The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-21
A FRIEND.
wonders Of the Colorado.

Our tourists visit the old world, forget
ting that in the centre of our own is see
merry which in grandure and magnificeRcc
is as superior 10 theirs rs our mountains
rise above the pigmy hills OF the Rhine.
Perhaps there are few localities SO impres-
sive in their character as is Mount Lincoln,
covered with an eternal diaden OF snow,
and rising IA, 200 feet above the level Of the
sea. This is empbatically the dome of
our continent. At its elevated summit,
within circle OF 10 feet, three great
streams have common source. The
Plattee and the Arkansas, together 10 car
ry theis waters to the Atlantic, whilst the
Colorado as if conscious of her powers
wends her solitary course for 1900 miles
to the Pacific. Standing at this divsrging
point, the strange spectacle is presented of
clouds rolling beneath your feet, lit up by
the automatic flashes OF lightning and ac-
companied by the loud thunders roar,
whilst above is seen the sun shining out in
magnificent splendor. Descending few
thousand feet, the limit of the growth of
timber is indicated by its well defined
lines, this is about ~, 900 feet above the
level OF the sea. Here the strawberry is
seen struggling into life; few thousand
feet of further descent these are found
fully developed, when descending as many
more they are fully ripened and falling
from the stem. Beautiful flowers, in full
bloom, reared there modest heads within n
few feet of the melting snow. in so close
proximity that with one hand without
changing your position) you can make a
snow bali with one and with the 9TH
er pluck flower. II was at the head wat
ers Of the Colorado that Capt. Samuel
Adams organized his expedition of IL men.
built his four boats and descended in the
same, through cannons three thousand
feet In depth, beautiful Parks or valleys
from ten TO 65 miles in length, covered
with the most nutritious grasses, traversed
by clear cool streams filled with the finest
fish, and surrounded by inexhaustiblc
mines Of precious metals. In his letters
written TO Judges Agnew Of the Supreme
Court ofthis State, and others, the Captain
stated that it was his opinion that the great
fall of the Colorado would be found within
400 miles of the main divide of the Rocky
and not in the exaggerated can
mons of the same below. The correctness
of his statements were fully verified by his
descent of the river Previous 10 this he
had demonstrated that steamers could as
cend the Colorado at all seasons to Callville,
$50 miles from its mouth, going far beyond,
where by Government reports it was official
" said to be impossible to ascend, demon
strating that there was natural outlet to
a sea coast larger than ali Europe. and pas
sing through mines OF gold, silver, copper
and lead, richer and more accessible than
in any other portion of the United States. |
Many Of these are now partially worked,
" hilst the fabulous richness OF others is
evinced by the abandoned shafts and the
rude arrasta where thousands have mined, |
and lived in the cities now reaching for
miles and presenting the impassive spec
'acle Of chain of unbroken ruins.
The report Of Capt. Adams to Secretary |
Stanton, under whose oiders he prosecu /
ed his difficult and unsupported explora-
ions) was published three times by Con-
yress eighteen months before Major Po,oeH
'rer sde the Colorado. The Major de-
'ccnded the Green River, from the Rail
-oad crossing. about six thousand one
hundred end twenty feet above the leye! Of
he sea, at a distance OF about 1900 miles |
rom the mouth of the Colorado, having |
he benit of the notes of Capt. Adams, and /
he experience Of Mr.. White (whose com t
,anIon was killed, when descending the
Colorado. from the junction of the Grand
md the Green, upon an impor.sct raft
composed OF q lev logs iashed together. ac-
the entire distance upon the
ame ran without meeting with any &C
'ident The facts respecting his trips
we're at the Time published in the pronii-
,ent papers of the country, copy Of
which the Major had when following in I
be track ofs white raft" upon q cafe
,pat, constructed al Government expense |
n Chiago. 1t is due to the parties open
ng up she country, by whose exer,ions
md hardships Major Powell has profted.
hat the country should know to whom it
3 indebted for knowledge of one of the |