The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-20
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MAJOR poWELrs EXPLORING EXPEDITION
II, Outfit, Objects, and Expected
Results,

Its Outfit, Objects, and Expected
Results.
We lind the following in reference Il
lli, expedition in the salt Lake lia5uH.
Of last Friday:
Major Powell expects TO be absent on
his Journey in the wilds OF Colorado, Ari
IONA, and Nevada until September, 1872
during which time he will make as com
pletc topographic and geologic survey
IS it is possible Of the country on either
side Of the Colorado River for a distance
Of from tifly to one hundred miles TO the
head OlnavigatiOn.
His purpose is to start from Green River
City or station, on the Union Pacific Rail
road, in Wyoming Territory, in boats on
the Green River, and pass down that
stream to the point Of junction made by
the Yampah or Bear River, and bring up
tor supplies at Uinlah, where the river OF
that name flows into the Green River. Al.
Ter reitting and replenishing their stores,
the party will again take to their boats
and pull down the Green River TO their
second store. house, which is at a point
where the GunnisUn trail crosses the river.
Supplies are to be placed there from south.
crn Utah by Jacob Hamln, who acts as
general cOmmissary aud interpreter To
Major Powell Other depols Of supplies
are to be located at the mouth Of the Dir.
~ Devil Rivera stream not laid down
IN any map, yet situated in Umh-at the
mouth o! Paria River, and at two differ.
rnt points below the junction of unnamed
streams with the Colorado. The party
will be supplied with army ratiOns issued
by different COmmissaries, and for q
change of diet dried beef and tongues will
he carried, and on these rations, relieved
by an occasional feast on mountain sheep
or a mess Of fish, the party expects to sub
sisL
The three boats now lying at the place
NJ departure were expressly built In Chi
CagO for the expedition, Onplans made by
Major Powell. They are constructed of
the toughest and lightest oak, and divided
into five water tight compartments, which
will enable them to float in case one or
two Of the compartments is stove In with
rocks. They hive considerable sheer at
the bow and stern, and good breadth Of
beam with Hanging sides, in the midship
sections, so that they may show great
buOyanCy in riding the riffs Of the rapids,
and yet carry n heavy load. They are
amply supplied with oars, BY very in.
scnious device, Major Powell has obtained
an almost perfect security for his ammu.
milton and provisions. He has had spG.
rnlly made u lot of indiarubbCr bags, per.
IrClly air and water tight, containing air
reservoirs, which will give them buOyancy
enough 10 float when they are filled with
stores. In case boat is overturned, the
rubber bags will float securely oil, with
all their precious CargOcs, and picked up
again unchanged, to take another passage
down the river. In these bags all the in.
,lrlmCnts, ammunition, provisions of all
kinds can be safely transported over land
and through water, unimpairCd by the
clements This is grand step gained,
since Major Powell has more than once
suffered serious inconvenience and some.
times want, by the loss Of his pro.
visions in those FIR distant wilds,
where supplies are impossible to obtain.
Tho expedition will be divided into
two parties-thc river party and the land.
The river party will consist Of twelve
men, including the scientific assistants,
cooks, bOatmCn, etc. The land party
will vary in strength, according to the
cnuntryit operates in, and will also con.
,ist Of II detachment Of surveyors and
lpamSiCrs.
The parties will be well armed and
prepared to look out for themselves
against the attacks of hostile Indians, es.
ppcinlly the NavajOs and PiutGs, which
have killed several members Of the pre-.
yOus expeditions The Major hns made
treaties with most Of the tribes, and eX.
poets to be permitted to work undsturb.
ed and in peace.
The route to be surveyed is about O25
miles in length, extending from Green
River City to COalvillc, Nevada The
greater part Of the country is cut up by
tremendous gorges from 800 to 1900 feet
in depth. All the streams that come
down to the Colorado In the region about
tObc specially explored rush through
lrshtlul canyons. Indeed, tho country
consists Of u perfect labyrinth Of gOrges
,l.cd with mountain torrents, dilllCultnnd
often dangerous to explore. Major Pow.
I'll hopes to plot out map that will be
comparatively complete In its tOpOgraph.
icand geological features,
lie and his party are now merely wait
ing the rise of water in the rivers TO start
ont on their pcrlOus and romantic voyage
Of discovery. In ten days he hope Il
launch his fragile batteauX in tue water:
Of the Green River, and begin his great
Undertaking.
Major Powell Is admirably adapted fol
the great scientific labor he has been Sc
Iectcd to carry out. A splendid geologis
and mathematician, with frame capable
Of great endurance, an indOmitable Will
and mind full of resources, he possesses
all the qualifications Of great explorer
lie has exhibited in our late war, In which
be sacrificed an arm, oil the qualities o
40 able, cool, and intrepid commander i
success awaits any ones efforts hC Ia sure
II destined, unless some ill.IOrtunc shOul,
bcnl him, TO work ont the great problem
before him. lie goes prepared, 10y the al,
Of government, to make n long s0jOurn II
those nr.Olr and mysterious regions, ant
he will carry with lin the best wishes o
bic friends and Of thousands u peoplu
that know him only by reputation, for hi
brilliant and complete success, and sat
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