Democratic banner. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1837-1849, October 09, 1845, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    UNE
. , .
~
.: I
\»-.h
‘1)"
xx“
t‘.;l§,vfb,,. *x‘v‘ifiibolirl;
Capt. 1 Fretnonl?s Expedition.
' Although weheyelno tear oi \vearying
.ouprendera'lpttliefltit‘, tH‘ exhausting their
curiohity." by a continued rt’c'lrrence {0
'thts truly ttutionai production—arid it is
indeed one at which any penttig might bg'
' proudnyettwe'do notwtsh to lt‘t’sptt'vzs too
much upon..the pleasure which will be
. experienced from" the regular ' perusal of
'the Work. by. the .delachlng of pathogen
however interesting they may be. frohi the
connected narrative.» We shall, rim-c.
~-fore. now bring-our notice of these impur»
~ tint expeditions tonclose. \Ve left the
party at the Uttth Lake. The narrative
thus continueat‘ ’ .
\ "In arriving at the Utah Lake. we had
completed animmense circuit of twelve
43.49 reesvdiarnetebnorth and south, anti tEn
degrees east and west"; and found our:
selves, In May, 1844. on the same sheet
nfuater which‘we had left in September.
18:13.; uTh‘e Utah is' the Southern limb ol
the.GreatvSalt Lake; and thus we had seen
=that.retnarhable sheet of water both ht its
northern and southern extremitv.and Were
~ab|eto fix its position at these-two points.
-The circuit: which ' we had made.
and which had cost us eight months oi
ttme, and ° 500 miles of travelling. had
given us a v'ew at Oregon and of North
California lr m the Rocky Mountains to
the Pacific cean, and at the two princi
,pn| Itrehm which lortn boys or harbours
on the coast of that sea. Having comple
tedthis' circuit, and being now about to
turtt’the .back upon the Pacific slope at
our continent'an‘tlvlo recruss the Rocky
Mauntaini._ it'is natural to look. back upon
our footsteps, and take some brief view of
the leading features and general structure
of the country we had traversed. These
are peculiar and. striking. and differ es;
aentially from the Atlantic side of our
country; .The mountains are all higher.
more numerous. and more distinctly defi
znevi in their directions; and. what is so
- contrary to the natural order of such lor
mationmone ol these ranges. which is near
the c_oast,_-(tho Sierra Nevada andflhe
yeast Range.) presents higher elevation?
Tend peaks than any which are to be found
intheßocky Mountains themselves. In
our" eight months" circuit we were never
outof sight of snow ; nntl the Sierra Ne
' 'vada’, Where we crossed it, was near 2,000
feet higher than the. South Pass in the
” Rockvaountains. in height these moun-‘
tains greatly exceed those at the Atlantic
«side, constantly presenting peaks which
enter the region of eternal snow; and some
of-them‘ volcanic. and in a frequent‘sta‘te
' of activity. They are seen at great dis
tances, and guide the traveller in his caur
'ses. .., ‘ ‘
“ The course and elevation of these
fungus give direction to the river and char
‘acter to the coast. No great nverdoes or
can take its rise below the Cascade and
\‘ Sierra Nevada range; the distance to the
sea is too short to admit orit. The rivers
oi the San Francisco bay, which are the
largest after the Columbia, are. local to
that bay and lateral to the coast. having
their anurCea film!" on a line' with the
Dulles of the Columbia, and sunning each
in a valley of its own, between Coast
range and the Cascade [and Sierra Neva
da range. The‘Columhia is the only riv
er which traverses the whole hreadth til
the country, breaking through all the rain
ges, and entering the sea. Drawing its
waters front a section of ten degrees of
latitudein the Rocky Mountains. which
are collected into one stream by three
main forks (Lewis’s, Clark’s. and the
North fork) near the centre. or the Oregon
valley. this great river thence proceeds by
a single channel to the sea, while its'three
forks lead each to a page in the mountains,
which opens the way into the interior of
the .continent. \Thia fact in relation to
the rivers of this region gives an immense
value'to the Columbia. . Its mouth is the
only inletand'outlet to and from the sea;
its threeforks lead to the passes in the
mountains; it is therefore the only line of
- communication between the Pacific and
the interior ufl North Amer’tcoyand all
operations of war or commerce, of nation
. .al onsocialintercourse; must be conduct
‘ed upon it. This gives itia value beyond
estimationfand wodltt involve irreparable
injury if lost. 'ln t'hii‘wriity and'cohcen
. tration of its waters,'the Pacific side at
our continent differs entirely from the.At~
laotic side where the waters of the Atlas
gheny mountains are dispersed into 'many'
rivers, having their difl'era’nt entrances in
to the aea.‘ and opening'many lines or com
munication with the interior: .5 11' i 2‘
, . 33'1th PacifiF:¢oflst is equallydiffcrent
fr'om‘thitl‘. of the Atlantic., The coastmf
ihg Jt‘tlnntic zisrlowfantl open, indented.
