OCR Text |
Show INTRODUCTION. IN preparing this Report of the Exploration of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, I have occasionally availed myself of the notes and journals of the other members of the expedition, where they tended to elucidate facta of which I was not personally cognizant. Generally, those here given are the result of my own observation. It is a subject of much regret that the exigencies of the service so hastened our departure, as to give but little time for preparations so necessary to the proper outfit of a party about to engage in an extensive exploration. The instruments that could be obtained upon so short a notice, were not of a character suited to the purposes for which they were required; and the want of such facilities proved the occasion of no little vexation and delay. The pressure upon the Bureau of Topographical Engineers would allow of the detail of but a single officer to aid me- a force entirely inadequate to the satisfactory performance of the multifarious and arduous duties required in the course of so long, and so widely- extended, an examination. The illness of that officer, during the whole of the journey from the Missouri to Green River, deprived me altogether of his much- needed services, and threw upon myself, alone, the whole burden of that portion of the reconnoissance. In a part of the Survey of the Utah Valley, we were aided by Lieut. G. W. Howland, of the regiment of Mounted Rifles, who was detailed from the command at Cantonment 8 |