The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-26
EXPLORING THE TERRITORIES.
Great Work Carried on by the Government
Body Of Experienced Scientists Searching
the Western Country-New Discoveries
and Useful and Interesting Devel-
opments Expected from Utah,
Montana and Colorado
CAMP UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
AInn fInl, In, N

NEAR OGDEN, Utah, June IL, 1872.
There is great work carried on under the De-
partment OF the Interior which hitherto has at
racted but little attention outside of the scientific
world. ] refer to the geological surveys OF the
Territories, which for many years have been made
under the direction of Professor Hayden, the
United States Geologst. But as the great belts OF
railroad span our country the utility of these ex-
plorations has been brought before the general
public through the reports containing so much in
formation regarding the mineral and agricultural
resources OF the country. The survey is not con-
fined to geological Investigations alone, but en-
braces all branches of natural knowledge, the for
nation OF the earths crust the fora of the region
through which we pass It's richness In coal, iron
or the minerals. Besides, large collections of
mammals, fishes, reptiles, insects particular atten-
ton being given to those destructive OF vegetation
are made by those Of the party making special
study of these branches OF natural history. An ef-
fcie0t corps OF topographers are attached to the
expedition to make both geological and Topographic
sal maps of the country and as we pass through a
country this year hitherto unexplored-the land of
the Tetons-peaks of the Rocky Mountains that can
be seen for three hundred miles, by fixing on
these as points of observation, they will be ena-
bled to take the topography OF a vast area of
country. Our camp Is at present. pitched on a
pleasant plateau about eight miles from Salt Lake,
and our ichthyologist and botanist have already
water being "dead sea- by having
obtained quantities OF piscal and botanical
busy drawing supplies from Fort Douglas and in
organizing the party. This is no small undertaking,
but all runs smoothly under the experienced drec-
ton Of Mr.. Stevenson, the general manager.
THE PARTY WILL BE DIVIDED
will proceed to Fort Eis Montana Territory dis dis
lance of 500 miles. From this point they will eX-
pore the valleys OF the Madison and Gallatin rivers
stone the main object being to survey as far as
practicable the most important water shed on the
miles, may be found the sources Of three of the
largest rivers in our country. Here Snake River
takes its rise and empcs into the Pacific by the Co.
lumbia. Here, too, Green River first appears, which,
uniting with the Grand, forms the Colorado and
emptes into the Gulf of California. Here also is
the source OF the Yellowstone which, after coursing
through our continent under the names of the
Missouri and Mississippi, finds its way to the Gulf
of Mexico. This will be one of the most important
Typographical surveys ever made for no accurate
map has ever been made OF the sources of these
rivers, or the great peaks lying among them ever
definitely located.
SECTION NUMBER ONE.
This section Is composed or Dr. Hayden, In
charge; MI. Becker, Topographic; Messrs. Gannet
Mr.. Holmes, artist; DR.. Peale, mneralogst; Mr..
Savage, assistant geologst, and Messrs Platt and
Greve, general assistants.
SECTION NUMBER TWO.
the larger section will be under the charge of Mr..
Stevenson, and composed of the following corps:-
Professor Bradley, geologist Messrs. Burck and
Herring, topographers Messrs. jackson and Camp
bell, photographers; Messrs. Adams and Coulter,
IT.
RAM, ornthOlogist: Mr.. Nicholson, meteoroogist;
Mr. Jacox, naturalist; Messrs Beveridge Brown,
Jones, Negley, Taggart and West, general assist
ants. In addition to the above there Is the neces-
sary complement OF transfers, cooks, hunters and
men OF all work. This party will march through
northern Utah and Idaho Territories TO Fort Hall,
where the wagons, tents, &C., will be abandoned
and the pack train resorted to for transportation.
THE ROUTE
will then be continued up the valley of Snake River,
thus approaching the Tetons from the South. The
passage of these peaks Is to be forced III possible
SO as to meet the other section of the expedition
on the northern side, and thus unite the survey.
This route was attempted by Colonel Reynolds of
the United States Engineers, in 1860 but losing
sions in endeavoring to cross Snake River, he was
obliged TO return without accomplishing his pur-
pose. IT we succeed in effectng junction with
our comrades we shall return by parallel belts and
thus cover large area OF country. II will be seen
that this section is strong In collectors OF natural
history; the country through which we march is
very mountainous and wild in character and we
branches All the collections are revised by
eminent scientists in the East and their special
reports appended to the general one by Dr. Hayden.
THE SURVEY THIS YEAR
will include also part OF our National Park the
scene OF our labors of last year. and since reserved
by Congress to be a public pleasure ground for
travel and recreation. This was considered neces-
sary to preserve the Geysers, mineral formations
and other beautiful physical phenomena of fragile
nature IL ~ grand dea-a "National Park OF 5000
square miles, containing some OF the finest scenery
In the world, together with the Yellowstone Falls,
$50 feet high. This was done at the recommends
ton OF Professor HAYDEN and was a worthy recog-
milton OF his energy in exploring that country last
summer. shall report our dongs when we reach