with: numerous bays. sounds andriver es,-
tearies‘aééesaiblti everywhere. andopen
‘ ing by many channels Into the ,lreart ofthe
comm”: 5 ‘fflmchific coast. .on the con
tra’ry. in my, mu compact, with lewhays.
and but. onez,that opens into the heart of
' the chum”; Theintmediatécoast is what
themseanihn cail' {ran bound. Atlttie
with’iii,"ii7r-r a‘kirtetl'by tt'vn successive ran
gesii-nf“ itiiiiirrtiiiirs.‘isvun‘ding‘aa ramparts
between the ‘i‘eit‘a‘nd the" inn-rev! “I’"th 3’,»
. land to gt.“thlt'r'ti/tigh‘ltvhiilt" there is but‘nn'e'
' Batet'ond‘thfitins’rru’w and easily defend»
:‘ ed.‘ '1 hisstructure-ol the coast,‘.backed
'~"’---»,.-,..‘ -, ,
. . :51 . - ~ ,
--". '" " 7-. V .- ‘
m- ; I '-N v, . ' - .__
\‘t i“ "J'- V I.VW ' ' V '.- w.
.u, s V *',' . ' V"' »-' A
~""' #3.: ‘V v v , 2-9,.) . , ,2 . .. ... .
‘ if: ‘:, :V ‘.,‘.a ‘ " . ..', ‘l’ ' I .' L,
,J / ~.v 1.1-V ‘ ‘ , ~. ~ . . I‘. ‘. ‘ - «‘- ‘r -. ,r . x. .-.» ..
' ‘ “‘l'" ' "HI. V‘'l ‘ H , . v.” -"f -‘VI,J " ,f . .""" 'V~., 7.
—.. l A . I\. ~ .' ”I .vr‘ ‘1). i.,, v , ‘ 1-I,}. . .H.‘ . V"""‘"-‘.-~J_ H
’ U ml' "' V. ' ‘ "‘ "Him-‘3' '
.- ‘ " _ 'z: A ' 'l. ,1 b 9, " Enu‘) . ’
l l", '‘7 I' h ‘.' I", ~. _ 'fl” “ _ ”.1, _V
«3 \ .~ .' V ,--‘ \!;,' .x.‘~ pm]
'’ ' , -".\‘.: . ,3 ='
- ' ‘ ), .’r A -
' ,H» , ‘ 7,1 .
‘ ~‘ V . , ~ x
,- V- , '--.. ,"Y - I \ .
. . 3‘ - ~, I ‘
. may .
a:
by these twin rungesof mounlalns. will) ils
cnncenl'rutiun and umly ul ‘wnlers. give};
to the country. an immense military
ism-null). and will probably render Ore
gon the 036's! impregnable country , in the
\vorltl., . 4 '
. "‘ Differing so much (mm the Atlantic
side of the continent. in coast. mountains.
