Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-01-08
Dr. Cnrtis' Account of the Recent United
States Geological survey.

return 10 this city Of Dr. Josiah Curtis, OF
the United States Geological Survey. OF
course every one was anxious to hear from
the Doctor of his wanderings among the
mountains and canyons, the seething
waters and sulphrous vapors of the North
west. Many prominent citizens have de-
sired that the Doctor should give the re-
suits of his recent experience in public
lecture before the people of Knoxville. His
engagements are such however, as to make
this impracticable. Our reporter, therefore,
called upon him and asked that he would
give an outline of the work done by the
expedition and some account of the Won
derful region through which he had been
lately travelling. With his usual urbanity,
the Doctor said he would gladly furnish
such information for the benefit of the
readers of the CHRONICLE.
THE EXPEDITION.
This expedition of the United States Ge-
illogical Survey of the Territories, he said,
started in June from Ogden, under the su-
perinterdence of Prof. +. Y. Hayden,
United States Geologist, to make survey
of the Yellowstone, Snake River and
Grand Geyser regions. Ogden is situated
on the northern shores of Salt Lake, upon
the line of the Pacific Railroad, / 600 miles
west of Omaha and about the same dis
lance east of San Francisco. At this point
IL was divided into two parties-one TO go
around through Montana and come up The
Yellowstone River in southerly dlrec-
ton, and the other to go up the Snake
River in a nortberly direction, the parties
to meet about the first of August in the
Grand National Park. 1t may here he
remarked that the Snake River is the
headwaters of the Columbia River, that
flows to the Pacific Ocean, while the Vel
lowstone is the headwaters of the Missis-
sippi. These headwaters arise not miles
distant from each other, and the elevation
between them is not over 500 feet. In fact,
this is the most unknown region OF the
United States and nc accurate map of the
country has ever yet been made. Lakes
have been laid down that have no exist
ence. and some were discovered by our
partv that were never known before.
Prof. Bradley and myself accompanied
the Snake River party. Our party consist
ed of a geologist, assistant geOlogist, min
eralogist meteorological, topographer,
photographer, ornithologist, botanlst, nat
uralist and microscopic. The whole eX-
nedition numbered about sixty men. (Ihe
Doctor held the position of surgeon, natur-
alist and mieroscopist.) Our party moved
up to Fort Hall, idaho, the very out post OF
civilization and making it the base OF OPP
Grafton, struck out into the wilderness des-
tined not to see the face of a white man
except of our own party for many weeks.
THE TEToNs.
We passed upon the west side of the Te-
TONS, three high rugged peaks as
seen from the west, and many more
as seen from the east, whose tops
are covered with perpetual SNOW ,@o
The highest one of these peaks is 3,4OO
feet above sea level. Two of our party,
Cant. Stevenson and Ex-Governor Lang
ford, assembled to the top.of this, Chamber
ing for great distance over immense
banks of snow. In one of the canyons
near by, Prof. Bradley discovered moose
and two calves which were killed and
eaten by the party. After very interest
ing Journey, both scientifically and other
wise we arrived, on the 14th OF August, at
the Fire Hole Basin, the place appointed
weeks before for the meeting OF the two
partics, and il so happened that both par
ties arrived within an hour OF each other
PHOTOGRAPHS OBTAINED.
The next morning the whole party was
photographed. Here the Doctor produced
quite number of photographs, some oil
them of very large size ana many slero>
scopic views of that remarkable region,
representing spouting geysers, placid lakes
boiling springs and steam vents, craters OF
extinct peysers forest scenes, cascades
falls that would make Niagara hide hei
diminished head, Indians, the various
animals of that region, giving in fac
almost a panoramic view of the country
traversed, all executed in the hlghest style
of the Photographic art. -.
1t Is the Doctors intention, with MI
usual generosity and thoughtfulness, t.
present a number of these views TO tn
Board of Trade of this city. The editor
OF this paper are also the happy recipient
of some OF the finest specimens, ana y
reportorial heart was likewise made gla'
in ye like manner.
VOLCANIC FORMATIONS.
The Doctor continued: The regio
through which we had passed was all vo
canic' consisting of ranges of hills and val
Ievs' on the former of which were extin(
craters, and in the latter were large MOUND
termed Buttes, upon ascending which
found to be also extinct craters. troI
these craters lava has run for many mllt
i'm all directions and having become COZ
densed into solid material has formed I'm
mense rocks and craggs. The only eVlden'
of present volcanic action is in the geyse
and boiling springs.
THE GEYsERs
areonlythe boiling springs in actor, throw
ing up boiling water and steam from lie
inches to hundreds of feet. These Torn
nerhaps, the most interesting features
this region. In size and number they e.
eel every thing OF the kind on the kno"
surface Of the globe. They are found In on
a few other localities, those In New ZelaI
and Iceland being the largest, and q