Tribune Extras Lecture and Letter Series. 



eomp-ise a continuous series in atlas form. Six of these 

 rn:.ps are now in tho hands of rho engraver, and the ad- 

 vance proofs indicate fine examples of topographical 

 vrork, giving in detail the mountain systems, vallPVf. 

 water-courses, routes of comraiinic itiou, &e. 



SPECIAL FEATURES OF TIIK WORK. 



A line drawn through Cheyosin:!, Virginia City, Tac- 

 BOII, Camp Apache, and Denver, will, said Lieut. 

 Wheeler, approximately cover the area gone over hy us. 

 Our work must be exact, so that it can bo referred to by 

 future topographers. It Is probably the best of any of 

 the kind. One of the most important branches of the 

 survey is the establishment of the meridian marks, and 

 we do that with the utmost precision. No better work 

 of that kind can be done, tlie probable errors being a 

 minimum compared with any that have ever been 

 made. Our meridian marks have already oecom-i of use 

 to the local surveyors in numerous instances. The de- 

 termination of the variation of the magnetic needle, 

 which has heretofore given so much trouble, is anotiior 

 of the advantages obtained with the exact meridian. 



Our survey, while it gathers information as to the 

 general physical structure of the country, is eminently 

 a mountain survey. It extends to the tops of all the 

 mountains, and their characters and contour are a sub- 

 ject of special study. We have established the meridian 

 at all the main astronomical stations. The percentage 

 of area in the country surveyed suitable for agriculture 

 is not large ; a large part of the horizontal area covered 

 by mountains is out of the range of cultivation. 

 Small settlements spring up in the vicinity of the mining 

 camps, but their permanency is uncertain, owing to the 

 migratory character of the miners upon whom they 

 depend for the sale of products. Within a radius of 15. 

 20 and 30 miles of the mining camps, these ranches are 

 numerous, and the frugal Mormon, who thinks a great 

 deal of a dollar, often brings his products 100 miles to 

 market. With the development of the mining resources 

 and a proper system of irrigation, the western half of 

 Utah is capable of supporting 1,500,000 people 



MIXKRAI, INDICATIONS TIMBER. 



Since we commenced our survey, it has indicated a 

 great many mineral resources that were not generally 

 known before. We visited a great many mining dis- 

 tricts, and have gathered a groat deal of information 

 which is entirely new. Besides the precious minerals 

 there are copper, lead, iron, and coal. The coal fields in 

 Utah are immense; perhaps greater than those in Wyo- 

 ming on tlie Union Pacific Riilro.ul, and when worked 

 will prove of great benefit to the raining industries. The 

 coal is of the caking s >rf. and is said to bo of excellent 

 quality. It jrill take the place of that now brought 

 from Pittsburgh. Coal crops out from tin 35Dh to the 

 4:)d parallel, anil in various parts of tho great Colorado 

 1'latoan. No tin, platinum, or zinc was found. There 

 pre evidences of patrol mm, but notliing definite. Im- 

 mense bods of rock Halt are found, and also of alkali 

 deposits, from which hor ix is manufa 'hire 1. This latter 

 MIII-MIH- -, I am inform 1 by p UVJOIM who know, will 

 become an important article of commerce, since, as it 

 becomes cheaper, It can bo put to now uses, and the 

 demand may consequently increase with tho supply. 



The area of timber in Western Utah is comparatively 

 email. Mr. Walker of tho Census ISmvau has made a 

 map of tho country west of the Mississippi that shows 

 by graduation of color the present timber growth. Wo 

 g ive him such information as we could. Then is an im- 



ire use forest in Ariz >na and New-M 'xieo, something 

 like those in the region of I h" lakes. or rvcn larger. Pine, 

 fir, and quaking aspen aro tlie principal trees. Tuero is 



some timber that could be utilized In the building of 

 railroads for ties, &!. It would be of crest advantage 

 to the Southern P.M-jfl" an-1 Atlantic and Paeifi", roads 

 We have discovered a new route for the form T road, 

 which tliev eoul I follow with advantage. Besides thu 

 routes for railro i Is, we have examined north 'iid south 

 lines of communication ; one near thR Rocky M nintains, 

 one along the meridian, of. Silt Lalo. an 1 another west 

 of the Sierra Nov.idi. Salt Lake City and D'Mvr are 

 the only points south of tbo 40rh parallel that promiss to 

 become great commercial centers. 