and rivers. the Pacific aid; din‘cys from it
in another moat ritreluml aingutar feature
—thnt of the Great Interim Basin. of which
l have so often spoken, and the whole
form and character at which 1 Was so aux
ious to ascertain. Its existence is vouch
ed for by such of the American lintlers
and hunters ‘as have some knowledge of
that region ; the ‘structure of the ‘Sierra
Nevada range of mountains requires it to
he there; and my ow" observations con
firm it. Mr. Joseph \Valker. who is so
well acquainted in those parts, informed
me that from the Great Salt Lake went
there was a auceession of lakes and rivers
which have no outlet to the sea. r anyl
Connexion with the Columbia or lliikh the
Colorado ofthe Gulf of Caltfordliarmfle
described some of these lakes as being
large. with numerous streams. and even
considerable rivers falling into them. In
fact all concurin the general report of
ithesc interior rii'ers and lakes; and tor
lwant of understanding the force and pow
er of cvapo‘rationfwhich so soon establish
es an equilibrium. between {he l as and
supply 0! waters, the fable olfivtli’irlpnols
antl subterraoeous outla‘skhas gained be
lief, as-thc only imaginable\way of carry
ing of! the waters which have no visible
discharge. The structure of the country
woultl require this iormation of interionr
lakes; for the \vatersavhich Wuultl collect
between the Rocky Mountains and the
Sierra Nevada. not being able to cross this
formidable barrier. nor to get to the Co
lumbia or the Colomdo, imust naturally
collect into reservoirs, each of ~which
would have its little system of streams and
rivers to supply it. This would be the
natural tfi'ectf'aoif what I saw went to
confirm it. The Great Salt Lake is a
formation of this kind, and quitaa large
one; and having many streams and one
considerable river. four or 500 miles
long latling'into it. This lake and river
i'l saw and examined myscll; and also saw
the .Wahsstclsand Bear river mountains
which'enclme the waters of the Lake on
the east. antl constitute in that quarter the
rim of the Gteal Basm. Afterwards, a
long the eastern base ot the Sierra Nara
da. where we travelled for forty-twa «lays.
lsaw the line of lakes and rivers which
lie at the foot of that Sierra 3 and which
Sierra is the western rim of the Basin. In
going down Lewis's fork and the main
Columbia, I crossed onlylinferior streams
coming in from the left. such as could
draw their water from a short distance on
‘ ly; and [often saw the mountains at their
heads white with snow; which all accounts
said, divided the waters of the desert from
those of the Columbia. and which could
be no other than the range .of mountains
which form the rim'of the Basin on its
northern aide. And in’ returning from
Californiaalong the Spanish trail as far
. as the head of the Santa Clara fork of the
Bib Vic en,l crossed only small streams
‘ imaking heir way soth to the Colorado.
'odliiati sand—asthe Mo-hah-ve; while
.to t eft. lofty mountains, their summits
white with snow, were often. visible. and
which must have turned water to the north
‘ as well as to the “south. and thus constitu
- led on this part the southern rim of the
I Basin. At the head of the Santa Clara
fork, and in the Vegas de Santa Clara, we
crossed the ridge which parted the two
systems of waters. We entered the Bit
sin at that point. and have traveller! in it
ever since, having its south-eastern rim
(the \Vsh-satch- mountain) on the right.
and erasing thestrenms which flow down
into. it, The existence of the Basin is
therefore an established tact in my mind ;
its extent and contents are yet to be better
ascertained. it cannot be less than four
or five hundred miles each way. and must
lie principallyin‘dhe Alta California; the
detnarcationtatitude of 42 deg. prebably
cutting a segment from the noth' part of
the rim. 0f its interio but little is known.
It is called a‘deaert, and from what l'saw
lot it, sterility may be its prominent char
acteristic ; but where there is so much wa
ter, there must be some oasis. The great
river and the great lake reported. may not
be equal to the report ; but where there is
somuclilsnow', there must be streams; and
where. there is no outlet, there must-be
lakes to hold the accumulated waters. or
sands to swallow them. up. In this east
ern part ol‘the Basia; containing Sevier“
Utalfland the Great Salt sLakas.»apt_l thet
rivers and creeks.. falling into them, we':
know there is goodsoil 'andgood grass, a
daptedflto: civilized settlements, in _ the
western part. on Salmon Trout river and
some other streams. the same remark may
be made; .' l" ' ,
The contents of "this Great Basin are
yet' to 'be examined, That it is peopled
we know ; but miserably and sparely.—-
From allthatl heard and saw. I should
say that humanity‘here appeared in its
lowest formraad its most :elementary
state; _ Dispersed in single families; Wilhv
out firearms ; eating seeds and insects;
digging roots, (and henée their name)—
siich is"the,c'ondttiou ‘ot the :greater part.
