The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-09

From the Omaha Republican. Sept ~
Ssmus! Adams, EGG, a gentleman Who hal
oeen TOT the last t0ar years in the service Of tn
war Department, engaged in explering tie Colo
rA'to River and the UNEMPLOYED region q couu
try lying vest OF the Rocky Hoantain range
contiguous to that river, arrived in this city OF
yesterday, On his way to Washington. where b,
will submit to the Secretary of War an oficis
report Of biz explorations and discoveries Mr.
Adams has kindly furnished us the following o.
nopsis Of his forthcoming report, which contain,
information Of the most valuable character
OF vast region of country. of which little Of
nothing OF . reliable nature has hitherto been
kaown. We commend it to the attention of the
readers OF the Republican: ~
Editors Republican, '"
'SIR AT your request, give you few has.
ty facts respecting the individual exploring en-.
tsrprise with which have been connected fol-
the last four years having for its object the ex.
ploration Of The Colorado River and its tributa.
rice, This river, and the almost unkno wu
country tArosgh which it wepds its way from
the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf Of California,
has besn - nuoh misrepresentsd BY professional
letter writers, and q more recent explorer, Who
has expended nothing individually and incurred
none OF the hsrdships inseparably connected With
the Development of the terra incogaita) West,
the public il cOnseq usnce, have been much de-
ceived. and very great injustice has been done to
the mineral and agricultural resources of neg
lected section It territory which must coon
attract the attention of the government
ut IL impossible for me, in this brief comma
nicstion, to enter into q subject at length upon
which you have expressed 80 much interest, as I
have done in my official report, which will be
published in few days.
my exploring party of eleven men, with four
boats constructed on the Blue River, left point
ON that stream, eight miles from the main divide
or summit Of the Rocky Mountains, July r.,
1859, for tho purpose Of descending that stream
to the Grand 1.-THE main tributary of the Colorado,
TO point q the Colorado River, where had
ascended from the Gulf of California over three
years since, the facts of which were given in nv
published report to the Secretary Of War, aud
published In the NsU York Tribune. and other
papers OF the East and West For the first 100
miles, after starting, 1 found the descent Of the
river 70 be over Z, 600 feet The Rocky and Cave
Canons OF the Blue, and the Grand and Swift
Canons of the Grand River found to be swifter
and much more dangerous than the 'Mojave,'
Painted, 'Loug,' Black and Dig Canous Of the
Colorado River, through all Of which I have as
oended and descended several times within the
last three yesra A description of the current,
depth and length Of csnons, ETC., gave in
my published report Where left the river last
to the Gulf Of California distance of about elev.
en- hundred miles. the descent of water cannot be
over 500 feet, or more than five feet to the mile,
thus substsntiating the statement made ia NV
hrst report. In descending through q succession
OF rapid canons lost all nay boats, instruments,
maps etc. The instruments were replaced, when.
With my companions -four men, proceeded up
on cedar raft This was broken up and all our
provisions lost, except four days rationa For
seventy.fve miles the falling water would aver.
age seventy feet to the mile; and ia some places,
three hundred to the mile. While this was q
source of sstisfscyion to myself and an addition.
81 assurance that the fall of water must necessa-
rily be less below, it was cause of alarm to the
balance Of my party, who left me in the Rocky
Gave Canon. In these the perpendicular wslls
arose from 800 to 1900 feet.
I'm descending the river upon our raft. az we'll
~ for seventy.6ve miles above where We con-
structed it. We passed through succession of
valleys from one mile to fifty in length, where
We unexpectedly fouud wild oats, wheat. rye,
barley. timothy and clover growing spontaneous
~, while the fine cedar and oak timber increased
in size. The mineral resources we found to be
of the moat asttsring character. Time will not
permit me to enter into full description of these
or the superior facilities for making them avail
able. Soon the public will know and appreciate
these facts, and tho press of the East will no lon.
eoe 10 LOU HsVSy oy descriptions OF the canonS OF
the Colorado, given by recent explorer in this,
the eleventh hour, whose vision is so remarkably
acute that Ut the distance of three hundred miles
from Green River, he could see the canons of the
Colorado. in all their length and depth, and
whose letters stated that he was the first to as
osnd the summit of Longs Peak, when it is a
matter OF public notoriety that women and men
have gone before him for the Last tea years, the
day aud date of whose ascent WAS marked upon
the place Of his triumph. feel that I am di-
crossing from my object in writing. Had the
time would enter upon it at length and speak
of it - its importance demands.
Respectfully yours,
ssSANJJEI, AnAMso