Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-09-30
THE CANYONS OF THE COLORADO.

nrc,,.ts,v HsHrc-.Iich Mineral DE.
: FPoSits.
i From the Omaha Republican, Sept. III.
Samuel Adams, ESP, a gentleman who
has been for tho last four years III tho SER
vice Of tho War Department., engaged i'll
exploring the Colorado River, and the un.
explored region of country lying west OF
the Rocky Mountain range, contiguous to
that river, arrived in this city on yesterday,
on his way to Washington, where no will
subn,t to- the Secretary OF War an official
report Of his explorations and discoveries.
Mr.. Adams has kindly furnished us the fol-
lowing synopsis Of his forthcoming report,
which contains information of tho most in
teresting and valuable character, of u vast
region OF country, Of which little or moth
thing Of reliable nature has hitherto boon
known We commend it to the attention
Of the readers of the Republican:
"Elitor Republican,:
"SIR:-At your request. give you few
hasty facts respecting tho individual OK
plorinR enterprise with which l have been
connected for tho last four years, having for
its object tho exploration of tho Colorado
River and it's tributaries. This river, and
the almost unknown country through which
it wends its way from the Rocky Mountains
to the Gulf Of California, has been so much
n,isrepresentcd by professional letter writ
ers, and moro recent explorer, who has
expended nothing individually and incur
red mono OF the hardships inseparably con-
nected with tho development Of the terra
incognita) West. the public, in consequence,
have been much deceived, and very great
Injustice has been done to the mineral and
agricultural resources of a neglected sec.
ton of territory which must soon attract
the attention of the government.
at is impossible for me, in this brief
communication, to enter into subject ut
length upon which you have expressed 80
much interest, AZ have done in my official
report, which will be published in few
days: ,>,o.;n,,, >,x,v ~ o,ovo, ,oo, with
four boats constructed on the Blue River,
left a point on that stream, eight miles
from tho main divide or summit Of tho
Rocky Mountains, July 12, 1869, for the
purpose of descending that stream to the
Grand tho main tributary Of the ColorAdo)
to a point on the Colorado River. where I
had assembled from the Gulf Of California
over three years since, the facts of which
were given in my published report to tho
Secretary Of War, and published in tho New
York 1fnlllne, amt other pepers Of TIE
East and Yest.. sFdF the fist 100 miles,
after sorting, foqld NE descent Of the
rivDrE 81 dwerG 600 felt. Phe Rocky end
Cave Canons Of tho Blue, and tho Grand
and Swift Canons of tho Grand River
found to be swiftor and much moro dan
aerous than the 'Mojave,' Painted, Long,
Rivkr.S thfough alf Of which lmye ass
cended and descended several times within
tho last three years. A description of tho
current, depth md length of eanons, etc.,
gave in my published report. Where
left tho river lust to the Gulf of California,
a. distance OF. about eleven hundred miles,
tho descent of water cannot DO over 500
feet, or more than five feet TO tho mile, thus
,substantiating the statement made in my
first report. In descending through sue
cession of rapid canons I lost ali my boats,
Instruments, maps, etc. The instruments
were replaced, when, with my companions
(four men), proceeded upon cedar raft.
This was broken mp, and MI our provisions
lost, except four days rations. For seventy
five miles tho falling water would average
seventy feet to tho mile; and in some places,
three hundred to the mile. While this was
source of satisfaction to myself, and MI
additional assurance that the fall of water
must necessarily be loss below, it was
cause of alarm to the balance OF my party,
WHO AclI lIlo III WIG 4soNny \1Asso OesAA"i AA
these the perpendicular walls arose from
800 to 1880 feet.
"In descending the river upon our raft,
~ we'll las for. seventy ivo miles above
where WI constructed it, We passed through
4 succession Of valleys from ono mile to
fifty in length, where We unexpectedly
found wild oats, wheat, rye. barley, timo-
thy and clover growing spontaneously,
while the fine cedar and oak timber in
creased in size. The mineral resources we
found to be of the most fattering character.
Time will not permit me to enter into full
description of these or the superior facili-
ties for making them available. Soon tho
public will know and appreciate these facts,
and the press of the East will no longer be
led astray by descriptions of the canons of
tho Colorado, given by recent explorer in
this, the eleventh hour, whose vision was so
remarkably acute that at the dlst,1nco Of
three hundred miles from Green River, he
could sec tho canons of the Colorado, in nil
their length and depth, and whose letters
stated that he was the first to ascend the
summit OF Longs Peak, when it is a matter
of public notoriety that women and men
have gone before him for the last ten
years, the day and date Of whose ascent
was marked upon the place IF his triumph.
feel that am depressing from my object
in writing. Had timeI would enter upon
it ut length and speak of it as it's import
ance demands. Respectfully yours, i.
I SAMUEL ADAMS"