Others'are'a' ilegree higher! and. live’. in
communities upon some lake or river that
CLEARFIELD,PA.‘OC.T'.'9.IB4S
wppties fish, and limit which they‘i‘epulep
the mlsetnble Digger. The rabbit in the
lmgeallnnitnnl known in this'tlesert; its
flesh affords a little meat ; and their bag
like covering is made of its skins. Vlhe
wi|\d“-sagke is their only wood, and here it,
‘is of extraordinary, size—sometimes a loot
indiumetei". and six or eight leet high. It
serves fofluel. for building material, lnr
shelter to the rabbits, and [or some iort‘ul‘
covenng for the feet and legs in cold wea
ther! Such are the accounts of the inholx
items and products of the Great Basin;
and which. though imperlect, must have
some foundation and excite our desire to
know the whole.
“The whole idea of such a desert, and
such a people. is a novelty in our country,
and excites Asiatic. not American ideas.
Interior basins. with their own systems of
lakes and rivers, and often steril, are com
mon enough in Asia; people still in the el~
ementary state of families. living in des
bra, with timother occupation than the
mere animal seatch for food. may still be
seen in that ancient quarter of the globe ;'
but’in America such things are new and
strange. unknown and unsuspected. and
diecredited‘ when related. Butl flatter
myself that what is discovered. though not
enough to satisfy curiosity. is sufficient to
excite it, and that subsequent explorations
will complete what has been commenced.
" This account of the Great Basin, it
will be remembered. belongs to the Alta
. California. and hill no application tnOre.
gun, whose capabilities may justify a sep
arate remark. Referring to my journal ‘
for particulat descriptions. and for sec
tional boundaries between good and bid»
districtchan out] say. In general and
comparativetermit. that, in that branch of
agticulture which implies the cultivation
offirains and staple crops. it would be in
ferior to the Atlantic States. though many
parts are superior for wheat; while In the
rearing ol flocks and herds it would claim
a high place. its grazing capabilities are
great; and even in the indigenous grass
now there. an element of individual and
national wealth may _.be found. In fact,
the valuable. grasses begin wuthin one hunv
died and fifty miles of the Missouri fron
tier and'extend tothe Pacific, Ocean. East
of the Rocky Mountains. it is ‘the short
curly grass, on which the buffalo delight.
to feed. (whence its name of Bpffulo.) and
which is still good when dry and upper
entlydend. West ofthose mountains It
is a larger growth. in clusters, and hence
called bunch grass, and which has ulcer:-
and or fall growth. Plains and mountains
both exhibit them ; and I havé seen good
pasturage at an elevatioa‘hof ten thousand;
feet. ltt this spontaneous prodtf'tg't. the
trading or travelling caravans can find
subsistence for tlmr animals; and in mili
tary operations any number ofcnvnlry may
be moved, and any number at cattle may
be driven; and thus tnen and horses be
supported on long expeditions. and even
In winter in the sheltered situations.
“ Commercially, the ”Me of the Ore
gon cuunlrymusl be great, washed us it
is by the nnflh Pumflc ()ceMl—lrunlin;
Asiaégyrollucing many ol the ulemenls ul
cqmmere—lnild and healthy in ils_climnle
—-8111 l becuining M it naturally will a lhor-r
nuglllure lur the East India and China"
Made.
But llllle novelty of incident bcfcll our
mweHcrs during ylhcir comparatively easy
journeying humewnnd. ()n the 15m June
they were übuut two degrcm south 0! line
Soulh Pass in the Rocky Mountains, and
“ Our course home.” says Captain F.
‘! would have been eualwurdly; but (ha
would have taken us Over gruuml alread‘
examine-l, und lhcrcfure without lhe in
[crest which would excite cuVrinsit'y.
