| Show POWELLS COLORADO RIVER EXPLORING expedition windsor castle arizona may loi lof editor deseret mews news thinking that a few items concern ing our party would be interesting to your readers I 1 will try and aud entertain them a short time with the doing saud intentions of powells colorado river exploring expedition which embraces a geological and topographical survey of the colorado river and the surround ing country the party had mapped the buckskin or kleab mountain and the country north and south and east to the colorado river and west to kanab before 1 I joined them so my description will be of the country west and south of kanab the mapping is accomplished by a series of triangles or the method of ef triangulation having first measured a base line from halo haio a mile nalle south of ka nab thence a little over nine miles south this took nearly two months steady work it being measured with fourteen foot leveling rods and is an accurate piece of cf work from this we triangulate to prominent points either signal stations or geodetic points according to the importance of those points we travel from one mountain or to another to get angles and sketch the country with pack animals as it would be impossible to travel with a wagon the party is ia composed of twelve members st at present pre sent seat and all have their different duties to perform sueh such as aa to raphers photographers geologists and those who herd and tend to the horses and drive the pack train leaving kanab on the loth bolh day of march we made camp at windsor cas cal tle or pipe spring as more commonly called here we stopped for ten days taking observations for longitude latitude and time also taking anglea angies to and from prominent points on the vermillion clims cliff s and kaibab mountain by observation we find that windsor castle is eleven miles milea south of therline theline between utah and arizona leaving windsor castle we took our course courve SW to mount trumbull 50 miles milea distant the horses having had nothing much to do for eight or ten teri days felt very good and we had quite qulie a runaway with both pack and riding animals one of the party lost his gun a henry rifle which he found after hunting for it two days after traveling all day over a debert adebert and clayey plain covered with stunted sage brush and grass of 20 miles we found after much hunting bunting the wild band pocket t 8 so 0 called from a band of wild horses h having a ving watered there two or three summers ago this was only surface water and not very good being in a pool of small smail size in the bed of a new now dry creek at this place we first found the upper portions of the carboniferous boni derous ferous period next day traveled all day over a lava covered country which was barren and desert looking with only now and then a scrub cedar finding no water we made what ls is ia 13 called in this country a dry camp and we found it dry indeed five milea miles south from us we could eee bee mount trumbull with nith plenty of snow on its sides bides the country here Is ia very rough in deed filled with large boulders bou idera of basalt rock and gulches and adall extinct cone eone shaped volcanoes we found water about 9 next morning in what we called rocky pool we found the pool in a deep wild looking gulch guich imbedded bedded im in the solid basalt rock which had been worn out by the water flowing over a small fall of 25 feet this pool held about barrels of cold water good with the exception of being nearly alive with small red amima eules cules at this place our photographer photograph erMi mi fennimore took some fine views of the pool and rounding picturesque scenery we wei stopped here three days flowers were beginning to blossom blos goal soai and grass to grow we are now in the carboniferous formation which we have proved from fossils found here blount mount trumbull proved to be an extinct volcano of huie hufe dimensions after ell cli climbing mbong the tho mountain which is feet above the se sea and finishing our work we wend otar our way SW around the mountain to what we called lva liva spring here we made camp a few days and a fine camp it was in a large grove grova of oak the trunks from one to two feet through we found here also plenty of black locust some very large there is one very interesting feature at this place it is a stream of lava two miles long by half to throe fourths of a mile wide which came from a cone shaped mountain south of mount trumbull this we found to be of comparatively recent date the stream ran about one and a half miles and then coming in contact with a small bill separated into two equal forba forks the lava is very little cracked and looks as it if it was but a short shor time since it was a liquid molten mass running down the aldes sides of the volcano it is ili grand indeed and it makes one feel the power ower and great no ne a of an all wise god gor GOT mount trumbull is one of a range called the aing karet or mountains they are composed of three peaks besides mount blount trumbull viz mount stanhoe Stan ritan hoe mount lucy and mount emma all very high and volcanic haying having once been the rim of a vast crater the colorado river Is within nine to twelve miles of this place there being only two fin ilu places to get down to the