New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-20
THE HAYDEN EXPEDITION.
TN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.


A PHOTOGRAPHIC MIsHAP-sUPPLIEs GIVE OUT
ASCENT OF wHITRROCK - MAROoN-CoLORED
NORTHUMBERLAND MINES OPENBD-oFF TO THE
MIDDLE PARK.
lPRom AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oFTHE rRTBUsE'i
CAMP, ARKANSAS VALLEY Col Teri, Aug. 49,
When wrote last we were at the base of the White
House. and on the point of retracng our steps Tor
few days journey, coming back to the Arkansas
Valley, and leaving it at the upper extremity by
the Tennessee pass In pursuance of the plan, we
are encamped by the river, nearly opposite the
rude village called Orc City, off the mouth of
the California Gulch, q few miles up which that
place is built.
Our journey hither occupied two or three days
longer than we had expected, owing to mishap.
AS the Photographic train was winding up. behind
ours, the steep declvty that led out of our camp
valley the mule that carried the negatives already
obtained lost footing and rolled long way down,
breaking some ten OF a dozen of the large plates
Among them were some OF those just taken in the
vicinity and rather than lose tho subjects the train
was left behind to repeat the work. Mr. Jackson. it
may be added, has in the repetition surpassed his
original efforts. All the other important losses are
also to be made up, the chiefs of the survey lay
great stress the absolutely accurate reproduction
of the wonderful details of these mountain forms,
for their topographic and geologic value. The more
specifically picturesque beauties of the country,
though the photographers boxes are full of them,
are held Of secondary Importance.
PROVISIONS GIVE OUT.
SO the general camp waited, at short days
march from its old camping ground, for the photo
graphic party to come up. The new stopping place
was in the beautiful and richly grassed valley of the
East River and directly under the frown of Gothic
- i n i l..
as an isolated butte Of light gray eruptive rock,
poured out over nearly horizontal dark shales of
cretaceous age, and showing on its sides. even as
seen from below, points and lines of con-
tact between the two so dissimlar formations. The
mountain got its name from the numerous towers
and pinnacles into which the gray rock has wealth
ered its color its wondrOus shape, and its isolation
make it one of the most strikingly beautiful objects
in the landscape here, as seen from whatever
point. Our waiting was in spite not only
of a general eagorness to be. of to new
fields, but also Of H. En- impotence that had
lower motive. Provisions were nearly
gone, and the supply tram, though working toward
us, was still far away. Sugar, beans, flour, bacon
gave out one after another; even pepper and salt
were wanting. And as is usually the case when
most needed, game obstinately refused to come
within reach. The last morning in that camp our 20
hard working and rayenous men were fain to stay
their appetites on dish of hominy with a few
remnants of pork in it, and so much broth as could
be made out of one nursing ptarmigan of the rare
white-tailed species. But at supper time, after a
long days march, the train met us beside creek,
the most northern ailuent of Taylors branch, which
was Immediately christened Relief Greek, and the
next morning our hunter. who had been out over
two nights with matches in his pockets and pair
of blankets Joined us with fat doe across his horse
This little temporary pinch Of scarcity illustrates
one of the ever-mpending possibilities of explora
ton in new territory with us it was but a pquant
incident; in less well-appointed and well-quarter
mastered parties it is often terrible trial and
hinderance.
A REGION OF GRANTEES.
The two days in this camp were very busily spent
by the scientific members of the party in col
lection and especially in the detailed study of
of the extremely interesting geological problems
offered by the neighborhOOd. There is no point in
all this gigantic range where the geOlogst seeking
for illustration of the Notwithstanding forces and
their results can strike amss. And here were cases.
moro than one, of actual inversion of the sedimen-
tary STRATA immense beds of sandstone and con-
glomerates tilted up nearly vertical spreading fan
like, falling over and lying wrong side up for miles
zontal thrust of the sandstones, and so on; will
not attempt to anticipate broken and imperfectly
the statements and illustrations of the next Report
but would only call the attention thus in advance to
the matters of rare interest which it will contain.
1t is the opinion of the Survey that there other
region in our country where the great subject of
grante-its varieties, its origin, its upheaval and
outpourng its effects the everything strata, its
erosion and final forms-can be studied to 80 good
advantage in this range.
The camping ground had been chosen because of
its nearness to the side valley which leads to of
the great peaks of the chain-Whiterock Mountain
which had been already once assembled, on our way
up but Oh a rainy day, so that both the topograph-
cal and the artistic parties had failed to secure all
they desired and needed to obtain at the locality,
had indeed. done little than that from its
advantages of position it commanded more SPLEEN
did and more instructive view of the whole range
than was to be had from any other point and this
notwithstanding its inferior hight, not rising much
above 1900 feet The former ascent had been made
from the SOUTH at the base of the Grand Teocalli.
Now we skirted creek which had cut its way down
westward across the uplifted strata showing fine
sections of sedimentary beds dkes and outpourings
of eruptive rock, and of which one branch came
down from the very heart of the great amphitheater
of the mountain itself; for, as has been before re-
Marked tho amphitheatral formation is highly
characteristic of these ranges: narrow crest with
steep rugged walls of varying hight, surrounding,
except at one end deep basin, in which the waters
from all the melting snow gather to pour out
together INTO the lower valley beyond. We were
able them here to ride clear to the base of the steep
line of broken rock that led to the highest point Of
the wall. There were about 1900 feet of it, and
toward the top there were stretches where one had
to 20 on all fours with toes and fingers seeking aid
from projections and crevices This was too difficult
q rnute for the phOtoUaphic party incnmbered with