Almost all of this country is destitute of rain for most 

 of the year. There are irenerally two rainy seasons in 

 June and July, and in December and J innary. T iere ar^ 

 exceptions, however, in this wide territory. Anvmg tho 

 plateaus, summer rains are prolonged fully three 

 mouths. 



SCIENTIFIC WORK INDIANS. 



Tho collections ot specimens in natural history aro 

 verv large, especial] v those of this last year, considering 

 the brief length of time and small number of collectors. 

 This part of the country has never been explored before, 

 except along certain linos, and many new ornithological 

 and iiotanioal specimens have been secured. From C>lo- 

 rado alone we have over 12.000 botanical specimens, and 

 wo shall secure an exhaustive report on th ; fl >n of that 

 country. Wo have a very good botanist ; be is now with 

 Prof. Gray. Ho is a man who will, from tiim to time, 

 suggest some practical deductions. Oar examinations 

 include character of soils, humidity, temperature, &c. 

 Dr. Loew, our chemist, has measured tho temp Q ra r ure of 

 the soil at the surface and a foot below, and made 

 many analyses of the soils. 



We have given some study to the Indiin tribes, in the 

 way of gathering vocabularies of their language, speci- 

 mens of their work, accounts of their ha>>irs and dispo- 

 sition toward settlers and toward each other, and many 

 historical facts that will be interesting material. We 

 have annually sent over to the Interior Department a 

 email map showing the lines that divide these tribes. 



When it is understood that the expedition has often 

 beeu divided into from ten to twelve parties, it will bo 

 apparent how a mass of information has boon collected 

 of no little value. This is the only systematic interior 

 survey that has ever been undertaken by the Govern- 

 ment, west of the Mississippi. It is very needful 

 that there should bo a unity of plan and 

 purpose in this matter of surveys, as they 

 come now from a variety of sources. Engineer ofllc-er.s 

 are stationed at the Military D-pirtment Headquarters 

 who arc constantly making surveys for the information 

 of the commanding officers in the opening of routes of 

 supply, movement of troons, &?. At the headquarters 

 of The army an Engineer officer is also ousage-l in com- 

 piling information ; this finally all comos together and 

 is embodied on a general map. Then, again, Congress 

 has been authorizing expeditions troui ths Interior De- 

 partment and Smithsonian Institution. I have prop u < 1 

 ail elaborate plan covering cost, sizr 1 , etc., for tlie prose- 

 cution of this work. It is iiased on a unit of force; but 

 it has not yet gone beyond the War Department. We 

 do not utilize anything obtained bv either the Interior 

 Department or Smithsonian Institution in the construc- 

 tion of our maps. 



THE WORK OF THE SURVEY. 



The following general subjects for observation will 

 give an idea of the undertaking: 



(1.) The establishment of primary geographical posi- 

 tions iiy astronomical methods. 



(2.) Obtaining accunte topographical information by 

 trigonometric methods of tho various mountain systems 

 of the vall"ys and of tlie deirital plaint. 



(;!.) Determination of altitudes (bypaometrioally). 



(4.) Careful study of geological formations. 



(>.) Examination and collections of the living and ex 

 liner (anna and tl >ra. 



(ii.i Invi'stigati >n of resources (wood, water, grass, an 1 

 agricultural pro lir-tions). 



(7.) Ascertaining location and extent of precious and 

 economic lulncriU. 



(8.) Observation of climatic oscillations and influences, 

 and seasons of rain and snowfall. 



(9.) Selection of routes of communication for rail and 

 common roads, for military and other purposes. 



(in.) U 'searches as to utilizing tin prvsi-nt water- 

 supply as a means ot irrigai ion. 



(11.) Ascertaining the condition of mining and other 

 Industries, 



After the conversation with Lieut. Whoolor, of winch 

 the main features are given aiiovo, the following account 

 of tin* work of ill" exploring expeditions iindur his 

 ch.irgo was compiled from materials furnished: 