river in the Gr grand can fiu u for some distance along the river south prof thompson capt dodds and myself took a trip to the river to try to find a trail to get provisions down for the use of those coing down in the boats next summer from lava spring we commenced going down hill for feet and here we found summer flowers in bloom some of which are rare and new the geology of this country Is ia very interesting indeed which we found to be of the carboniferous formation and composed mostly of lime stone grey marble of good quality abates and conglomerates at the river the thermometer stood at 70 F at five p m we round found much difficulty in getting down to the river the walls bellig 5 feet highnote hig hnot perpendicular but terraced one above another the bun bufi shines here only two and three hours a day and it itt is grand gloomy and peculiar it seems as if one ono was shut out from the world entirely here we found where mount blount turnbull trumbull bad had sent lava seething and boiling into the colorado but the mighty river has cut its way through again we found some fine specimens basalt rock in six bix sided bided columns which looked as it if the hand of art had formed them they were so eo perfect but sights ats we saw on all sides are indescribable me they thoy are BO grand and beautiful by examining the sand at the river found small glittering particles of gold but it was very fine the discovery gold on this river has caused many man to 0 go back broke as it is termed and perhaps not much pleased with colorado but let iet the man who ad nature visit this place and ho he will well paid for his trouble we found a natural bridge composed entirely of basaltic rock spanning gulch ninety feet wide from the bed of the creek to the top of the arch it about fafty airty feet just below we found precipice of feet where the went dashing and foaming down to the colorado the bridge was ten across the top by over a hundred long aud and was clear of anything any auy thing but grass and flowers the basalt rock had rested on a soft arena clous cious rock which had corroded away and left the basalt forming a natural natura larch arch captain dodds and myself followed down the river one day days Is ride to try to get to the river again but we failed yet we were repaid for our trouble by climbing a small we could see away down nearly to the river feet below us and grand gulches and high walls walis the view la is so EO grand and extensive that the eyes can not take it all in at once while look ing at some wonderful and magnificent piece of scenery another perhaps as erand crand or more so claims your attention rhia one sight will repay anyone who may wish to see scenery rare and beautiful here is the place for the artist with his pencil and canvass and for the legend writer and his tho thoughts bights can weave many a wild and thrilling story of the vast cant cann ns Ds of the Colorado afi the tha plateaus plate aug aua of the colorado you can find no aprin ganor creek sonly in a storm which comes often along the river we depended alone on the holes in the rocks which are generally full of water we left the river in a rain storm but when we got within five miles of lava spring we came into a snow storm which lasted three days A faw hours before we had left summer and her lowers flowers 3 feet below it changed the beenes scenes scene materially for me for my horse gave out and I 1 had to walk and lead him five miles through mud and snow at lava spring we found the snow two feet deep around the camp at camp the thermometer stood at 28 above zero F quite a change to experience peri ence in one day oa the ath day of april we left mount trumbull for fort pieree Pierce twelve miles southeast south east of st george by a trail over the mountains in crossing the divide between mount and mount lucy we found three feet of snow and on top of the mountain four feet during darlng the first days travel we lost the traill trail and we were unable to find it again the second day found us in a snow storm and the bsma sama the third day the fourth was a pleasant one we having now got into the dixie basin instead of being two days from mount blount trumbull we were four and we arrived at th eBerry spring instead of at fort peerce we were also very fortunate la in finding our supplies herb herh as what we had with us were nearly exhausted here we made camp for two weeks during which time we mapped the country around mr jones andy hatton and myself attempted to climb the pine valley moun aln ain but did riot not succeed on account of the depth of the snow and it being so cold we got 6 feet above washington and within feet of the top this mountain is very uary high and perhaps the highest in utah it is thickly covered with mahogany cedar maple black locust white yellow pinion and norway pine also some fir and spruce this mountain is evidently a very old one as aa its upper 2000 feet is composed dom posed erl entirely of a kind of igneous cock rock similar to granite the lower portion of the mountain is composed of limestone of the cretaceous period and conglomerate also sandstone of the triassic the snow in the gulches was from ten to thirty feet deep it was very cold and the snow was hard and crisp we were much amused at andy our cook who thought he would rather