Southwurdly Iherh w‘o‘re uhjects wmjhy u
be explnred, to wit: the approximation to
the hend waters of three different rivers—-
the Platte. the Arkansas. and the Grand
River lnrk of the Rio Cnlorndn oi the Gulf
of California; the passe: at the hends at
these rivers. and the three rernnrknblel
mnuntnin coves called Pinks; in.whi;h
they took their rise. One of these Parks
was. of course. on the western side oi the
dividing ridge ; and a vlsittn it \vnuld re
quire uo once more to cross the summit ot
the Rocky Mountaim ,tn the “feet, and
then to rte-cross to the east ; making, It]
.all. with the transit we had just accomA
plished. three crussings of that mountain
in this section of its} course. V" But. no mat
ter. The 'er'we‘ri, thePeuds nf the riverv,‘
the approximation 0/ their, waters, the
prhctieahili'typl the mountain passes. and
the locality of the Tunic mnrcs, were all
objects (if interest; and; nltho’ well known
in hunters nnd trnppers. were unkn‘ov'vn to
science and to history. We therefore
changed nur cqurse.’ and turned up the
Valley of the- Platte instead of'going down'
It. ' ‘ - ‘ .. L '
' “ We crossed [several small alfluenls.
and again made a fortified camp in h
grave. The country had now Become ve
ry benulifu‘l-Jrich in water. yarns: and
game ; and In these were added the charm
of scenery ‘nml pleas’ant wenlhe'r.”
'Afler an interesting vlsitfm the ” New
and Old Parks.” which ‘arc ~.delutribed as
belng fertile and well wooded and 'wilcred
.vhlleys, 'umlj " a parn‘dié'e‘ to all grazing
éhimdls.” the party artived obilhe 22d
Julie at am sz'tmmzt 6]th dimding ridge.
NEW {SERIES-«VOL, VI. No; 27'"W.11..0LE“N049994""
{pwhioh Capmin F. gives an estimated
height of 11.200 feet. .
"0n lhc 231] we were met by a party
0! Utah women. who told us'flmt on the
other side ofv‘fihe ridge their village was
ghlinz with the Arupahnes. :As soon as
toy hit} 'givén u‘s this information, the)
filled lh’e nir wilh You and lanrenlznions.
which made us un erstnml that some 0!
eir chiefs had been killed
“Extending ulong the river directly n
htrad 'ul us was 1: low piny ridge, leaving
belWeEh it and the stream a nmall open
bnt'om. on which the Utah: had very in-
judiciously placed their village, which. ac
cording to the wnmcn, numbered about
300 warriors. Advancing in the cover of
the pines. the Arnpnhoeo. about daylight.
charged into the village, dliving at? n great
number of their horses and killing tour
m-n; among Ihem the principal chief of
he village. They drove the horses per?
mm a mile beyond the village to the end
)l.n hollow. where they had previuualy
nrted at the edge at the pimm Ilene the
Utah: had instantly attacked them in turn.-
ztnd. nccnrdinglo the report 0| the women,
were getting rather best of the day. 'l he
wemcn pressed us eagerly to join with
their people, and would have immediate
ly provided us with the best horses at the
village; but it Wasnot for us to lnterlcre
in auch a conflict. - Neither party were
our lriendo, no'r under our protection; and
each was ready in prey upon us that could.
But we could not help feeling an unusual
excitement at being within a law hundred
yards ofu fight in which 500 men were
closely engaged and hauling lhe sharp
crncku 0! their rifles. “Kg were in a bad
pnsiiiun. uml subject tn ()0 Hacked in ii.
Elmer pnrzy which we miyiit meel, Victo
rious or delcnled, was cerlnln to {all upon
us; and gearing up immediately. we kept
close alung the pines of the ridge. having
It between us and the village. and keeping
the smut: on the summit tq give us notice
ot the approach of lndinnsqi‘i As we pass
ed by the vdlage, which'ivrés immediately
below us, horsemen were galloping to and
and lro. and groups ul. people were gath
ered around those who wyewoundedand
dead. and who were. brOught in from the
field. We continued to 'press on, and
crossing Inulher lork which came in from
me right. after hminz made fifteen miles
[rum lhe village, lnrtificd ourselves strong
ly in the pines a ehorl disluncc from (M
river." , '
The party arrived at Benfia’lfion on the.
