The New York herald., 1874-12-08
TIh UNKNOWN WEST.
Complete Sketch of the Hayden
Surveying Expedition.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
Explorations of Lofty Mountains, Arid
Plains and Deep Canyons.
Magnificent Scenery at Great
Altitude.
TYPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL RESULTS
Volcanic Regions and
Their History.
Curious Remains Of Extinct Cities
and villages.
Outlines Of the Area Of Immense Bitumi.
nous Deposits.
TYPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL RESULTS
Volcanic Regions and
Their History.
Curious Remains Of Extinct Cities
and Villages.
Outlines Of the Area Of Immense Bitumi.
nous Deposits.
LIFE IN THE UPPER AIR.

WASHINGTON. Dec. s, 1874
nishardly possible al this time TO give more
than brief summary OF the results OF the laoors
OF the United States Geological Survey In Colorado
during the season o 1874. Most OF the party are
still IN the field, but from short reports which
have reached as from time to time we have COM
piled the following account. In Q former letter
we stated that the survey made Denver its head.
quarters, and from that point started out ae:en
parties lor the purpose Of making exploraaons In
various parts OF Colorado. The survey mas been
remarkably successful in every respect and about
$4,000 square miles OF the most rugged. mountain
Gus and least known area In tie West has been
carefully mapped. The first division Is still In the
field, and nothing has been heard from 1t since the
reception of letter from Mr.. A. <. Marvine, It's
CHIEF. extracts from which are here given. He Is
now In the far northwestern part OF Colorado.
THE FIRST DIVISION.
Leaving the Agency, says he on the 10th ult.,
the whole party worked eastward along the divide
between the southern branches OF the Bear ana
White rivers, and not far from the latter, finally
turning southward and camping on the White,
about thirty-fve miles above here. The trip had
brought to our notice the western and northern
edge OF a high region lying at the sources OF the
White and Bear, and which we had seen from the
east and OF which Dorne peak Is the culmin atng
mass on all sides IL showed formidable preci-
piccs and had given me much apprehension lest 1t
should require much time and labor IN Its explora-
tion-more than we had to spare, indeed, In so
short a season From high station at the north,
however, its plateau-like character became more
apparent tnan before, and we decided to try and
make the top, and remain on the same until 1t
was all worked up
Leaving the party at q permanent camp on the
White, Ladd, Chamenet, Phelps assistant packerl,
Yount and myself, ana three packs, attempted TO
work the region up. Once upon the summit our
expectations were more than realized in regard
TO the continuity OF the top. We could travel
about 1t readily. There being higher points still
above 1t, and juttng out and the structure OF the
mass being simple we could study 1t rapidly,
while the grand views from it's edge enabled us to
see nearly ali OF our district OF the junction Of
the Eagle and the Grand, and, with but little
travelling TO complete very large area. After
this two weeks OF living at or near the timber
line we descended at the northern end Of
the mass and joined the permanent camp.
In order to avoid taking the train over such
rugged country. as well as to avoid passing over
known ground, we decided TO nank the region to
the west working It up az We went. This move
brought rs within twenty miles OF here, and, it
being about mai ttme came in, hoping TO hear
iTOM yVu j uHus uVWcVcIs pub uSl0A hobSs
through Chittenden D. Ladd, from Twin Lakes,
the Elk Mountains, and are on the way 70 the
"Hog Backs.u
From here we strike southeast, to the junction
Of the Crane snd Eagle, up the former and across
and down the latter, and tnen further
down the Grand and between It and here.
Thus / hope to accomplish, In the way
OF a section along these rivers, what I
had laid out Tor work early IN the season. when
had expected to divide the party more. But II II
as well now as then-so long as 1t 10 done-ior the
total work done has been as much, only furthsr
west than At hrst expected. This has, In reality,
proved the most natural way OF studying the re-
gion. All The northern portion down to the White
consists OF cretaceous rocks, ana II is only from
here that the older formation begins to appear
from beneath them. The structure is largely con-
ceaed by lava. The plateau at the head OF the
White is great lava mass Here 1t has accumu-
lated to depth oinundreds and perhaps thousands
OBJECT. The erosion however, has removed the
thinner borders OF the sheet for miles, and on ac-
count OF the softness OF the sedlmentary rocks
below, has now left the circumscribed lava area
trimmed with great palisades. In this mass rise
the main south branches OF the Bear and all tbs
principal branches OF the White. The top OF the
plateau Is grassed but not timbered. The platform
feet in width, and on one side was preciplce
about 1900 feet in height. The trembling mules
were unpacked and led. Frost Is destroying tae
pass. The lava mass has been subjected to decided
glaciation most OF the surface being q maze o
hall grassed roche n,ortdnne enclosing hundreds
OF allscattered lakes. This glaciation has had
erect In determining and forming the canyon
valleys cutting into the mass, but all evi
Sences OF it abruptly cease at the very edge
II it did extend further the softer nature OF the
surrounding and underlying sedimentarles ant
turs has allowed erosion to most e6ectually re
move all evidence OF IL. whether certain scat
tered lava boulders resting on the lower rock
distant from the mesa, are remains OF moraine, o.
are true erratics, or are the wash from the sum
nit, or, Jet again. are remnants Of the once
furtner extended lava sneet 1t 10 d1acult 10 tell
but In most cases that ] have observed think
they occur In the last mentioned manner, and tha
glacation was probably confined to the htRhei
mass and that 1t was not accompanied by condi
tions TO scatter erratics over the surface of thu
surrounding country Water covered the latter
however when some OF the lavas were erupted
and thus we change from water to nre and tner
TO ice and TO the present, all in . comparatively
snort time.
The front range, OF which we had Q splendid
view from Longs to Grays, and ali the great mass
or mountains from Powell to Logan's and beyond
n the south, all were grandly before N, and sp
pearsd quite covered with snow.
THE SECOND DIVISION
OF the survey was under the direction OF MI Henry
Oannett and the ares assigned to 1t lies between
shs Gunnison and Grand rivers importan
branches OF the Great Colorado of the west. rhl
party hes surveyed sboqt i've thousand squar
nlss q entirsly unkpown c2HnYy reIsssaDs .s 4.