, 1869-05-29
THE POWELL EXPEDITION,
Object Of the Expedition.
Aid Extended by Government.
Other Assistance.
Preparations for The Summer Campaign.


CORRESPONDENCE or 1uK CHICAGO TRMtSK1
GRERN R1yKz, Wyoming Territory, May q
Permit me, through your paper, 10 explain the
purposes for which this expedition Is made, aud ts
organization, as statements have been made In the
public press saat are somewhat inaccurate, The
expedition IS under the ausr.ces Of the Illinois Nat
ural Hstory socaety-!ts chief "a the Secretary Of
that society.
About year ago Congress passed law author.
1ztng the Secretary Of War to issue ratons to the
party. 1send herewith cops Of the Law aud the
order OF TIC General Of the Army relating thereto;
ze5s5;xS $:sssssss, S5sSss5: 81 ;sss sf;9S Il L.,
S'Seai' o7aeFr No. '*'} }ss+,p4, ''
p !ons Eesol;tien. anthosizns the Secretary 0,
r;essd Jaae Provtds H.. stseei she stesaisiS sg
r. 9san. Ind h + s1ss
esass exploration ii he Rver coersdo ansq
@sS sf .t;aea. L tPss 1
shf IL ets:s;ti 6 III h W|ll,a
sae isI s
tson the conn.saFy stoscs posts tst Ia
1as bsfs Fsi a # f. the dtsd n Fsen
II se # Iea III, i1fr!s f. M rssts5s
N ssusa IN value q othc! siee ths my b
5asa :iss tsles 3 R III
of iic o. Whca from peculiar circumstances. IRON
then ioe t 7aias Rs
in lind may be said to Pto,sssof Powsli Il mensy
By command Of General Grant:
E, D. TOWNSEND
Assistant Ad1utaut General
It Will be seen that permission Is given to COM
mute part Of the ration. This gives fund suf-
fcient to employ four men, who hunt and nsh, md
thus supply the party with meat The principal
kaving Is In the meat ras1on, and, Of course, We
prefer wild meat to army bacon,
The Illinois Industrial Enlycrslty, for the two
Eears past, has made d small appropriation the
entesprisc-s1,lo ,loo in nll The Smithsonian lustl
tutton aud the Chicago Academy ot Sciences hare
granted rs some favora
The funds Of the Illinois Natural History So
cictv devoted to this work, amount to less than
,ooo annually. The amount nom all these
tources will not quite furnish the instruments and
supplies, the balance coming from private sources.
The railroads have shown great llberality, giving
transportation to the party. The hunters managed
the pack train last year, and Will largely man the
boats this. As We 1oat down rapid river there Is
not much labor Of rowing, odd MI help when there
Is need, as over FapIis portagcs, 1c., the other
members OF the party give their time. feeling rc-
muuerated BY the opportunity for study.
The object is to make collections in geology,
natural history, antiquities and ethnology for tho
Institutions assisting the work. Not the least Of
the objects IN view ls to ndd mite to tho great
sum Of human knowledge. Science has Its deyo-
mi. IN 49, s','" 49, Feelins 1n'o sAe nuu.ei
~. nnt.a~so os-, :. 49, e.erss W oa'1oeA 'u'.
~ 49, :. u'e 10 searching ani
cha-oa,os ~ ~ IL. ~ mole lncts thest
M 49,, =. ."ei .ne W." - "1n'ea' 40" II
,a..r 1911 ,ss" ae" Aotc .acts' ani from them
t,ons . NJ sNa' 'ee' fepao lot Toll pt1Ea-
'grs Tn,. nn,. ls1,1:
a., .".s suill.et VOTE WI ne heFosed Chiefly to
wsu. w.. sau's ~ me GEOGRAPHY anu geology OF tho
tho r,ot ~ ~ ~. .ae Stray canon ..tFief
] ~. .ste, VI -, WHICH IL tue gsanu cahon y yet un.
rAi'or'n We afc fsosl'1e' With Instruments foE
tello',1ns iA''thae' longitude hnt nltltuIc, nnd
~. '''as'HF ohscrshtlone OF tic climate.
naS w nut snalI hhd opportunity to send yoli
=" M ~ "A', nun &lhe 10 tlliae ol onr progress, ~