The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-17

| Win sharp lsruss the view on every sue peints
shut in by Z bleak, precipitous walls of "white
sand.rock.' These walls presented smooth,
perpendicular surface above the water level, and
showed distinct line of high-water mark 80 to
| 40 feet shove the stream. His estimate of the
| average height of the canon was 5000 feet, the
upper edge of which fared out about half way
| from the bottom, thus presenting ragged crest.
The last two days in the canon, dark colored,
| igheous rock took the place of the white sand
| stone, which finally showed distinct breaks on
| either side, till he reached the more open coun-
| try, containing small patches of bottom land.
Here, for the first time on his route, he encoun-
| tered Indians from whom he succeeded in pro-
curing a scanty supply Of mesquite bread, barely
sufficient to sustain life till he reached Calville,
on the Sth of September, IA days from the start
ing, during seven of which he had no food OF amy
description.
When finally rescued he presented pitiful
sight; emaciated and haggard with abstinence
his bare feet and legs literally fayed from con-
slant exposure to drenching from water, and the
Scorching rays of vertical sun, and his reason
almost gone. Being, however, of a maturity Sc ong
constitution, he soon recovered his usual health,
and is now stout thick-set hearty man. His
narrative throughout bears all the evidence of
entire reliability, and is sustained by collateral
evidence, 80 that there is no room to doubt that
he actually accomplished the journey in the
manner anu within the time mentioned by him.
CONCLUSIONS.
The following may be summed up as some of
the new facts to be derived from this remarkable
voyage, as additions to our previous geographical
knowledge of the photography of the Colorado
River:
r. /. The actual location of the mouth of the
San Juan, 40 miles below Green river junction,
and its entrance by canon, continuous with
that of the Colorado, above and below the point
of junction.
2. From the mouth of the San Juan to the
Colorado Chiquto, three days travel in the swift
est portion of the current, allowing rate of foar
miles per hour for Is hours, or 60 miles per day,
would give an estimated distance of $50 miles,
including the most inaccessible portions of the
great canon.
8. From Colorado Chiquito to Callvile 10
days travel were expended, AS this portion of
the route was more open, and probably comprised
long stretches of still water, it would not be safe
to allow distance of more than thirty miles per
day, or 300 miles for this interval. Thus the
whole distance Travelled Vpuld amount to $50
miles, or something over 500 miles from the
Green river junction to the head of steamboat
navigation on the Colorado.
4. The absence of any distinct cataracts or
perpendicular falls would seem to warrant the
conclusion that in time of high water, by proper
appliances in the form of boats, good resolute
men, and provision secured in waterproof bags,
the same passage may be safely made, and the
actual course of the river mapped out and its
peculiar geological features properly examined.
5. The construction of bridges, by a single
span, would be rendered difficult of execution,
on account of the usual fiaring shape of the up
per summit possibly, however, points might be
found where the high mesas comes nearer to-
gether.
G. The estimated average elevation of the
canon at 5000 feet is less than that given on the
authority of Ives & Newberry but may be nearer
tho actual truth, as the result of more continu-
Gus observation.
Z. The width of the river at its narrowest
points was estimated at 100 feet, and the line of
high water mark, 80 to 40 feet above the average
stage In August.
s. The long.continued uniformity of the geo.
logical formation termed "white sandstone, prob
ably cretaceousO is remarkable, but under this
term may have been comprised some of the lower
strati6ed formations. The contrast in reaching
the dark, igneous rocks so marked that 1t
could not fail to be noticed
8. Any prospect for useful navigation up or
down this canon during the season OF high water,
or transportation OF lumber from the upper pine
regions, could not be regarded as feasible, con-
sidering the long distance, and the inaccessible
character of the river banks
10. No other satisfactory method of explora-
ton, except along the course OF the river, could
be adopted to determine Its acutual course, and
peculiarly natural features, and James White as
the pioneer OF this enterprise, will probably re-
tain the honor Of being the only man who has
traversed through its whole course the great
canon of the Colorado, and lived to recount his
observation on this perilous trip.
Respectfully yours,
G. c. PARRY, Geologist of the Survey.
Hardyville, Arizona, Jan. 6, 1868.