Report of Explorations Across the Great Basin of the Territory of Utah for a Direct Wagon-Route from Camp Floyd to Genoa, in Carson Valley, in 1859

518pp. Quarto [30.5 cm] Lacking the large folding map ("Profile of wagon-routes in the Territory of Utah"). Rebound in plain brown cloth with the title lettered in gilt on the backstrip. New endpapers and flyleaves. Errata slip bound in at front. Thin 4" mark on front board. Handful of small stains on the fore-edge of the text block. Pages moderately age-toned. Contains 4 diagrams, 2 maps, plates I-V, plates I-IX, and plates I-III. Subjects include: "Report on the Palæontological Collections of the Expedition" (with descriptions of new species); "Ornithology: A List of Birds"; "Report on Ichthyology"; "Report on the Botany of the Expedition"; "Population and Resources of the Territory of Utah"; "Indians of Utah"; "Report on the Languages of the Different Tribes of Indians Inhabiting the Territory of Utah"; "Journal of Mr. Edward M. Kern"; "Journeyings of Father Escalante, from Santa Fe to Utah Lake and the Moqui Villages in 1776." According to Howes "This route, explored in 1859, shortened the distance to California by 250 miles; it was adopted by the overland mail, pony express and telegraph. The report was submitted in 1861, but publication had to be deferred because of the Civil War. Portions however appeared in the author's The Shortest Route to California." Howes S508. Moffat 57 & 59. Wagner/Camp 345 note.