Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-24
of those of the COLORADO Itself. hitherto
quite unknown.
A Remarkable Expedition,


A Remarkable Expedition.
In spite of the warnings of the Indians
four boats, manned by,,e1even men, were
launched May "a, 1s6asband May 80 the
mysterious canons entered! In them, until
August 20, the party was lost to the world,
enduring the per1ls Of the whirling waters
and climbing preeipiteuf cliffs scantiness
journey "a race for dinner" and not one
Of the entire party had whole suit Of
clothes left after numerous submersions
nor a whole blanket apiece.
Forty-f1ve miles above rthe mouth Of the
Rio Virgen, the point Of destination, three
men left the party, hayan9Sdn vain endeay-
ored to dissuade Maj. Powell to give up
the Indians. The party ftseIf was believed
to have met with certain death, and a mes
senger was sent from Salt Lake City to
watch for fragments or relics that might
drift from them.
Government aid, the first appropriation
being $4,000, was asked and received for
an expanded plan of exploration of the
same course, undertaken in 1S71-'72, and
with increasing scope and organization the
work was carried as the Survey of the
Rocky mountains in rivalry with those
of Hayden and Wheeler, until the three
were abolished in 1879 and the United
under the Department OF the Interior
This measure Maj. Powell advocated, and
in March, 1884, he was appointed director
by President Garfield on the resignation of
Clarence King. The chronological studies
carried on by the Survey Of the Rocky
mountains" which published four volumes
of contributions to North American Eth
nolegy," were continued by the bureau of
ethnology of the Smithsonian, created for
that purpose, with Maj. Powell at its head.
In 1874 and rs Maj Powell gave much
laws in the west publishing in 1887 "The
Lands of the Arid Region" and in 1ST9-'S0
he was member of the public lands COM
mission appointed by Congress to investi-
gate the same, with little result. In 1883,
however, the investigation of the subject
of irrigation of arid government lands was
ordered by Congress to be made by the
geological survey. Several hundred officers
are now employed in the survey, and many
volumes are published yearly. It's work,
originally confined to the western territories
only, Is now extended oyer the whole coun-
try.
Well Known as an Author.
AS director Major Powell introduced i'm
portant improvements, tending toward rec
ognition of Individual exertion. Exclusive
of government reports published under his
name in his official capacity, he was the
author of THE Exploration of the Colorado
River of the West and Its Tributaries" in
1875. and a Report on the Geology of the
Uinta Mountains" In 1876. His ethnologi-
Cal StuOleS, III WHICH ever eNlHCeu the
deepest interest are for the most part to
be found in scattered lectures and ad-
dresses.
Major Powels enthusiasm for science
was attested by his whole life. Being dis
abled by loss of his ARM. his personal adj
ventures appeared marvellous. 1t is char
acteristic that in the early days of his gov
ernmental work he drew no salary, expend-
ing all appropriation upon it and supplied
his own needs by lecturing, In 1886 he re-
ceived the degree Of Phi. D. from Heidel-
berg, Germany, and thatso LII D. from
Harvard. -
For seven years he was president Of the
Anthropological SocietyDfl Washington and
was also the founder Of Ba3 social club of
scientific men in this city !,4 In 1887 he was
made president of the gAmRrican Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Science. AS
a writer he was conciserohisv subject being
carefully thought out, snd as a speaker he
was deliberate and effeGtives.
Major Powell is surveyed by widow and
one daughter Miss Many Powell, both Of
whom We're with him rat,sthe time of his
death. His brother, Prof. ". B. Powell,
late superintendent Of Schools of the Dis
trict of Columbia, is in New York and will
probably come to this city, to attend the
funeral. sister, Mrs. Ellen Powell
Thompson, the wife of Prof. A II.
Thompson of the geological survey lives
in this city. Other sisters II Major Pow
ell live in the west and northwest.
Major Powelrs body, wv be brought to
this city for interment.