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Show Colorado waa first crossed la ITT. by Kathar Bacalanta, Spanish missionary. Utile development took place In tha basin, however, until It became at part of tha United States, near tha middle of tha la at century. Prior to tha Civil war the to mile up from the mouth of tha river to tha Needlee had bean explored, and a raw email ateamera piled a somewhat an certain trade on theae lower reaches la list Major Powell made hie trip of ex. ploretlon by boat through the let), mllea or more of river and canyon from what bow the railroad elation ela-tion of Green River. Wye, to the mouth of the Virgin river, Alisons. At that time there were rumor of rreat waterfall, paeaaaee of the river through underground tunnel tun-nel and other Ilk terror. Powell disproved theae rumors, and although al-though tha party encountered dangerous dan-gerous rapid and smashed on boat, no Uvea were loat en the river. Three of his party wh left the river near the lower end of the Grand canyon were killed by la-dlana. the Mexican boundary. The results of these survey are shown en a continuous river map In aheeta of convenient else, generally on a scale of two Inehea to tha mile. The present expedition will make detailed examinations of possible dam site, which will be considered from both tha engineer' and th geologist point of view, Four boat of special type have been constructed to stand the rack and atraln of the work In the canyon, and each member of th party will he equipped with life preservers. The beat will be manned by skilled boat mam. all of whom hava had ex-perteif-e In the rapids of tha Colorado. Colo-rado. 1 Tha rapids In thla eOO.mlle atretct form some of th wildest j water In tha t'nltad State, and the members of the parly are prepared for thrilling experiences. Kvery precaution ha been taken for their safety' and for the protection of the eurveylng - and photographic p- j para t us. 1 ENGINEERS HEAO ARTY. ' Th party consists of C. H. Blrdeeye, chief topographic engineer engi-neer of the geological survey. In charge; E. C. La Rue, hydraulic engineer: R. C. Moore, geologist, and R. W. Burchard, topographer, all of the geological survey, and B. C. Kolh. head boatman; Lewis R. Free man. Leigh Lint and H. It-Blake It-Blake Jr, boatman; F. B. Dodge, rodman. and Frank Work. cook. TheOrstdcsTvonsecnonofthe s ENGINEERS TQ SHOOT RAPIDS OF COLORADO V ' Geologic! Surrey Party to Travel Along Stream to Make Investigation and Map of Country Ten men, composing a party of engineer from the geological aurvey, aur-vey, are now on an exploring expedition ex-pedition of the Colorado river, leaving leav-ing at a point near th head of the , Marble canyon to explore the tot all of tht great river In It tor-teous tor-teous way through th Marbl and f Grand canyons. Including th dangerous dan-gerous gorge of the two great canyona and th rapid of th river. TMarlDsMrhrsajtanedeB terday. will bs from Lee' Ferry to the mouth of the Virgin river. The party will make reeorde of the slope of the river In this stretch of to miles and of the topography of ths country. This I th sixth expedition which will have traversed thle section sec-tion or the river, the first exploring explor-ing party being under the direction of Major John W. Powell and the last one made early this spring, th party of explorers Including Stat Engineer R. E. Caldwell. . DRAINS HUGE AREA. The Colnsdo, one of the great river of the country, le often called the Nil of America. It drain nearly iM.OeO square miles, an area equal to that of th Atlantic coast atatee from Main to Georgia. Th highest point In It bssln are th peaks of th Continental Divide, which stand more than 14.0M feet above eea level, and a part of It water find It way Into Ballon sea. In southern California, which He mors than 1M feet below sea lsvel. Stretches aggregating about lto mile on th Colorado and It principal prin-cipal fork. Green river, and ssveral hundred mile on other trlbutarle have already been surveys! and mapped by the geological survey, and these stretches, together with th 100-mlle stretch to be surveysd thl year, extend continuously from the town of Oreen River. Wyo.. on Green river, and from Grand Junc-tlon, Junc-tlon, Colo , on Colorado river, to |