The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-01
THE HAYDEN SURVEY.
Travels and Labors Of the Primary
Triangulation Division.
LIFE ON THE MARCH AND IN CAMP
Wanderings Amid the Chaos of the
Glacier Period.
WORK on THE GREAT ICE MASSES.
Mineral, Agricultural and Geological Aspect
Of the Country.
LIFE ON THE MARCH AND In CAMP
WORK on THE GREAT ICE MASSES.
: ON THE SUMMIT OF PREMONT'S PEAK
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, |
FRgMoNT's PEAK, Wy. T., July 3, 1871 (

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
FRENoNT's PEAK, Wy. T., July g. 1871. !
My last letter concerning the work OF Mr. Wilson, g
Primary Tranguation Division OF the United States
Geological Survey dated from the base OF Wind
River Peak, at the southern end of tho Wind River
range OF mountains in Wyoming Territory This peak
having been assembled with great difficulty, after
second trial. and observations having been taken an
other station made upon peak Of less but nearly
equal altitude, which s the last prominent point at the
southern extremity Of the range from which the
bearings OF high points IN exceedingly wide area
eouid be found, this being accomplished, after stay
Of FIVE days at this cod camp among the
pines, where snow fell every day aud frozo
hard at night The next objective point Fre-
mont's Peak, situated about fifteen miles north of
Wind River Peak IN an air ne But as wo do not
travel by balloons we had to take tho most ccuitous
route along the base Of the range for days
have been winding way thithcr
We wore not sorry TO leave camp 10. 1t had habit
Of being dsagreeable at short notice aud bid goodby
In aspitcful storm Of sleet Moreover, unless extra
ordinary care is taken. weeks residence in single
spot, alter rudesiashion, is liable corrupt it,,
both to sight and smell, and attract the 1ies
MARCH.
II would be idle to detail all the particulars OF our
next three days. marches. Tho snow and sleet In
which we started gave place to ram as we got lower
down, and by the time the groves Of quaking asp that
oil all the slopes between the foothills left
behind this also ceased and had only cold wind
10 contend with. Our way led norhward over sage
brush plains. part of the time following wagon road
almost old the emigrant trail, and called Lam
dcr's cut of, but 1t is said that like OF the
tempted short along the overland it saves
nothing IN the distance. II was a very dim road but
the marks of the wagons wheels lasts long time in
this region and besides hunters and pros
pectors take their teams over It, thus keeping 1t
visible DID II ever occur TO you how these
roaas mudeS Certainly they are not LAID
out by engineers. They oil follow old Indian trails
and tho Indians simply Strengthened out the paths
made by the game in their seasonal movements from
district another Fremont gets the credit Of the
discovery" of the South Pass, that Old trapper
and hero. Jim Brdger, has pass named after him
down by the railroad but the bualocs guided
them there and were the real finders.
y. The next day left TIE road it turning too far
eastward to suit its way the settlements
In the lower part Of Idaho aud TO Salt Lake City.
but were helped in travelling by striking poor trail,
which saved US some lodging about among the sage
trail is not a road II Is not even pain some
tmcs AS the word indicates, 1t is the mark left
the ground by something dragged, Of lodge poles,
which the Indians asen the saddles of horses their
squaws ride when travelling allowing the drag
on the ground. Having picked out road once they
will naturally follow the scratching trail of tho poles
the next time they that way the trouble Of
exploring new road, and route Will become fixed.
