The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-02-09
TIE COLORADO CANYON.

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In New York. JAN 18th, Major Powella tho
explorer, delivered lecture describing bis ad-
ventures 10 Colorado canyon, Of which the fol
He described the distinct portions. of the
country on the Colorado, stating that yery IT.
tie water fell in the rim of the basin Of one
portion. For hundreds of miles the river had
cut its way through narrow, winding gorkestA
the whole place cut, asit were, into u labyrinth.
For days and days you might 60 on and find it
SmpOssible to select place where nyou could
climb up. This region Of the Colorado was o
region Of great wonders. Many curious tales
were told of these places-of persons wander
ing along the cliffse and perishing for want OF
the water which rolled below them, and which
they were unable to reach. When the Indians
found that he was going through those places
they looked at him more az devil than man.
In some parts of the Colorado it fell seven feet
to the mile. c ea>s.tio.., : ,ls.a sef ,ad9..r
The lecturer referred to his adventures with
his four boats until he came to the junction of
the Grand and Green rivers Here his party
took astronomical observations, and he found
the lateral canyon coming In at the junction
Of the two streams. Ii was very narrow; in
some places not more than two or three feet
wide. They also found lateral caves. There
them; the lateral canyon, lodges of rock
stretching high up, and the deep gorges, filled
with everlasting SHOWS, the whole scene re-
splendent, in the MONDAY sun, with the glOries
of Heaven. Applause. The waters plunged
off, forming q series Of waves different from
the waves of the sea. They went to Cataract
canyon; the walls OF the canyon were high, Q
mountain of rock. He stated that where they
had great mountain ranges there were wrinkles
or holes in the earth; aad. pointing to his dia-
grams, he showed that there were great walls
Of rock, of sandstone, Of limestone and Of Or
ange and vermilion Sandstone, cut off from
this range in fact nineteen thousand feet Of
rock washed away from this range. The Cat
aract canyon he alluded TO as region of na-
tive rock; there was no vegetation To- relieve
the scenery they came Through. They then
came to Mound canyon, so called from the
mounds set on the walls Of the canyon. In
other places, instead Of the rock being worn
back, it was cut vertically with the lateral
canyon. .5ss.-.t 43a. A-~.4Gt8lETI aa OF
Major Powell described Monument, canyon,
and the chocolate and vermilion sandstone.
They passed through there for days, until
they arrived at Marble canyon, The orange
and vermilon cliffs could be- seen from this
place 1900 feet high. aud even some Of those
cliffs were ), 800 feet high. The water danced,
~altzed it's way along the canyon, rolling down
10 cascades. One part of the wall seemed to
Dc set with ten millions of flashing gems. The
water was sent out Of thousand jets, and tho
spray, being exposed to the action Of the sun,
yet the entire scene aglow with heavenly beauty,
The grand canyon Of the Colorado was $50
niles in length. The rocks would be cut in
ateral canyons almost everywhere. The SOUTH
'rn bend was cut through granite, and the
walls were 5000 feet. or about one mile
Ugh. Looking down from the top Of one Of
hose walls through the dark gorge tho river
ooked like silver thread, You could not see
he course of the river, owing to it's windings,
more than 200 or 800 feet ahead. lEverywhere
ONE new beauty appeared-some gigantic
orm carved lib the rock; something to startle
ou as you went on day aiter day through that
scene..d alod e 6aa-ioqq1 a9ad