OCR Text |
Show brought most of my supplies 134 overland . When I left the river , after spraining my ankle , I went to Bluff with my horses . When I got through with my work down there I left the boats on the bars and came out overland because that is the easiest way . ( R . 4469-70 , Vol . 25 . ) In the canyon the river is so confined that it is impossible for it to change its channel . Outside the canyon it may change its channel once in three years ; sometimes two or three times in a season . ( R . 4471 , Vol . 25 . ) Above the ( canyon canyDn ) , by which I mean above Chinle Creek , I would say that the channel is unstable , but below Chinle Creek that is not true , and below Chinle Creek there are no sand bars to speak of . ( R . 4473 , Vol . 25 . ) ( William 11,71liam 1171liam ) E . Oliver testified : I came to Blanding from New Mexico in 1911 , and am a cattleman , and since 1911 have had occasion at times , when riding the range , to go to points at and below Bluff . In 1912 ( I 1 ) saw two men in a boat above Bluff and next ( morning rAorning ) saw them proceed on down the river from Bluff in their boat . Five or six years ago I saw two prospectors on the river in a boat at a point about two miles below ( John's Johns ) Canyon . ( R . 4475-8 , Vol . 25 . ) John L . Hunt testified : On October 15 , 1910 , 1 went with a companion from Fruitland , New Mexico , to Copper Canyon in a boat ; I went for the purpose of trapping and my companion was a placer miner . We remained at Copper Canyon two months and then went overland to Kayenta , Arizona and thence home . That route was as close and , much easier than to go back up the river with our boat . While at Copper Canyon I saw three different boat parties ; they went on down the river . ( R . 4478-81 , Vol . 25 . ) In 1920 ( I 1 ) moved to Bluff and was in the mercantile , business there for five years , during which time I delivered supplies to ( two tmo ) placer miners who came to the river at Bluff in their boat ; I ( don't dont ) know to what place on the river they proceeded . Their boat was 14 or 15 feet long and about 5 feet wide . Since I have lived at Bluff , I have not seen any boats made there . On the boat trip my partner and I took we had ( -no no ) difficulties to speak of ; I have no ( recol- recol ) lection of more than two ( occasions o6casions ) when we got on to a sand bar . I think our outfit weighed about 600 pounds . . We ( didn't didnt ) portage or line our boat at any rapid and got through all right . ( R . 4482-5 , Vol . 25 . ) |