204 GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 
the station of Greenriver, an oasis in this inhospitable desert, at the 
lowest point on the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. In this 
region the summer temperature is almost torrid and 
Greenriver. the precipitation is slight, probably about 6 or 7 inches 
2s fe gee feet. annually. Water has here been taken from Green 
Denver 555 miles, iver for the irrigation of a small area that has been 
made to produce almost all kinds of crops and fruit, 
Fruit trees flourish here, as shown in Plate LXXXIV. A much 
larger area could be irrigated, though at much greater expense, by 
damming Green River in the canyon far above the town and con- 
structing expensive canals to carry the water high up on the sur- 
rounding slopes. Sooner or later this work will be done, and then 
Green River valley will rival Grand Junction in the acreage under 
cultivation and in the abundance of its products. 
Where it is crossed by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 
Green River is a quiet, peaceful stream, as shown in Plate LX X XIII, 
flowing in a broad valley with low banks. It is hard to realize, 
therefore, that above this place it is a roaring torrent, confined in 
narrow walls hundreds if not thousands of feet high, and that 50 
miles downstream it joins the Colorado, which there enters the grand- 
est canyon in the world. 
“Tt is impossible here, in describing ; hardy enough to attempt to ride the 
iver, avoid mentioning the | current t mighty Colorado had 
exploration of this wonderful stream | lived to tell the tale. Powe S 
and its southward continuation, the | wa Indians that no one 
Colorado, in by Maj. John W. | who ent t t and sac 
Powell, who afterwar e the | precincts of the gods, as the Indians 
Director of the United States Geologi- | conceived the canyon to be, could ex- 
cal Survey. Although Maj. Powell t to come out alive. But such tales 
t right arm on the battle | only whetted his curiosity and spurred 
field of Shiloh, this loss did not deter | him on to increased In his 
him from attempting the descent of | narrative (Exploration of the Colo- 
the canyon he Colorado, an ex- | rado River of the West and its tribu- 
ploit that few men physically perfect | taries, p. 7, Washington, 1875) Powell 
lish. : 
says: 
For a number of years prior to 1869 “The Indians, too, have woven the 
Powell had been doing geologic and jidmapiend of the canyon into the myths 
Ui 
he had many times looked down into | the death of his wife and would not 
the swirling waters in the bottoms of | be comforted until Ta-ywwoats, one of 
the unexplored canyons and longed to | the Indian gods, came to him and told 
embark upon them and learn the secret | him she was in a happier land and 
of the canyon land. He thus fell | offered to take him there that he might 
under the spell of the Grand Canyon, | see for himself if upon his return he 
and for many years he dreamed of | would cease to mourn. The great 
exploring it, although up to that time | chief promised. Then Ta-vwoats made 
no one who had been brave or fool- | a trail through the mountains that 
Aa 