In such open country this, where see for
hundred miles aud steer by skycutng peaks, there
little recd Of trails and few exist But In such
mountainous region as Colorado the best ways about
The rugged backs Of the ridges have been
learned from the elks and marked by Indian
trails from time mme moria and the survey has found
1t exceedingly convenient 10 follow them. Some
very pan but the best marked OF any tho which
wind up and down the dcclivilies of :hose Alpine
quartzte peaks in the San Juan region Of Colorado,
ana south OF It that plateau called the Mesa
Verde There water Is so scarce and the country Is
30 cut up BY caons utterly mpissable TINT it is
safe to leave the trail, and oil these paths, by
thousands Of years OF constant use, have been
deep into the rock. But this plainness Of
trail is rare. Ordinarily 1t rs mere direction
an assurance TO the mind that you are gong somc
where, If only over into the next valley. Yet 1t is
fascinating to follow the slender, waverng line wind
Ing between the rocks or among the trees, and you
put spurs to your fancy may ride round the world
on mountain trail
CANT.
Having reached tho southern branch OF tho Sandy
River, Of the main tributaries OF the Groen and
which consists of three branches originating in the
Wind River Mountains, camped opposite some
great meadows, through which The river wound in a
ortuous course, nourishing dense thickets Of willow
Fhe river was deep, cold and rapid, but not
moro than fifty feet WIDE IL IN habi;ed by
scavers and we saw few trout The bot
IONS embraced several thousand acres OF tho
best grass, ana II the willows were burned
enormous quantities of good hay might be harvested.
fhe adjacent hills furnish good TIMBER IL cannot
DE- long before cattle Will be scattered all over
these broad valleys Indeed, herd cattle
iceding which We supposed To belong 10 some ranch
men living down near the mouth Of the stream
Cked Hal tOOk his
gun ana sauntercd out alter game, for eating
our last elk steaks suppose he had not goae hun
dred yards before we heard tho crack OF his rife and
then his voice Calling for help bring his capture
. fine young doe backtaii. Tho evening was chilly,
ana We had dig ire OF that best OF wood dead quak
ing asp The stories flowed as naturally the sparks
explored tho dark arch overhead, pos
sibe TO communicate Tho point and living fun Of those
narratives, told with the Western freedom OF Language
and apropos OF something suggested by the previous
tae than Is 10 tickle your with the ard
dclcctablc flavor OF the deers juicy ribs roasting in
those ashes Camp fro stories yarns like tic
capstan harangues Q, an old sailor hear
rainy day IN mining town around the stove in a sa-
LOOM but not at the woodland bre. II Is the way of
telling rather than the simple incidents themselves
that make them interesting anu that Is unransatabc;
moreover they are brief and hard to remember.
The next days march was long one and the wind
very cold We lussing a rolling sage.
brush country, tho soil beng sand, with bow Iders
through II, and nccssaDt cloud OF dust kicked
On by the mules. Three or four times we descended
iecp valleys ana crossed considerable streams coming
,ut Of the mountains that wero not at all easy lord
Their course was defined Tor miles by the row OF tall
1emlocks that stood on each margin and whose top
most twigs came about level with thu surrounding
country.
TEAPPER's PLUMBER.
IL was on this morning that we met a couple OF
trappers going Tito the settlements With their peltres.
They carried their ''punccrr on four live poucs,
all oil winch began TO make friends with mules.
and were received with kicks and sqneas mnumer-
abe Nevertheless was hard To part the two sets OF
animals ana make each tram 30 its way These
roughly dressed bearded men, with their Indian ponies
loaded down with uuconth materials lashed on IN un
rviizcd fashion, made picture worry much IA keep
my with the Wild landscape ana ever To be
,ered They had been camping In the mountains all
wntcr nd were just going IN 10 sell the products OF
,hcr hunt, ana probably To spend all their hard
ngs In q series OF sprees We gave them letters to
mall at Camp Stanbaugh--among others two Tor the
hERALD-ofioring compensation Tor the trouble but
they refused to acccp anything, rcsenting almost as
M indgnity, saying that they were "neihcr wealthy
hard up.'
Tho sage brush tninnod cut somewhat as wo ap-
proacucd New Fork, another Iargc aiiueUt OF the
Green ana the goodness vi The grass and rapidly of
lis growth excited the attention OF every one IL VAS
altcaIv % lnin hnY Z snnd