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Show 19 ( -to to ) ( maintain inaintain ) , communications with their ( settlainelits- settlainelits ) ill southern Utah . The aforementioned exhibits disclose that theIvIormon Church never at any time used the Green or the Colorado Rivers in Utah for the purpose , of trade and travel . The records of the Church also disclose that as early as 1855 the Church was interested in the ( possi- possi ) bilities of the Colorado River for the purpose of navigation . Compl . Exhibit 626 of the records of the Las Vegas Mission , pp . 3 , 4 : An exploring party reported that they found the nearest point of the river to be about ( twenty-eight twentyeight ) miles from Las Vegas ; that they had traveled down the stream for two days , but found nothing but barren deserts and high mountains , the river running through deep canyons , making it impossible to decide upon the navigation of ( the'stream thestream ) with certainty . in Compl . Exhibit 626 , page 3 , of the Church records of the St . George Stake , the following appears : : Commenced the return journey . . Passed Major Blake and his command , camped at the ( "Sugar Sugar ) Loaf . " He informed the com - pany that the expedition to explore the ( Colo- Colo ) rado had been perfectly successful ; ; that there were three steamers on the river ; ; that another of five feet draught was to be placed in it in a short time ; that they had ascended to within 70 miles of the mouth of the Virgin , , and that they expected to be able to reach its mouth with vessels of that draught . . He also hinted that some troops might be sent up that way . |