The expedition left Green River City on May 22, 1871. There were no major problems though they did run low on food once, which was replenished by the Mormon farmers. Powell left the expedition twice to explore the plateaus above. He established a winter camp near Kanab, Utah. He went back east while Thompson and the others worked on maps of the area. Thompson also led an expedition of his own that explored the Kaiporowits Plateau, Henry Mountains, and the Dirty Devil River. His group also discovered a previously unknown river that was later named the Escalante River.
Powell wrote two important books about the geology of the Colorado Plateau. He devised many geologic terms that are still in use today. He also hired Grove Karl Gilbert and Clarence Dutton, who continued Powell’s work when he was in Washington. Their studies focused on how many could best adapt to the terrain and climatic conditions of the west.
Powell was very interested in the various Indian tribes in the area. He learned their customs and their languages, which he learned to speak fluently. He collected samples of tools and handicrafts. He felt the military presence led to many problems with the tribes, so never availed himself of a military escort. In 1873, he was appointed a special commissioner to look into Indian problems. He felt that the reservations should not be places where Indians just lived off government handouts. He felt they should be encouraged to be self-sufficient, plus have access to schools and medical attention. He also felt it important each person have a role in the community.
While living between Washington D.C. and Utah, Arizona, and Colorado to do his surveys he realized the country had a problem. The problem was water. Many settlers were settling in areas where there was not enough rainfall. Crops could not grow without irrigation. He figured that even if every drop of available streams were diverted there still wouldn’t be near enough left to irrigate.
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