New-York tribune., 1901-06-08

\
BY George Wharton James with numerous pneton
Little, BroYn & co,
Mr. lanes has collected here stories OF the
discovery and exploration of the Grand Canyon
of the Colorado; an account of its geographical
and geological features; a description of its
various portions of striking interest: of the
trails bv which its vast depths may be reached.
and of the stage and railway lines 10 take the
traveller thither; a selection of utterances by
various more or less ecstatic commentators. and
numerous quotations from geological and other
authorities. He also gives a chapter on re
ligious and other impressions felt and enjoyed
at various times while under the Canyons spell"
His book is therefore almost certain to satisfy
the inGuring mind that approaches ii from any
point of view and this satisfaction is increased
by the great number Of admirable Photographic
reproductions with which the volume is filled
The photographing of the Grand Canyon is a
task of difficulty.
Its vastness. its great precipces and wide dis
tances all covered and filled with a peculiar
purple or violet haze. rendered II slngularly un-
! accommodating to the photographers art
But that persistence. skill and science have
succeeded in surmountng these difficulties the
pictures in Mr. James's book give ample tes-
tmcny. TIE word painters have been consider
, ably less fortunate. to judge from the specimens
that MIR. James has collated; for the Grand
Canyon is responsible for much fine writing"
Mr. James it may be said. has avoided tn,
temptation to a commendable degree. and his
treatment of the subject Is judicious and read
able yet fun of enthusiasm of a contagious
kind. The Grand Canyon Is not what most
visitors expect TO see. II is not n deep. narrow
gloomy gorge into which the sun fails 10 shine
even at midday. 1t is in reality series Of
canyons one within and below the other:
Picture one canyon a thousand feet deep and
ten twelve miles across; below this another
canyon. but two miles less in width and a thou
sand feet deeper than number one: then stn
another. two thousand feet deeper and four miles
narrower followed by yet another. deeper still
and more miles narrower. until the inner gorge
OF granite is reached, through which the roaring
river flows, and you Will have a better idea than
ever before.
Within the Grand Canyon district. in South
ern Utah and Northern Arizona about as large
as the State Of Maryland, there are go falls
| cataracts and rapids. The river Is "A turbulent
one, and long proved stumbling block to ex-
plorers, from the early Spanish conquerors on
| The first adequate survey and scientific ex-
| animation OF the whole region was made by
| Major Powell. Of the United States Geological
| Survey-an expedition OF "wondrous daring e"
Mr.. James calls L. that the first TO navi-
gate the river from it's TO it's mouth
| through the dangers OF the boiling waters and
| risks and privatlons OF every kind. Access to
the points Of greatest interest is now not diff
| ficult 1t may be gained either from Flagstaff
Ariz-. or from Ashfork. in both cases by stage
still more easily by railroad through the
Grand Canyon Forest Reserve And the ar-
rangements are such AT the chief points OF in
terest that Mr.. James can give definite instruc-
| tions to visitors just how 10 allot their time
and order their movements: by following his
advice they may have "a fuller and clearer