The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-21

VHE HOWel1 e0peulLlOuS duOuL "AACA
our readers have heard 80 much for a
few weeks past, is really one of the
most remarkable ever undertaken: In
any scientific sense, the Colorado and
the vast region lying around it, may be
said to be as thoroughly unexplored to
this day aa the heart<of Africa or the
poles. All around this strange region
the tide of civilization has flowed;
north of it the railroad passes; south
of 1t dozen railroad surveys have been
thoroughly made east OF 1t lies the
flourishing territory of Colorado; west
OF it the settlements OF Utah. But from
the loft ranges which shut in the Colo
RADIO parks westward to the Wahsatch
range, and from the Bear river south
ward to the Little Colorado, q tract OF
irregular shape but nearly Eve degrees
across in either direction, has never
been explored enough to give us re-
liable map of its streams or mountain
ranges. Here and there adventu-
rers have penetrated, from one d.
rection or another, into this re-
eion, but every explorer thus far
has been stopped by an impas-
sable barrier. Only one white man, 80
| far as we know, has ever traversed this
tract, and his journey WAS an unvolun-
tary and terrible experience. Getting
was swept into that closely walled gulf
| which has 80 long and so successfully
Guarded the secret ofthe Colorado, and,
After weeks Of intense suffering, he
emerged far below In the territory OF
Arizona. His description of the trip,
which was widely published some time
/ ago, has excited the utmost interest,
and it explains in great part the fact
that this region has never. yet been
trayersed by any exploring party. The
Colorado and its main branch, the
Green river, flow for hundreds OF miles
through narrow gorge between lofty
and perpendicular walls OF rock: WITH
in this gorge are rapids or falls which
threaten destruction to any party az
tempting to enter or escape 1rom IT.
Other streams flow in-the Rio San
Imam being the chief-also pass through
similar deep assures in the rock. every
stream, therefore, forms barrier pes
yond which no party can pass. Ano
thus 1t happens that the heart OF the
American continent still presents 9
geographical problem as interesting II
not as difficult of solution as any hid
den in the heart of Africa under the
equator.
| Major Powell, with corps OF COM
petent assistants. has attempted tc
make thorough exploration of the
| 1oroe or canon Of the Colorado, starting
IN Green river in boats built expressly
i for the trip, and hoping to reach civili-
zstion again where the river passeE
thronph the corners OF Arizona and
Navsda. Ifhe has once entered this
mir return is forever imposslble: the
6srtv must push through to the end or
periSh utterly! Thus shut out fol
PPeontha from all human knowledge o.
aiS. the brave explorers will prosecute
their iabors for science and civilizatior
i.teraiiy In far below the surface OF tn
earth-for the canon. ia simply grea
crack In the globe. Its depth can only
he guessed from the great volume Q
Il Tater which flows through 1t, tar 70 peios
the surface, even at low water. Ihe re
nork Of the sinR1e involuntary explore
kefore mentioned has led to tine pelle
that for most OF the distance the strean
n always navigable, and that at hlgl
Ister even its rapids may be passed
i or NAV be made passable by engineer
SnSN II DO, steamers mny ultimately
ascend far up into Utah or COLORADO
with freight.