Is! July where the) were received——
“With a cmdial welcome and fliendly
hospitalily. in lhcvenjovménz of which we
«gym several agreeable days. “’6 were
iiiiw In a region where ‘uur mountaineers
were accustomed to live. and all me (lan
gera uml dlfliculticu of the road being con
sndered past. [our of them, including Car
son and Walker, remained at i‘ne Furl.”
The expedition reached the little town
uf‘Knnaafl, on the banksvvof the Missouri
riVer. on the 3194 nl Jul}. having made a
joumey at 3.702 miles lrom the Danes 0'
the Columbia, find of 2.5§0 from Captain
Sutlcr'u sotllement_at New Helvetia.
“During (mi-protracted absence of four
teon months, In the course of which we
hudnnet‘essaxily been exposed to great vu
rietics of weather and climate. no one
case of .sickneas had ever occurred among
us
”Here ended our‘iml journey; and the
day lollowiug our nrr vul'. give found our
selves on bounl n r-teamboa‘t rafiidly glid
ing down' the broad Missouri, Our trav:
el-woro animals had not been sold and
dispersed over the country to renewed la
b‘gtr, but wore ptucul at good pasturnge on
ti a frontier, um} m.- now ready to do their
port in the coming expedttinn. ”
{{he narrative conclude! Mm the arr‘
ff ‘\
val hLfiQLtinis on the 6th of Aug. where
the party was disbanded. - ' “H
"Andreas Fuentes also remained heief
having readily fuunt’. employment for the
winter. and i; one of the men engaged to
accompany me the present your.
“Puhlo Hernandez remains in the lam
ily of Senator Benton, "where he Ia well
taken care 01, and concilintea goodwill by
his dorility, intelligence. and aminbiltty.
Genera‘atAlmnnte. the Mexican Minister
at V\'nnhipgton.'to whom he was of course
made known, kindly offered to take charge
of him. and to carry him back to Mexico;
but the hay Iprelerflred to remain \i/hcre he
was until-lie got {in education. for which
'he shows eqnal nrdor and aptitude. 1
I"Uur Chinook Indian had higi wish tol
lee‘thc whites fully gratified. lle accom
panied me to Washington. ”and, after re
maining several months ut\the Columbia
icollege. 'w'ns sent by the Indian Deport
lment'to Philadelphia. where, amopg‘ other
‘thlnge, he learned to read and'wrtte'well,
and Speak the English language With some
{lactic/y. \- g , I ' ‘
“/He will accompany me .Im a few'da'ys
to/t'he [todtier'of Missouri. whence ll}! Wlll
.be sent with some oh’omf the emigrant
companies to the'wllnge ‘nt the [Jolie's at
Columbia.”" '\ " "; _ '
. We hnvc\tlt;is endeavored to lutnish our
reader-with suih an ahalyqis of Cnptain
'Fremont’s two expodilionsilas' mathith
the copious extracts whieh \te‘havég‘nmde,
lroin'the narrative, ' enable the‘lib'notonily
to'krnce his adventurous course. buulso
(o‘ealimutg what he haa'nccompliéhed.‘ and
the great value of 'lhe' iulo’rmhtiofi'WHich
he hn‘a collected, in a geographical, latcdm-
mercinl. and a scientific point‘of view,
We will not allemfn _n rgcapillllgtign p
for where so much has been do'nég‘St iq'whll
done, it would bellonly lo repenl'g’m aflo-
that term. the substance of all Whi¢h we
have nlreédy said. 'ln aeograpfiicalsdil“
cuvcry. Capt. Fremont has don"e much: he
has shown that the transit Ecrou the.
Rocky Mountnim, particularly atlhe
Snumern Pass, is com nrntivel ‘ ens ;
P
that the proportion ol absolutely barren
country is small ; that, from within one
hundred and fifty miles of theifliasouri
trontier to the longitude of Foal Lirgmic.
(105° 40’.) there is in general great plenty
"f the shurwzu‘rly‘grnss called bu flalograll.
