The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08
North Carolina In
Navy Department
Continued from Page Four

NJ THESE oA1A
Graham readily adopted The sugges-
.jon. After informing himself as far
40 possible Of h whole situation, IN
geography and resources Of the coun-
=. 10 be explored, the routes to be
..ken, the difficulties 20 be overcome,
te Issued a letter Of instruction to
lieutenant Herndon, then cruising off
Inc western coast of South America
letter. as has been we'll said, tina
"g characterized by that familiarity
With the details O. the project and
hat clearness Is we'll as largeness
81 view which arc found in all his
important papers" In this letter he
said:
The department Is about to con-
fae "a you a most important and
delicate duty, which will call for the
exercise of all those high qualities
and attainments on account of which
you nave been selected.
"The government desires to b. put
m possession Of certain information
relating to the valley Of the river
Amazon. in which term Is included
5hc entire basin or water shed drained
by that river and it's tributaries. This
desire extends not only to the present
condition Of hat valley with regard
10 the navigation OF its streams. to
the number n condition. both in
duStrial and social of its inhabitants,
then trade and products. its climate,
soil and productions, but also to it's
capacities for cultivation. and to the
character and extent OF its undevelop-
ed commercial resources. whether Of
the field. the forest, river or the
mine.
TO enable the government to form
a proper estimate. of the degree of
that Importance. present and prospec-
tive. il the object OF our mission.
You will make such geographical
and scientific observations, by The way,
as may be consistent with the main
object of the expedition, always bear
ing in mind that these are merely
Incidental, and that no part Of the
main objects OF the expedition is tc
be interfered with by them. 1t is
desirable that you should bring home
With YOU specimens or samples of The
various articles of produce from tht
Amazon river. together with sucl
Feeds or plants as might probably
De introduced into this country t;
advantage.
Arriving at Para, you will embarl
10y the first opportunity for the Unite,
states. and report In person to thi
department"
Upon receipt of these instruction
lieutenant HerndOn, after making hi
preparations, started from Lima an
crossed the COTdllIefaS IN COmpan
with Lieutenant Lardner GibbOI
Across the Cordilleras, Gibbon sepa
rated from the party to explore tn
bolivian tributaries, while Herndo
followed the main trunk Of the gres
river. from it's source to its moutl
returning TO the United States i
1852, after rahai had retired fro1
the cabinet. he prepared an elabora'
report of his expedition, which VIZ
published by the government. II
work was extensively circulated, an
rs yet cited as an authority on ell
nology and natural history. TT
service rendered by this expedite
70 and science, it would
HtHieult to exaggerate.
But surprising even this expedite
IN Importance was that Of Comm
aore Perry TO Japan, which was a
thorized and prepared during the a
hlnistration Of Secretary Grahal
for two reasons Graham's name h
not been as intimately associat
with this achievement as it deserv
y he. In the first place the e
P"dition, though authorized and p1
pared during his administration q
not sail until after his retirement fro
NE cabinet. In the second place t
SorfeSpondence between Secreta
was private. the letters viii
passed between them on the ST.
lect We're preserved among Mr.. Gil
udlas private papers, which Ia
never been published, and his nal
goes not appear as connected with t
enterprise in the records Of the Ma
department. at Washington. Err
shesc letters it is clear tina while
s"ca OF the expedition did not orr
nate with him, nevertheless to
.leaf understanding Of its impOrtan
Ms insistence upon it in the Cabi
Nnnfercnces. n his deep interest
III the details, was due the decision
the administration to undertake it +;
w a large degree the success Of
Enterprise.
The extension Of the boundaries
m" United States to the Pacific DC
oy the acquisition of California.
'he completion Of the Panama r