EXPLORATIONS IN 1857. 91 
city. They united at the mouth of Loup Fork, examined this stream to its source, and thence 
proceeded, by way of the valley of the Niobrara river, to Fort Laramie. Thence they proceeded 
north, explored the Black Hills, and returning by way of the Niobrara river,examined it to its 
. mouth. 
The wagon road expedition organized under the Department of the Interior, of which Mr. 
F. W. Lander was the engineer, made reconnaissances of the mountains between Green river 
and Bear river. ' 
The wagon road expedition under Lieutenant Bryan, this year, was confined to routes which 
he had previously mapped and explored. 
The expedition against the Shyenne Indians, commanded by Colonel Sumner, explored a 
portion of the country between the Platte and Arkansas rivers. 
The party commanded by Colonel Johnston to survey the southern boundary of Kansas, and 
of which Mr. J. H. Clark was astronomer, and Mr. Weiss surveyor, was organized by the War 
Department. It accomplished that work and reconnoitred the country south of the line. 
The party for constructing a wagon road from Fort Defiance to the Colorado river was organ- 
ized by the War Department, and placed in charge of Mr. E. F. Beale. He examined the line 
of the proposed road during the summer and winter. 
The party for the construction of a wagon road from El Paso to Fort Yuma, of which Mr. 
was superintendent, and Mr. N. H. Hutton was engineer, passed the summer 
and winter in the operation, and have not yet returned. 
The expedition of Captain Pope, for making of experiments in Artesian well-boring, is still 
in the field. 
A party under Mr. Major, for establishing the portion of the 98th and 100th meridians be- 
tween the Canadian and Red rivers, was organized by the Interior Department, and is still in 
the field. 
The expedition under Lieutenant Ives for ascertaining the navigability of the Colorado of 
the Gulf of California, was organized under the War Department, and is still in the field. 
The Land Office surveys along the whole frontier are advancing steadily, as in former years. 
