, Washington Territory
and British Columbia, until 1t reaches Prince william
sound and there atteins greater elevation than any
other mountain Of the North American continent. Tho
fourth, or most westerly range, known as the Coast
Range keeps al through its within ashor distance
Of the Pacific, by many Of whose creeks and bays its
northern portions penetrated. This chain extends
from the southern extremity Of the State Of California,
where DIVORCES from the Sierra Nevada range to the
Strait Of Juan DO Fuca, which separates Van Couyers
Island from the main land.
Such arc the great mountain ranges in which are en-
boEecd the exhausess and untold treasures Of the Far
West Let Us take notc Of the altitude OF their
principal peaks proceed to describe iheir geological
and meteorological features.
Though tho Rocky Mountains cannot compete in alti-
tude with the Himaayas Of India, or tho Coriileras o.
South America, yet several Of their peaks towcr great
hight above the level Of the ocean. Mount S. Elias,
which stands on tho Pacific Of the northwest extremity Of
the Sierra Nevada, has elevation OF Il 500 feet Mount
Brown and Mount Hooker also in British Columbia, r.
spec,ycy reach altitude Of and 49, 700 feet while
Frcmouts Peak. in tie Wind River muge, rises to the
hglof 1850 feet. and Pixies Peak in Colorado to that
/ Of l4,0O0 feet.
The general coutour Of the Rocky Mountains is exc
trcmely irregular Many Of them assume the Alpine char
actor Of rugged, PERCEPTIONS peaks, and owing 70 their
being frequently penetrated by deep transverse valleys Gad
cahons they present thai scratod aspect from Which
their Spanish name has been derived.
The prevalent rock formations Of TIE several ranges
the meamorphc gnoiss granite porphyres. and mica
ceous and tacoso slaes, the two last mentioned being
II the western ranges Tie GRANTEES are N
general highly fedspathc AMI it Is these and the other
meamorqhc rocks which contain those rich mciacreols
Of whose nature ami value shall presently have
10 treat in detail.
The ridges composing se different chains separated
by Valley some OF which az Of e1traorlnag fertility,
and well calculated % reward the abors Of the aecultu
nst; while between the great chains themselves lie vast
tracts Of table land, elevated from 5000 10 1908 feet
above the level OF tie sea.
brief notice Of the botany OF the Far West vii SUI
fee FOR purpose. Below tho line Of perpetual sn0w
the mountain sides generally covered witt spruce, BAL
liz and pine, which, lower down, become ntcrixed
with beach birch an various other trees Tho plains,
where not desert are usually clad that species Of grass
peculiar the pr4ine and along the banks groves
Of willow and cottonwood are frequently 10 be- nuad,
while in certain districts towering plants abound TIA;
when full bloom they give to the country tie appearance
OF vast garden.
The principal channels by which the waters Of the Far
West ind ther way 20 the aye those oi the Rio
Granle the Columbia, Colorado, SACRAMENTO, and San
Joaquin rivers. The Rio Gsaude has JOS source % tho
eastern range Of the Rocky Mountains. latitude 3
north and after a coune Of about 800 miles, flows
into the Calf Of Mexico In latitude - north It. gem
eIa direction il southeast and east, and 10 Is nayigabe
for small steamers for 80 miles from the sea The Co
luInbi4 River issues from small lake on the western
slope OF tho Rocky Mountains in latitude 50 north, and
Longitude l6 west IL. colro is ID general northwest
AID SOUTH tn 30 reaches the 4dh parallel Of Latitude
whence IL runs due west o. tie Pacific. A. the distance
OF 81 miles It's mouth u expands into bay from
three 10 seven miles vide aud Is uavgsbe FOR vessels Of
considerable burden for about 80 milcs lae entire
length Of the Columbia 200 miles AID is principal
tributaries are Flat Bow, Lewis Fork and Snake River
The main branch Of the Colombo River, called the Green
River has its source 10 the Wasach Mountains IN a-
tudo ~ north Thence II flows in south westerly direc-
ton through Utak, Arizona, and along the borders OF
California to the Gulf Of California. IL - over LOW
miles IN length and j. nsvcabe 10 Caly.iie, between
which and San Francisco there now regular steam COM
munication. The principal Tributaries OF the CooTado
are the Virgin White, and ella rivers The Sacramento
and san joaquin the great dranes Of the CEN
tra valley OF California Tho former has rs source IN the
northeast corner Of the State, aud the latter in s sonth
err extremity but both IN the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The general course Of the Sacramento southeast until
It's Junction with the San Joaquin that Of the san
Joaquin after It issues from Lake Tulare, north
west From their junction, however which takes place
about 20 miles Of San Francisco, tier course Is
due west 20 TIE point where they discharge their
waters into the Bay OF San Francisco. The Sacn-
mento aud san joaquin arc eacl about $50 miles In
length and are naygabe for large vessels the one Sac
ramcnto City aud the other TO Stockton, which stand
nearly the game distance from the The principal
tributaries Of the Sacramento are PITT River and the
Feather and American nyers-whle the most important
sfiuens Of the San Joaquin the Manposa MeTced,
and Tuoumne rivers.
The Colorado, the Sacramento, and the San Joaquin
ale the great channels by Of which the inhabitants
Of the mineral regions OF tho Far West hold communoa
ton with the outside world, and transport their treasures
TO the commercial capitals of both hemispheres but there
are other modes Of travelling and from said regions than
thnse Which have poined out namey Tho eIea inland