Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-26
The Grent American Desert-New and
Important observation-disclosures of Capt,
POpe,s Expedition.

Important observation-disclosures of Capt,
POpe's Expedition.
The return of of Capt. Pope, of the army,
establishes the fact of the existence of subter
ranean streams flowing beneath the famous
Staked Plain of Northern Texas, and deter
mines new feature to that which we suppos-
&c to be an arid waste, and somewhat of a
barrier to the project of Southern Pacific
Railroad" Capt. Pope, in the spring of 1854,
examined route from the Rio Grande to Red
River, under the appropriation for Pacific
Railroad Explorations, and crossed the Llano
Estacado rather dagonally, finding no water
for 125 miles. In the spring of '55, be fitted
out, by orders of the Secretary of War, a
thorough scientific party, including Artesian
Well. Borers, apparatus for testing the practi-
cability of obtaining water by wells; and pro.
ceeded from San Antonio, Texas, to the Pecos
river, near the intersection of the 32d degree
of latitude, and there fixed depot camp,
from which to supply the working party upon
the plain.
Previous to Capt. Pope's first expedition, in
1854, Col. A. B. Gray made a successful transit
with Surveying party over the Llano Esta-
cado, in the month of January, during his ex.
animation across the continent for railroad
route on the parallel of 80 degrees. From Col
Gray's report to the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, which, by the way, is very tastefully
illustrated with views, maps, &C., &c. we find
the following graphic description Of the Llano
Estacado:
"The Llano Estacado or Staked Plain is an
elevated and almost uninterrupted table, ex-
tending 800 miles south from the parallel OF
80 deg. and Ii min. north latitude, with an
extreme breadth near its middle of $50 miles.
1t is bounded entirely on the west by the Rio
Pecos, aud from the eastern and southeastern
edges issue innumerable springs and riyulets.
1t is the fountain-head of the Red River of the
Mississippi, the Brazos, the Concho, aud the
Colorado OF Texas. The northern most part is
represented to be 4 600 feet above the level OF
the sea, and the highest elevation, observed by
me in crossing il latitude of SD, was 1896
feet. This shows a gradual slope towards the
parallel of 80 deg.
Under the government of old Spain, trail
over il from n. W. To S. Z. connected the mill
tary posts (Presidios) and Missions Of New
Mexico, with those OF san Saba and San Anto-
nio in Texas. Long stretches, slightly undula-
ting, without land marks, (hlls or timber
caused the Mexicans to plant stakes at intervals
for the purpose Of indicating the approaches 10
water, and thus originated the Estacado or
"Staked Plain"
Il Is by no means desert or barren waste;
for with exceptions of narrow belts less pre-
possessing there are vast fields Of fine grazing
lands, whose antelope, blaek-tailed deer, aud
other game are seldom out Of sight. IL Is true
that no timber is seen except here ard there q
stunted mesquit, and no streams aow over il;
but ia the detection made by Us we found in
the sand bills inexhan tible quantities Of the
purest water, and from personal observation,
| am satisfied that it may be had any where
not far below The surface. Rich aud exubeFanl
grasses cover the most of the way, bat where
The soil is sandy, they are coarse and less uulri
eious The arid portions being limited, offer
no impeachment 10 the construction or travel ol
any kind Of road; but It's gently nndulatine
surface, unbFoken aud free from ehasns, OF
rocky cliffs to cut through, present great ad
vantsges.
Much Of the soil is good, and question II ths
grass set on fire annually By the Indians, OF
their return from maranding expeditions into
Mexico, sweeping with great violence-logeth
er with northers that sometimes pass over this
plain--isnof, 10 great degree, the cause Of the
fetal absence OF timber. In baFnlDg the pFairie.
behind them, the object Of The Indians = 4
accelerate The spring growth, and prevent INA.