The Arizona sentinel., 1902-04-16

QISCON0IluS tuc N0nOS1S OA the Colorado river; however, some of our historical friends have exhumed evidences of many | ancient journeys in this region, a few references to which are given below.
 In I539 Uloa sailed to the head | of the Gulf of California and, noting the turbid condition of the water, inferred that a great river entered the gulf near its head. He, however, did not see the river, but indicated its sup posed position on sketch map made by him at the time. The actual discovery of the Colorado river took place in 154O, three explorers, one by sea and two by land, having reached it in that year. Alarcon, the first to ar rive, sailing up the Gulf of Cali fornia to its head, entered the Colorado river and ascended it in boats for fifteen days to a point possibly beyond the Gila.
 Cardenas, a lieutenant of Col orado's, travelling through what is now Northern Arizona, ac- cording to the historian of the expedition, arrived at river the banks of which were so high that they seemed to be three or four leagues in the alr." This is the first written description of the Grand Canon of the Colo rado.
 In 1776 Father Garces explored the Colorado from the mouth of the Gila to the present site of Ft. Mojave. This journey was the second through this region, and the first of which we have a detailed account. Extensive in formation is given therein re garding the geography of the country passed through. This journey was made on foot and largely alone through an un- known desert which was occu- pied by savages, the sole motive being religious zeal. In 176O Father Garces established the mission La Purisima Conception opposite the mouth of the Gila, on the site where seventy years afterward Ft. Yuma was estab- lished. In the same year he also founded the mssion of San Pablo Y San Pedro on the right bank of the river, and few miles be low the mouth of the Gila. BOtE of these missions were destroyed by Indians in 178l, and about fifty Spaniards were killed, in cluding Father Garces and three other priests. This was the only attempt to establish missions Or the Colorado.
 Other devotees followed il these footsteps, crossing and re crossing the burning sands O the desert between Santa F' and Yuma.
 As early as 1925 Americal trappers appeared along the Col orado river. On his overlant Journey to California in 1926 .Jedediah $. Smith followed tn Colorado from the mouth of tn Virgin river to near the presen crossing of the Santa Fe railroa and from thence proceeded t the Coast. He was the frs American to reach California b the overland route.
 From 1846 to the beginning ( the Civil war the lower COlorad was visited by surveying and e2 ploring parties under the dire' tion of the War departmen The most detailed examinatio of the river made during this p' riod was by Lieut.. J. c. Ives, j 1857-5S. Aniron steamboat fit feet long was built in Philade phia and shipped in sections the mouth of the Colorado rive via San Francisco, with whiC he ascended the river. A vel detailed examination was mao from the Gulf of California
 the mouth of Las Vegas Was
 with a view of determining hO far the stream was navigable f, Steamboats.
 In the negotiations for u
 Gadsden purchase, the Unit,