The true Democrat., 1855-02-07


 its source; thence for several miles along the divide; thence down to one of the valleys of the Washita; up this inviting stream to its source in the sharp "divide'' about twelve miles east of the Antelope Hills; thence by gentle des. cent to the Canadian. The advantages of this over the river route is, that it will save about thlrty-fve miles of distance; and, besides, it passes well-watered and timbered region as far as the Cross Timbers The valleys of the Walnut and Deer creeks and the Washita are well tmbered, and afford anabundance of good land, and constant supply of water
 From near the Antelope or Boundary Hills the valley of the Canadian is the proper route, rom It's dlrectness gentle ascent and ready supply of water. Its general course is nearly due west to the mouth of Tocumcari creek, and the ascent of these (the one I believe the tri- butary of the other) very gradual to the summit between them and the Pecos
 From Fort Smith to the Antelope Hills the cost Of the graduation, bridging, and masonry, other things being equal, would not, I am of oplnlon, come up to the average cost of the railways of New England. The soil is loose and gravelly, and the rocks of coarse sandstone but very little rock-cutting necessary, and fine timber of oak, maple, hickory, walnut, pecan pine, is abundant as far as Deer creek; and there is some timber, principally cottonwood, upon the Washita. It may be said of the whole route from Arkansas to the Pecos that it will compare most favorably with any similar extent of railway east of the Mississippi in point of grade, curvature, and ease of construction.
 Passing the divide between the waters of the Canadian and the Pecos about one half mile north ot our encampment on Hoorah' creek, with light excavation and easy grades, the most l hIa re to the Gallians valley The valley of this stream Is easy of access and egress, there being suitable valleys for occupation; and indeed from this point to the Pecos, about four or five miles above Chico, the ground is exceedingly favora- ble. The maximum grade from the Canadian divide to this point it is believed will not ex- ceed torty-tive feet per mle-the graduation light, the soil being loose and gravely.
 "FTom Me Pecos to Albuquerque via Rio Sun .Antonlo, or Canon Carmuel-The problem of leaving the Pecos is a more difficult one than we have yet had to solve There are. howev- CT, two methods which are practicable in the vicinity of our exploration, and 1 doubt not that by following the river to one of it's valleys heading with the Gaisteo, very easy mode of crossing the Rocky mountain range can be ac- complshed. To determine suitable point for ]. crossing near Anton Chico, and to even approx innate to its cost, would require very careful surveys with the level and the compass The approach from the east is not so difficult The nver can be crossed with a single span of 15O feet at Anton Chico, or about half mile below with less span
 "Proceeding then from either of those points. one route would lead up small valley south of the town, which heads in the elevated pla- teaux through which the Pecos canons, as at Cuesta; pursuing westerly course thence, over rolling region, to Canon Blanco. The aver age ascent per mile to this point is but forty three feet, but the maximum grade for the first ten miles will be at least eighty feet per mile. The other route from the Pecos would cross the rlver some four or five miles above the town by a vaduct, at an elevation of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet; thence to point some ten or twelve miles from Anton Chico, connecting with the other route to the summit between Canon Blanco and the Pecos This route would be several miles the shorter, and the maximum grade probably not exceed sev- enty feet per mile. The great cost of vad~ uct on this route, however, would render it a question as to which of these routes would be preferable. From the entrance to Canon Blan- co the line explored pursues that canon to near Its western limit thence over the divide, into
 
 Pecos For several miles the ground descends in the canon to about half way through; thence ascends to the divide above mentioned. The drainage ofthis canon is southeasterly probably } to the Pecos, the main cleft opening and de- scendlng in hatdirection. The grades through , Canon Blanco will be light, not exceeding twen- ty feet per mile, except at the western limits, where 1t will require at least sixty feet grade, and from thirty-tive to forty feet cutting to at. , tain the summit. From this summit, little l south ot Las Lagunas, to the main summit of the kocky mountains, at the San Pedro moun- tam, the llne traverses rolling country, de- , scendlng at an average rate per mile of about ) thrty-th feetto the lowest point of this ba- } sln, which dralns 1t is supposed into or towards Las Salinas. From this point the San Pedro Pass can be approached with q grade of about thlrtytve feet per mile This pass divides the waters which flow into the Rio Tuerto from those that flow mto or towards Las Salinas- About nine miles further is another pass or sum- init, which divides the waters of the Tuerto from those of the Rio San Antonio in the Can- on de Carnuel, with forty feet cut at the San Pedro summit, and descending grade of about . eighty feet per mile for seven miles, We pass the second summit with only about forty feet , cutting, and thence descend at the rate of about elghty-two feet per mile for thirteen miles :: thence down the sloping mesa to the Rio Grande, opposite lsleta, at rate of about from twelve to fifteen feet per mile. At Isleta the Rio Grande contrasss through comparatively nar- row gorge presenting most favorable point for crossing. Three spans of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet will effect this ob- ject, there being bluff on both sides favorable tor landing without embankments
 From lseta the line continues across the elevated spur which lies between the Rio Grande and the Puerco. To attain this summit without excavation, the rock being besat and lava grade of fifty three feet per mile ascending, and of forty feet per mile descending, will be requi- red.
 "We are now, as it were, at the base of the Sierra Madre, at the mouth of the San Jose. which heads on it's summit, affordng three points for crossing, viz: one point near the Zuni road, or ,Camino del Obispo; the other by the Canon del Gallo and Zuni pass; and the third by Campbell's Pass, on the Fort Defiance road.-- The valley of the San Jose extends uninter-