The Shasta courier., 1869-01-09
NUMBER 43.
The Great Colorado Canyon.

A correspondent, writing from Middle
Park, Colorado Territory. gives sketch of
the operations Of the Powell exploring expe-
dition. This expedition was organized in
Illinois, mainly for the purpose of solving
the mysteries of the Colorado river from the
junction Of Green and Grand rivers to Call
vile. The region, for distance of some
three hundred miles-supposed to be five
hundred by the course of the river-has never
been explored. Mountain men have fire..
quently attempted it. many of whom were
never after heard of, while those who re-
turned reported the country as a f,ightful
desert, entirely destitute of water and grass.
while perpendicular cliffs several thousand
ieet IN hight etfectually cut off access to the
r'ver' The Powell party will undertake the
exploration next season. In referring to the
region, the correspondent above alluded to
says:
The maps from Washington. that mt
down only what is absolutely scientifically
A"omp, !eave great blank space here of 800
t. 500 miles long and 100 to 200 miles LroaJ
Is any .other nation so ignorant of itself?-
All that we do know eoes to show that ha-
ginning with the union of the Grand and
Green rivers the Colorado is confined for 200
miles within perpendicular walls of rock
averaging 5000 feet high, up which no one
can climb, down which no one can 90. and
between which IN the river, rapids and falls
and furious eddies render passage frightful,
certainly dangerous, possibly impossible.
ne general conviction of the border nom
ulatlon is that whoever dares venture into
TINS canyon VIII never come out alive. But
we nave an authentic account this season of
man who made the trip last year and lives
to tell the tale. lie and a companioD. pros
peetlng for gold in southwestern Colorado.
and driven by Indians, took the Grand river
just before its union with Green. made a raft.
and committed themselves upon the waters,
Roaming rapids and whirlpool swept the
companion and all the provisions of. and
they were lost, and White. the surviving
nero name, passed seven days more, a sec
ohd seven days, without fooc upon these
strange waters, between frowning walls.
over dangerous rapids, through delaying ed
uiee, before he reached Callville in Arizona.
tue hrst settlement and the head of nayiga-
.,oh on the river. The entire journey upon
tue river must have exceeded 500 miles,
ana ne represents that for the most of the
distance it was through these traditional b;ob
walls, impossible rs a fortress. n DUNGEON
over cataract. Nearly all the rivers of Col
orado and Utah run for brief distances. from
one to twenty. five miles, through these eor-
ges Of rock, or they 6 canyon''-as by max
ing verb out of the Spanish noun, the
people OF the country describe the streams
performing the feat Of such rocky passages.
where their banks are unapproachable, and
trans or roads are sent over or around but
this rock guarded career of the great river of
the interior basin of the continent is the
grand canyon of the world, and one of its
most wondering marvels. Its passage in
well protected boats by careful navigators
can scarcely be deemed impracticable, how
ever dangerous, and the country will await
the Powell movement through it with eager
interest