Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt: ... developing his capacity to carry through whatever he undertook. VISIT TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, 1867-1868. The war over, Powell returned to his home in Illinois and was nominated clerk of Du Page County, Illinois, at a good salary; but at the same time he was offered an appointment more to his liking, though at a lower salary, as professor of geology in Illinois Wesleyan College, at Bloomington; this he accepted. A later appointment was that of lecturer and curator of the museum at the Illinois Normal University at Normal, near Bloomington. The young professor took his classes into the field, had an active part in public discussions in favor of introducing more science in college programs, and influenced the State legislature to advance science teaching in the Normal University. In the summer of 1867 Powell, at the age of thirty-three, struck out on a new path that led to all his later work. Aided by the Illinois Society of Natural History, with which he was still connected, he conducted a party of sixteen "naturalists, students, and amateurs" across the plains to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, then known more as a field for adventure than for research. His wife accompanied him. Through the aid of General Grant, it was arranged that the army posts should furnish his party with supplies at government rates; railroads gave him passes. A contemplated passage through the Bad Lands under military escort was given up on account of hostile Indians. The expedition visited South and Middle Parks, climbed Pikes Peak and other mountains, and gathered a great store of specimens that were shipped back to the colleges at Bloomington, Normal, and elsewhere. Powell was thus the first college professor to combine field teaching with western exploration, ...