Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-01
A NOTABLE EXPEDITION.

The gentlemen in command OF the
expedition 60 the San Juan country
under the auspices Of the Commercial
club Of this city, started today on their
journey. After reaching Thompsons
Springs, ON the Rio Grande Western
railway. they win proceed by team and
wagon southwark to Blunf city, where
they will make their arrangements to
go on their adventurous trip to the
Northwest into region practically
unexplored. They will have experienced
mountalneers and cowboys AS scouts,
with some knowledge Of the country 70
be explored, and Il Is expected that
they viii add greatly to a correct
knowledge OF the antiquities OF the
American continent.
Mr.. S. r. Whitaker, recently director
general of the Utah Worlds Fair COM
mission, MIR, II. l.. A. Gunner. the well
known artist and mneraloglst, and Mr.
G. w. Holmes. an enterprising gem
tleman son OF COL u. i. Holmes, for
mer president Of the Commercial
club, are the gentlemen IN charge, and
we expect that ON their return they
VIII furnish to the public through the
press. many items Of Information that
WIN be Of great interest and value
The Descret News presents today EN-
illustrated article, giving all the data
attainable In advance OF the expedition,
That which we present is reliable and
win doubtless be attractive to the great
body Of our readers,
The region which Is TO be explored
was once occupied by the Cliff dwellers,
u not by people of a stlll more ancient
race II Hes between the San Juan
river aud the great canyon of the Colo
RADIO river II rs "a rough and rocky
and mountainous district, and 80 Ear as
investigations have been made there,
contains ruins and relies Of past age
that viii give much Information con-
corning the prehistoric people, and
their works, who once dwelt on this
land and who have persisted and passed
away
TO the Latter-day Saints the antiqul-
ties OF The Western Hemisphere are all
ways q subject Of deep interest. Be-
lieving In the authenticity Of the Book
of Mormon, they have learned much
of the history Of the people who flour
ished here ages ago. The explorations
of travellers, and the descriptions Of
tho evidences Of q bygono civilization
by archaeologists, have 20 them fas-
clnation greater than that excited In
ordinary readers OF history and
the developments of modern times.
They are convinced that two distinct
civilizations existed on this land, as
described IN the Book Of Mormon, and
that the different tribes OF Indians as
they are called which now roam the
prairies and mountains Of the North
and form a large portion Of the popu-
lation Of South America, are the de-
scendants Of the men and women Of Ia
raelItlsh stock, who by divine direction
We're brought upon this land COO years
before the Christian era,
They We're preceded several centuries
anterior to that period by small colony
from the plains of shinar, where the
Tower OF Babel was built. The Book
Of Mormon gives many particulars con-
corning those peoples. their buildings,
their temples, their religion, their cus-
toms, their wars their decadence and
overthrow, and also predictions con-
corning their future. Every discovery
Of ancient ruins on this continent helps
20 confirm the truth OF that record
and adds to It's unspeakable worth "a
the scientific world and to The student
OF theology
We hope that while the members OF
the expedition that has started for the
San Juan region are not going there
for Che purpose OF demonstrating any
thing In relation TO the record here
briefly treated Of, they viii find In their