Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-21
THE GREAT COLORADO RIVER.
Astonishing Facts and Statements About
II by Major Powell, Geologist
San Francisco ChrOnlclo.

SNu rlhuVlSVV Nnrohlcie.
The academy Of sciences held the
regular monthly session on Monday
night, After the presentation and ex.
PLANTATION of donations, Major Powell,
of the United States geological survey,
was called upon for some remarks on
his recent explorations and travels
through the canyons of Colorado.
Major Powell ohligingly resp ,nded.
The lower third o, Colorado, he said,
lies above the level Of the sea, while
the upper two-thirds has an elevation
of from 1000 to 5000 feet. Out of
this basin or plateau rise snow clad
mountains to an altitude of from 10000
to $4,000 feet. Hardly any rain falls
upon this upper basin of mountains.
But in winter immense drifts of snow
cover these eternal rocks. When in
summer this snow commences To melt,
ten thousand cascades aud little streams
are formed, They plunge down the
rocky mountain sides, out their courses
through the immense plateaus, and
generally run as swift rivers through
the silent region, They cut deep chan
nels through tho rocks, so that the beds
of these rivers are variously from 500
to 1000 feet below tho surface ct the
platsaus. For 200 miles tho Green
aud Grand rivers run in a channel out
to the depth OF n mile. The whole
upper two-thirds OF Colorado is cut up
by gorges and canyons, ~ that the
country is almost impossible. There
arc no evidences that these canyons
are formed Ivy uphoavals Of huge masses
OF rocks, but they are all caused by the
slow but perpetual action of tho nioun-
tain streams. II 100 mountains like
Mt, Washington were plucked up hy
the roots, they would not I'LL tho Grand
canyon OF tho Colorado river. The
fall of this river ia very great, and diff.
fers from Is To 200 feet per mile; il ia
therefore not navigable. Moreover, for
1000 miles along the Colorado river
there is no place where u town or farm
could he located, for the river is entire
" unapproachabe for that whole dis
lance. These canyons have carried
away vast areas OF sediment. The
whole region has become one of naked
rocks. Geological studies can here DO
made with certainty; overy stream can
bo measured. Nature lies before us
like an open book. The amount of
material carried away by this river is
az large M rock 600 feet in depth
covering tho states of New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio and Indiana, or W. large
as California and Nevada. This vast
amount of rock the storms of ages
have hurled OIL.
The rivers of Colorado are older
than the valleys and mountains.
Gradually, M tho mountains rose, tho
rivers cut their way through them.
Tho qualification of these rocks Ia
never sweeping, but always vertically
broken, rising or falling abruptly from
100 to 10000 feet. These strata are
always horizontal aud sometimes there
are found Zones or rocks twenty miles
in width broken into irregular frag-
ments, The Colorado river carries
about M much water ~ the Ohio Ut
Louisville. Where tho rock is soft IL
forms u broad, wide river; but when II
passes through hasalt its channel IL mar.
rowed down to sixty or seventy feet,
and through il this vast volume of
wator plunges and rushes in mad.
wild, and irresistible stream, that would
carry anything before IL. Sometimes,
when storm arises and heavy showers
fall, this mill.deep channel of the river
il filed in m incredibly short time to
height Of hundreds Of feet, and tho tor
rent sweeps through il ut n most terrific
rate. There are, however, no vertical
fall. OF any magnitude IN Colorado.
Most interesting To the explorers arc
the thousands Of ancient iuins found
throughout the whole region. These
habitations are built of stone and often
reach height Of seven stones. AT the
heads of the streams forming the
Colorado are the most ancient OF these
ruins, while further down in tho deep
cllls and canyons they apparently be-
long to later period. IL seems that
the people were driven from the boauti-
ful valleys above to seek protection on
these high clliis, which we're better
adapted for defense. The major enter
cd into general explanation OF stone
implements found among tho ruins.
His remarks throughout received the
closest attention Of the audience.