slide silde down the mountain than walk we came to a gulch that was wag ruil full of snow and about 2000 feet to the bottom with a slant of 45 or 50 andy having on a new pair of canvass overalls overall thought he would have a slide and as aa none of us would go with him he started quite slow at first but gai gal gaining gastilla tilla all the time he boon soon was going at lightning speed and away he went over the ice and snow like the wind his coat tails flying in the air and he trying with all his might to stop himself but the last we saw of him there was when he disappeared over a large rock after awhile we saw andy hobbling along down at the bottom he told us afterwards that he began to go so fast that he could not stop himself until he landed in a snow bank head hend over heels out of sight and he be had quite a hard bard time in getting out he lind nad nearly worn out his overalls and sprained bis his ancle I 1 doubt now whether you could get him to try coasting again down a s bmw tow slide silde without anything but new canvass overalls to elide on on oa the day of april we broke camp at bury spring and separated into four parties professor thompson and three others went south of st george to the beaver dam mountains to climb take angles ac captain dodds and two others went to windsor castle to let the horses recruit mr fennamore and houar went up the virgen to take views mr jones jonea and myself went to climb the pine valle valley y mountain moun MOUD from erom washington agton we took a northwesterly north westerly direction around to the west end of the mountain we arrived at blades mill the second day having received the information as desired we hastened to abend the mountain we took our horses up 2000 feet above the mill then we came to snow and made our camp we found it very cold but which proved fortunate for ua there was a hard crust on oft the snow we had bad no trouble in getting to the highest point of the mountain which we mund found by observation to be feet above the level of the sea this being nearly the snow range from this point you have a large and extended view of the country you can see the carson mountains also mount nebo the beaver mountains and a faint outline of the wasatch range we also saw nearly all the towns in dixie viz santa clara st george washington Harris burgh leeds bellevue toker and virgen city the thermometer at 12 stood 31 above zefo zero the view from this place Is worth seeing especially to any one interested in nature this being the first day of may mr jones and myself spent our may walk in the snow from four to twenty feet deep on top of the mountain the snow was only six feet deep it being deepest in the gulches and side caf canons ions lons in coming down the mountain I 1 saw on one le of the floesl finest sights sighle levar I 1 ever beheld behold the snow melting during the day and f freez reez beez ingin ingin the night forms a thin athin ice ica on top then the winds blow often and strongly and coming up from each side of the mountain make whirlwind i we saw a whirlwind some fifty paces ahead of us ua that took up large and small pieces of this thib thin ice into the air and the bun sun shining brightly made them appear like so many hashing and glittering 11 diamonds of exquisite beauty beau beat ity this thia lasted for some minutes while we stood and looked with wonder and pleasure at ab a sight eight we had never seen before and one we can never forget on the foothills of pine valley mountain we found a great variety of flowers rare and new now here we found four varieties of cactus in tuli tuil bloom and beautiful they were each trying to the other in beauty and magnificence at the west end of the mountain wo found an extinct volcano where the lava came caine from which now covers the dixie basin we also found two small volcanoes in diamond valley both of which are recent in st george and washington we find everything frest and green strawberries berries are ripe here now apricots as large as walnuts and grapes as aa large as currants after a tedious journey over sand rockland rock sand dry country we arrived at windser castle and glad we were to get where we could receive our mail and cie clean cle iiii up we have nearly finished the mapping pin pid g of this country with the exception of the river which will be dished next bummer summer in ten tn or twelve days we shall start for the dirty devil river to get that country mapped then from there to Pa harla haria then the intentions are to proceed down the river from the tile mouth of the river on the lat of july through marble and grand canons to the mouth of the rio virgen when the work will be finished yours ac tf W D JOHNS jonns N JR 4 schools for women are among fashions adopted by the sultan of turkey arrangements have been made to have the women who burst out crying assault with intent to commit scrofula is ia what they call compulsory vaccination in chicago when you go to drown yourself a always I 1 pull onn off your clothes they may fit your cifes second husband hustana hus bana the I 1 lle lie responsible editor of a newspaper is the man who never sees a any ny articles until the public finds fault with them A writer says the fallow fields of fiction are ever broadcast broad east cast with love scenes yes and so are |
