The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-12-04
Western Explorations.


The division of the Hayden exploring
party operating in Western Colorado has
recently returned to Denver, after explor-
ing a hitherto unknown region about
twice the size of the State of Vermont,
lying between the thirty eighth and
fortieth parallels of latitude. The re-
ports of the party, in regard to valuable
silver lodes discovered in the Snowy
Mountain range, have created something
of furore in Denver. But among the
more important discoveries than mere
silver, was the finding of large vein of
anthracite coal, which DIR. Peale, a
member of the party, who has had
much experience in the Pennsylvania
regions, pronounces as good as the Le-
high. There were beds four feet thick
along what is known as Anthracite
Creek. The party burned it, and it
seemed to give the heat and burn up
clear like anthracite. Several pieces
were broken off and taken along for an
a kCAh al
another bed of this coal at the head of
Slate River, where the stream in one
place seems to have cut through a seam,
exposing it on both sides. 1t has been
supposed that the anthracite coal beds
of the United States were confined to
the Pennsylvania fields and some small
deposits in New England.
One of the most interesting features of
the summers expedition was the ex-
ploration of the great Canon of the
Gunnisen, whose perpendicular walls
rise in many places to a height of 1000
feet, and for distance of fifty miles
will average over 5000 feet. The course
Of the river seems to have been sculptur-
ed as if by drifting rocks, and along its
almost straight course the white walls,
separated only few yards, loom up to-
wards the clouds. Standing at the top
of the highest wall, and looking straight
down nearly three fourths of a mile
lies the bed of the stream, the waters
swift current dashing and foaming
through the narrow channels, but so far
down that it can scarcely be seen and its
roaring never heard. Here is some
thing that rivals the wonders of the
Yellowstone, and is~grander than the
Yosemite. The point where these great
precipices begin to loom up is about 100
miles northwest of the Los Pinos Indian
Agency The Indians, as far back as the
time of Fremont's explorations, gave in
dications that such wonders existed, but
the wild region has been left almost un-
explored to this day, and it was left for
the Hayden party to give to the people
of this country the first real knowledge
of this wonderful canon and its awful
precipices. They have made drawings
at some of the highest points, and taken
in the full topography of the region
but words are weak to convey any ade-
quate idea of the sublimity and awful
grandeur of this canon of the GunnIson.
Prof. Gannet, of the expedition, declares
that there is nothing in America that
equals its wonders. The white walls,
contrasting strongly with the others in
the neighborhood, in many places cut
and SCARED into curious and fantastic
shapes, spires, towers and minarets,
standing out above add to the startling
picturesqueness and awful grandeur of
the scene Here and there, along the
lower sides of the canon, may be traced
strips of coloring. This is due to the
mingling waters from. several springs
that line the river banks, iron springs
producing the red colors, and sulphur
springs the yellow. The river bed is
shallow, and the water very clear. 1t
will be but few years when this will
form the chief attraction for Rocky
Mountain tourists, and arrest the throng
who now take a summers jaunt to the
Yosemite as the best thing that the
continent affords. [Pittsbuag Tele-
graph.
DEEEAT on TUT 0RATn EAcTED