New-York tribune., 1873-12-26
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.
UNITED STATES EXPLORATIONS WEST OF
THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN.

UNITED STATES EXPLORATIONS WEST OF
THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN.
LIEUT.. wHEELERs EXPEDTTIoN-A VAST TERRITORY
ALMOST DESTITUTE OF NHABIrANTs-LARGE
FERTILE AREAS INTERsPERsED WITH EXTENSIVE
DEsERTs-THE HOTTEST PART OF TIE UNITED
STATES MOUNTAIN PLATEAUs - SUGGESTIONS
CONCERNING THE INDIANS.
frRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THS TRIBUyEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-The national en-
terprise under the above title is second to none
in Importance. though less known than that
Of the Yellowstone, Prof. Hayden's Geological
Survey, OF Mayor PowelPs Survey Of the Colorado
River. The results OF the work will, in due time, be
published by the War Department
The Chief of the exploration, George NJ Wheeler
graduate OF West Point, and present Lieutenant IN
the Engineer Corps Of the Army was IN 1869 employed
as Engineer officer OF the Department OF California and
was furnished with 1900 TO Of the military
reservations OF the Territory Of Arizona then part OF
that military department. With this small sum and
some aid from the Supply Departments of the Army he
performed an amount OF work which attracted the
notice and secured him the good opinion or his supe-
riors that 1871 he found himself at the head OF
respectable corps Of scientific men, with an appropra-
ton of granted Congress and the cooperation
supply and Medical Departments or the Army
his exploration and preliminary survey of large
parts of Nevada California and Northern
Arizona In 1879 the appropriation for this work was
increased to 5o and under the title, Explorations
West OF the Tooth Meridian,"l that tpart Of Utah
lying south Of the Pacific Railroad and west OF the
wahsatch Mountains. together with portion Of Eastern
Nevada and narrow strip OF Northwestern Arizona
were explored and surveyed.
During these two years no casualties occurred
although the operations were much OF tho time within
hostile Indian lines and the hottest and most barren
deserts the continentthe parts OF the Great Amer
can Desert" embracing Southern Nevada, 6. f. Cali
fornis and Western Arizona. But subsequently three
OF the explorers killed by Indians their way
home, died Of consumption contracted previously
and two Doth guides were lost In the desert and died
from thirst and ono was drowned In theiCahon oJthe
Pariah
The different parties OF the exploration remain " in
the field a. long the weather permits usually until
the 1st Of December LATER when the unskled labor
ers connected with disbanded. while the scientific
members return to washing gtoniend pass the Winter
working up the crude notes gathered in the field con-
structng maps. etc.
THE EXPEDITION OF 1873.
Last Spring the sum OF $4,000 apart for the
use of Lieut. Wheeler in continuing the Explorations
West Of the Tooth Meridian" and with part OF this
money additional frstcass professional talent was se
cured large assortment Of the latest and most perfect
astronomical meteorological and typographical instru-
ments purchased here and abroad, and in the latter
part Of May expedition took tho field with large
the Engineer Corps.
For theupurposel Of embracing large section Of
country should be consistent with horoughness the
personnel Of the expedition divided into four main
parties: One under the immediate direction OF Lieut..
Wheeler to operate In New Mexico and Arizona. on o
line from Santa Fe, N. NJ wes to and little beyond
the White Mountains Arizona this party has, sncs
Sept. l. been charge Of Lieut. 6. E. Tman Corps Of
Engineers One under Lieut. r L. Hoxie, to start from
Salt Lake City and surveying portions Of Utah not IN
cuded last years work. to Join the first party late In
the season IN Arizona. Ono. under Lieut. W. L. Mar
shall to explore and survey tho portion OF Colorado
Territory embracing the Rocky Mountains and adjacent
regions from the latitude of Denver south. Lastly tr
sngulaon party. under MI Louis Ue toeover and con-
meet all the before mentioned country. In addtonio
four ed parties there also four astronomical
parties for the determination Of tho latitude and lon
tude of the most prominent and necessary points, cover
ing q vast extent Of country-from Denver, Colorado,
west to the Sierra Nevada. and from Santa Fe N NJ,
north TO Helena, Montana Each Of these parties Is
under the charge Of an able and experienced
ical observer Prof Sanford Of Dearborn Observatory,
Chicago is the principal astronomer All the parties
took the field and commenced operations according to
the programme.
Topography is the main object Of the exploration and
with It in view there extensive observations made
In astronomy and meteorolosy Geology, mineralogy'
natural history ethnology, and photography are each
all collected very full and specimens in their re-
spective departments Prominent IN geology Is Mr.. q.
X GILBERT in mineralogy and analytical chemistry.
Prof. Oscar LOew; In meteorOlogy. Mr.. 1. v Brown
In natural history. Mr. W. II. Henshaw; and In pho-
Biography, Mr.. I. II. O'sullivan.
During the field office has been kept open in
washingtonJ where four draughtsmen and compn'erS
are engaged In ooatng the typographical and meteor
ological notes from former expeditions.
The most important feature OF this year ~ofA "''
been the exploration OF the White Mountains OF Ari
sopa and the immense pateaus bordering them' wheh
have been hitherto but httle known. These he niue
south Of latitude "a degrees and east OF onsuao o
degrees and contain fine farming. gr"fpK' .mper'
water, fsh. and game country This res'o" was e1-
plored by Lieut.. Wheeler himself Win smah party
and contrary to all expectation twas found entirely un
Inhabited bylIndians.
MEXICO.
The regions gone over by the expedition are remarka-
bio alternately tar fertility and eAsyeppss All tho