\Veuwnrd of (he Laramie, for a 'co'mide'r-
able distance, the region is sandy and up:
patently steril. and the 'place 0! the gun
is usurped by the artemisin; other loFlli
(ies. “hele [he'rc‘ia a deficiency of hiatu
rngc, nre lound on‘ bmh sides of the moun
tains. ' These expednliuha, howevenwill
furniah toérading caravans, or to "nip.-
(ing parties, :1 knmvlcdge of the moist prac
licablc routes. where they may most gen-
ernlly find sustenancelyr lheirpnimnln
and water and luel fur lhomlelva. The
road to Oregon will bc'mndc qumpanlive-
[y easy ; and although the. emigrant who
coulemplqles taking up his line of match
lo lhn”: diatom region ought to be apprized
0t and guarded against the dangermflllzc
défliculhes. 6- the privaliom he will have
to encounter, yet he may be cheerednby
lhe certainly that he will meet wilhlnolh
ing but what {ocesight and prudenc‘e may
in a great measure protect him from, and
Eournge, firmness, and perseverance'mer
come. He will be called upon to exercile
all ‘hese quaiiliea. and the most danger
ous enur into which he can fall is to gnu-
ginc {hat the juuruey is an easy one, and
flu: toil and suflering which Vhe,will hue
o undergo Himng,randunimpqr‘ggq‘ffi:
The Great Salt Lake, the Bearmvor
Valley. 9991'32 rivers, the va|lqys,,.and
the mountains of Upper Culafornia moybe
said to be now first brought to the knowl
edge of civilized mm by lhepe expeditions.
The correction of our funnel-geographic”
errorgwtith respect to the river Bummer:-
[tum we owe to Capt. F.; the emtence‘oi
a great central plain or basin in Cal-for,
nia is established by him, as is aim the
important fa-ct that there is no rivet-inf lny
navigable size which has its oullel dirkcl-
1}; into the Pacific. and communicates
14‘1”) the Western slope qf our continent.
except theCalumbia, between fifty. degrees
of nnrklwrn latitude and the GA!” ofCfli-
lornia. In a military point of view these
expeditions point out where forts 81 potta‘
may be most advantageously establithedp
with a,.view to the ,sale occupancy of the
country and .‘the,proteotiun ol the inha‘hit‘av
ants and the trader from indiau outrage.“
or from nggressums or interference of any
kind. This, we believe. was theprofel
sedly authorized object ofCapt. Fremont’s
expeditions; but his ardent and active taro»
porament, and his love or science and
knowledge could not rest satisfied .witp a
bare performance of prescribed 51.59339:
PHe has submitted to his countrymen and .
the world, in his unpretending and mod
elt narrative, a vnst body of botanical, gee .
ological, and meteorological information.
The soil and the mineral water have'bren
subjected to analysis. More than four.
1 hundred and thirty astronomical observa- ;
‘ tions are recorded, the lutitudeand longiw
tudc of important points accurately deter
mined. and the elevation of mountains II! 1;
ccrtained. The survey of CeptflFremont'
tro‘m the eastward, meets that of--Captlin i
Wilkes {rum thelwestward; and, soluble
it is requisite for all immediate practical
purposes. the mural. Oregon is complete.
The appendix to Capt. lt‘remont’s outrage,
tiye contuinsDr. James Hall's (oi New.
York) report upon the nuture of thefgettltirt "
gicol tornlatione .occupymgathe portionsot’
Oregon 'and Californiutraveraed 'by Captr =
Fremont, astleduced tmm his obse‘r dirtiona -
.nnd the specimens of mineral! and regeta-H;
hle‘and animal organic remains whichihe
collected. .‘ 4 y
Professor Torry molten the lullowilig‘
statement with lEH)(‘l(' to..th,e.hotnnica!
colleetions ol the expedition F"
i'When Captain liretnoutset {s}}! (”this
necmul expedition “fl,“fla 3”"! .Jirovjtled
wrth paper and other“Junteitagtur"melting
J . ' . '
1: UH” 'ul‘ “wry!" '
I; In V'H. win!"
infl,“ "1‘ “”i"
':;k1 t !.1 r
f" , Llit± 1