The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-11-07
The Canons of the West.

Two great rivers-the Colorado and
the Rio Grande-fnd their sources in
Colorado Territory, draining the oppo-
site sides of the same range of noun
tains. One running south-westward,
finds an outlet in the Gulf of California
the other, taking a southerly course
goes to swell the waters of the Gulf Of
Mexico. These rivers are remarkable
for the deep and extensive coffins OF
gullies through which they run.
For many miles the Rio Grande runs
through q deep and precipitous ravine,
over q narrow, rocky bed, its course con-
stantly broken by rapids and whirlpools.
On the right hand of this chasm lies
Mexico, on the left the United States.
Far away in the distance, extending to
the very mountain-top, are seen the in
dications of canon which marks the
channel of some tributary stream.
The surrounding country is leafless
and barren-an arid rocky desert.
The Grand Canon of the Colorado is
more remarkable even than that of the
Rio Grande for the height of its preci-
pices and the desolation of the neighbor-
ing country. Not only is the main
stream deep cut in the earth, as though
fssure had been formed by an earth
quake, but the country is intersected by
its tributaries which are buried in a
like manner. The traveller, pursuing
his way over an apparently level sandy
desert, suddenly and frequently finds
himself on the brink of an abyss, de-
scending almost perpendicularly many
hundreds of feet, in the depth of which
rolls a rapid, narrow and muddy stream
The appearance of these precipices give
semblance of truth to the stories about
that region, of travellers who have "walk-
ed along the brink of the canon walls in
search of passage down to the waters
but vainly travelled for days, and then
perished for thirst in sight of the river
below, which roared its mockery into
dying ears"
Sometimes the surface of the canon
wall is dull and gray in appearance, and
the deep shallow i'll which it is frequent.
ly buried, produces an effect of indies
cribable gloom. Again, the wall is cut
through layers of red and orange sand
stone, which glitter in resplendent
beauty under the midday sum-"
A recent traveller through the Vel
lowstone country speaks of the gorgeou.
colors to be seen in the Canon of The
Yellowstone, canon which, in the wild
ness and magnifcence of its scenery
probably far supercedes the others.
In the country of these canons tn,
soil is of such nature that water easily
works upon it. Even the rocks wea
away readily. The present appearance
of the country shows that it has bsel
subject to no convulsions of nature for
long period of time. For ages the peb
bles and sand have been gradual,
worn and washed away by the action o
the streams, and the rock has been Gu
slowly, but SUI rely, by the same agency
The channels of the streams have sum
deeper and deeper into the heart of tn
earth, until the abysses are hundreds
and sometimes, thousands of feet il
depth, with sides, in most cases, so verti
cal that either descent or ascent is i'm
possible. The streams flowing so far be
low the surface of the land, are useles
for irrigating purposes. AS there is n
moisture there is no evaporation, an
consequently little or no rain. The SUI
face OF the country presents the appear
ance of barren desert, incaI able OF GU
tivation.
Whether these regions, with thei
labyrinths of gorges filed with marrow
turbulent streams, and with their DIR,
unproductive surfaces, will ever /
utilized by civilization, remains to /
seen. 1t is wonderful country, but
country that seems destined, by its yer
nature, to remain forever uninhabite,