The New York herald., 1874-12-24
WESTERN EXPLORATION.

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL
socIETY-LEcTURE BY LIEUTENANT WHEELER.
lecture was delivered last evening, before the
American Geographical Society, Chief Justice
Daily in the chair by Lieutenant George M.
Wheelert United States Engineer corps COM
mander Of the Wheeler expedition. on "Western
Exploration" The President of the society
Judge Daly) in short address introduced
Lieutenant Wheeler to the audience.
THE LECTURE.
The lecture was commenced BY historical
resume OF western exploration, and then the lee
turer passed to narrative OF his labors IN the
peditlon OF 1874. He said:-
The region OF country entered BY the parties
this year presents physical pecuarities Unmarked
characteristics. consisting OF massive mountain
forms, plateaus and rivers and although 1t cannot
sbe said OF y large portion OF, the area that the
agriculturist has great attractions extended TO
him, yet with the advancement OF legitimate
mining enterprises there will grow up demand
Tor farming products that VIII not be dependent
on cheap TRANSPORTATION, ana will enrich, not as
do the prairies, where sometimes corn has to be
burned In the field, but with proceeds from a
the soil. There are vast neids suitable Tor graz
ing purposes, ready with their perennial and
perpetual supply o. nutrisye grasses sulcent Gent
ready to provide beef for the nation. Beef Tor the
nation when the United States numbers her one
nation with its forty millions. This great supply,
the capacity OF which has been largely called into
d
growing attention, ana to the question where Is
to come peei for the millions OF Americans yet un-
tion Of portions OF $50 square miles Of the West
ern INTERIOR 'GO Westn to the inland valleys, de.
trtal plains and EXTENSIVE s plaseaus and there you
material for the preparation or beef for these
lusure millions, inexhaustibe Tor several genera
SOUTHWEST COLORADO.
wish to call your attention to the condition OF
some OF the prOspectOrs in southwest Colorado, as
different trips IN the western mopntai1 region
s east Of the from N Nevada N Ar
we have met large number OF these hardy pio-
neers hunting for gold and silver Those who
have wended their way into the remote sect1ons
ever, OF the Nevaoa and Arizona regions, who
''grub,'' and then are able to repenish the neces
sites Of stomach and pocket In some nourishing
the San Juan mining CO untry during the past sea-
son, men who had been nush IN the early part OF
the chase; but nov, instead Of one man to lour
donkeys Ia magnificent out1t), four or five men
were often seen. behind one donkey, the latter
carrying all the worldly goods that these men
had occupation, and it was with extreme pleasure
that one occasion we divided four -6fths OF what
tEas they hey might no longer 60 hungry its to be re-
,n @ total S ,Sd9n Sl oST
suffering e humanity would like to cali the atten.
ton OF the society TO the distribution OF forest
survey. Ii will be recolected that upon the maps
made at the close OF the Ives expedition Q ls57-os
ssoU fg rs a ssf n G a pS was
not lald down, However, our surveys go to show
that this great forest Is probably the largest south
OF the fortfeth parallel. 1t extends from aoout the
forth to the Hath meridian west from Greenwich,
OF irregular width, varying from 80 to say 100
miles. 1t IL noble patch OF OreSt broken Only
here and there by localities which well might
be called parks. 1t Is unlike the forests oil
Northern California; oregon and Washington Ter
ritory where red wood OF dense growth predom-
mates, In being interspersed with little valleys,
glades and mountain n0oks There are also areas
bordering on the San Juan and In parts OF the Ter
ritOry OF Colorado vet remaining as a possession OF
the government so far scarcely touched. and II IS
| to be hoped they may forever remain untouched
/ by the advance OF settlement. And here would
remark that 1t would be well to institute Investl-
| cations, looking to ascertanng what influence
| these areas OF forest have upon the local amounts
1 OF precipitation within their immediate areas.
| THE WESTERN DOMAIN.
To say that the maps OF the interior OF this coun-
try are fraught with numerous errors Is to tell
may be overcome and rectned were indeed a
noble task, but he who accomplishes remedy,
| white remaining true to the economical interests
| OF the government deserves and viii receive en-
| comium at the hands OF all. In the great domain
| at the West, IN advance of settlement and OF the
acres thrown open to occupation by advancing
| CIVILIZATION the government still possesses
lands OF which little is known, large parts
| OF which no one representing the govern
mont except now and then desultory scout mas