Show MAKES ON SOUTHERN UTA H A very rugged arid area almost miles square which lies chiefly in southern utah but includes a bizall triangle of land in arizona near leos leoa farry la Is described in professional paper of the united states geological survey department ot of tho the interior recently issued the area extends from bryco bryce canyon national park on the west to glen canyon ot aee the colorado river on the east it Is called the region from its dominant topographic feature the Kalpa plateau i the region was wag approached by several of the early spanish explorers explore re notably by cardenas Carde one of tornados Corna Corn doa ados lieutenants who in 1640 1540 looked down into one of the canyons of tile the colorado from the south rim it was not artil 1776 that Sll vestre velez tie de escalante a spanish priest traveled from santa fe by way of the la plata and la sal mountains and a arcos the wasatch plateau to utah lake thence south to the virgin river and east across and gorges until he found a difficult ford across the colorado since si nce known as the crossing of the fathers escalante calante Bs was the first white man known to have traversed southern utah and the only explorer who entered glen canyon before powells memorable voyage of 1869 the history of the extension of mormon settlements in southern utah from 1861 when st george was settled to 1880 when the first colonies crossed to the east side of the colorado river la Is full of examples of heroic endeavor under the most moat adverse conditions the geographic and geologic tie de of the region began with powells powell voyage down the the colorado lorado go in 1860 arid and was continued by the powell arid and wheeler surveys between 1870 and 1877 the geologic surveys on which the i present report Is based were conducted by parties under the direction of herbert E R gregory and raymond 0 moore from 1915 to 1924 and for the first time a comprehensive description Is given of the regions geography and ge geologic ologio features including the mineral resources in conformity with the object of the tha the report will serve as a guide in determining the use to which ahls hl a area of largely land may be put the five settlements tropic can non bonville nonville ville Henri henrieville eville Esc escalante alanto and boulder are the only permanent centers of population and the roads to them are the only ones that are kept in repair the other roads may be called roads only for the want of a better name they are in reality trails with alternating stretches of a sand bare rook rock and steep inclines over which with with few mishaps a skillful driver may conduct a strong continued to dack back page REPORT ON LITTLE KNOWN REGION IN SOUTHERN UTAH I 1 MADE BY THE U SG S G S continued from page one ly built lightly loaded wagon for most of the region saddle horses and pack trains are the only only practicable abl means of transport the outstanding topographic features of the region which as a whole lies at an altitude of about leet are terraced plateaus cliff bound mesas ridges and straight sided canyons all impressive alike tor for magnitude and ruggedness rug the canyon walls the faces of the mesas and buttes and expanses of rock are wind swept and are so bare off of vegetation that green tints and subdued tones resulting froni plant covering are rarely present in the landscape the conspicuous colors seen are the colors of rocks themselves red brown yellow and white intensified by bands of dar dark 1 k grays gray the variety and interest of the topographic forms of the region some of which are displayed in the bryce canyon Natio national naJ park are not surpassed in this part of the united states state over hundreds hundred 9 of square miles the surface consists chiefly of clean bare rock but that the soil where present has fertility is shown by the vigorous natural growth yf of perennials and annuals where sufficient water Is present unfortunately there Is not enough water available without prohibitive cost to irrigate irrig ate m more ore than a I 1 few e w eq square aare miles in the region the most favorably situated lands ae a e already under irrigation the region is essen essentially bially a grazing district perhaps the largest fron free range in the united states the prosperity of its several communities depends upon the amount availability and value of pasturage and as in the tha communities of the nearby near by pints flute and na navajo jo indians the outstanding citizens aro are those who have a knowledge of water holes trails and brouse shrubs gold cold has been taken from gravel bars I 1 in n glen canyon and more can doubtless be recovered but amounts justifying large outlays are unlikely to be found prospecting tor for oil has so tor far yielded no returns the one known mineral resource of value is the coal cd at the Kalpa plateau the report la is entitled the kal kai Pa par owita region geographic and geologic reconnaissance of parts of ruthh and arizona it if can be obtained at a copy from the department oti documents washington D C j |