Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04

| and the footsteps OF settlers are guided ta the
favored sections. An economic map OF the
/ whole of Utah will soon be published. Ii will
show that only small portion of the territory
can repay the government for its survey. and
| mat Tor large tracts the price must be lowered
| even from 81 % per acre 10 find purchasers.
IN ETHNoGRAPHY
the chief assistants are Col. Garrick Mallery
and Mr. j. c. Pilling. Col. Mallery is an army
ofheer detailed to assist Major Powell as his
photographer. He has prepared paper on the
suDlect OF the former Indian POPULATION of
America, i'm which he takes the ground that il
has been much exaggerated, and supports his
views with marked ability. Major Powell has
niade extensive researches i'm America meth
noiogy, especially in the branch Of Indian lin
SulStlcS. Inc specimens in the National
museum under his name embrace the largest
and nnest collections OF clothing, pottery and
implements of all kinds, Illustrating the life of
the modern Indian, that have been contributed
10 that institution. Many large photographs
plcturlng Indian characteristics have also
and some of them. as Well as colored relief
maps, decorate the walls OF the principal
rooms az the headquarters in this city. By
thonght1ul consideration for their feelings
preJudlces, and superstitionS Major Powell
has been wonderfully successful in ingratiat-
ing himself In the confidence of the Indian
Tribes; he has been initiated in one of their
secret societies, and has, perhaps more
thorough knowledge of their philosophy
mythology, and whole inner life than any
other man In America.
hC hdJoI uSSlSHS 10 prepare
AN EXHAUSTIVE WORK ON AMERICAN LIN
GUISTICS.
In this he Will be aided by Prof Whitney. of
ale: Prof. Roehrig, OF Cornell: Prof Trum
LulI, ol Hartford: Prof Halderman. of Phila
delphia; and many other distinguished lin
gusts OF the United States. He is acquainted
with investigators on this subject i'm aImnSt
every Indian tribe, corresponds with them
and has collected great mass of manuScrintS
ana DOCKS. The Smithsonian Institution has
nNvn fol I, fIzH.,
Of twaot otSt We W mn tne accumulated treasures
Sl IwentyIhve years Several publications
have already been made. and a third volume
OF contributions to American ethnOlogy con
tanning report on the tribes of California hy
Mr.: Stephen Powers, and a number of yocahn
larleS, edited by Major Powell, has recently
| come from the press. a series of maps is also
IN course OF preparation, indicating by coIorS
and other signs, the distinctions of the various
STOCKS OF Languages throughout the continent
In pursuing the ethnOgraphic Investigations il
1as DeemLne endeay0r as far as possible to pro-
uuce TeSlllS that VIII be of practical value in
The administration of Indian affairs for this
purpose, ito use the words of Major Powell
,!especlal attention has been paid to vital sta
llStlcS, 10 the discovery of linguistic affnitieS
the progress made by the Indians toward civ,
lllZatlon, and the causes and remedies for the
lnevltaole conflict that arises from the
spread 'oi clVlllZatlon over a region preyi-
OuSly inhabited by Savages." The office
WOfk OF the survey, however, is dry and un-
auiactlVe compared with its field operations
DESCENT OF THE COLORADO.
No story OF adventure ever written is more
| interesting than Major Powelrs account of his
| descent of the Colorado river in 1863. This
| great river-2,000 miles i'm length including IFS
| upper continuation, the Green, and draining
| an area much greater than the New England
ana Middle states combined-haS for more
| than hall Its course cut SO deep a bed that its
| banks are towering cliffs of solid rock IFS
| tributaries have formed similar canOns. and
| these gorgeS with ObStructing cliffs and desert
wastes had, prevloHS TO this exploration,
iHl 11Nr rInly
| stories were related OF the destruction of
| BOATS that had entered upon its waters in
fearful whlrlpoolS. Ii was believed that the
| river had an underground passage and was
lost for several hundred miles under the rocks
Major Powell was warned by the Indians not
| toattempt its passage. Everything before the
| exploring party was unknown and mysterious
The descent was an experience of a lifetime
| The canon walls from few hundred feet rose
at times to $500 feet in height: to one looking
over the rocky bed of the river, down this
| dizzy distance, the muddy Colorado, buried
more than mile in the depths of the earth
shrunk INTO lnsignifcance- and appeared
| merely yellow line. From the river, looking
| up, only a narrow strip OF Sky appeared, far
above, between the towering walls. The waters
thus buried roll in rapids and plunge I'm falls
Many Many mlsnapS overlook the daring explorers.
| CURED, part OF the men deserted, and the
| fatl0nS nearly gave out: but no lives were lost
and the expedition was successful. Amid
much that was dangerous and exciting there
was also much thatwas beautiful and wonder
| full In tine trip. Through canOnS where the
channel was not obstructed by rocks and the
| water glided gently but with great rapidity
| through others with walls of black granite In
| which the waves fOamed fercely over huge
bOulders, through others with orange, vermil-
| lion, and chOcOlate-cOlored cliffs of sandstone
| and with vast amphitheaters washed by the
action of water in the soft rock through
others with walls of yariegated marble, pol
irideScent under the stray Sunbeams; through
| others with curious alcOyeS aud glenS and
beautifully colored sands, the little expedition
swept. Now the boats raced along an unob-
| structed channel. carried by the swift current.
| now they shoot over a fall, lodging the nu
merous projecting rocks below, which broke
swamped, and now righted again. 1t was only
| after every variety of danger from waves and
| rocks had been experienced that the object of
the expedition was gained and the journey
! ended.
THE PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF SUCH SURVEYS
as that of Major Powell are manifest. They
OF course add to the general knowledge of the
| geographical and geological features and the
ethnograpny OF our country. By the classifica-
ton OF lands, necessary information is gwen
far far, west; est the settler follows ON the
general land office is enabled to effect a
only the irrigable and timber lands, with some
! small coal bearing districts, should be surveyed
into townships and sections, and these are
| POhlCu Out W IL. rdCtS dT6 also cOllecU6U
which are of great value i'm securing intelli-
| gent legislation. Essential changes i'm the
laws under which the far west is settled will
be necessary before the resources of that sec
tiOn can be fully developed. Since the results
| OF these surveys are thus important, every
effort should be made to increase the effective
ness and enlarge the extent of their opera
tions. II, as seems reasonable, their great re-
suits can be best obtained by consolidating the
| practically Independent branches of the work
| under the War and Interior departments let
them be consolidated and the evils of overlap
| ping surveys be Obyiated. If still closer or.
| ganiZation of all the surveys of the country
will make the operations of each branch more
| effectlVe, such organization should be estab-
| lished. But If these efforts to improve the pre-.
| s.nt system should endanger the continuance
| OF any OF the interior surveys, they should
| perhaps, be brought to an abrupt conclusion
it Is better that the work should go on as at
present than that any branch of the surveys
| should be consolidated out of existence.
A WOMAN TO BE HANGED.-A telegram from
Atlanta. Ga, May 2, says; Kate Southern.
who fatally stabbed Miss Cowart i'm a BAH,
! room i'm PickenS county, i'm fit of jealousy a