El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-16
SURVEYS and Reconnaissance in the
Great Southwest by Officers of the
United States Army Half a
Century Ago.

as to have the appearance of regular
courses and layers. Some of this rock
was of blue limestone: others reSem-
bled granite. This very rough road
lasted for six miles. at the end of which
we reached the Waco tanks, and en-
camped. The tanks are situated in
caves of large masses of granite rock.
There are several of these tanks con-
tanning immense quantities of pure cold
water. Grazing at this camp is good.
and plenty of fuel is to be had. The
tank at which we stopped is on the
right of the road. There are others on
the western side of the mountains.
July % forty-sixth day.-Today we
arrived at the Rio Grande, opposite Is
leta. after a march of twenty-five
miles. The road for the first two or
three miles is rolling and accompanied
by spurs of the mountain. We left the
direct road to Ell Paso about three miles
from the Waco tanks. as the guide re-
ported it impossible to obtain susie
nance for animals opposite FL Paso.
The road till within five miles of the
river was of the deepest and most IA
tiguing sand. The country through
which we passed was extremely barren;
scarcely any vegetation. except a little
brushwood. Near the river. limestone
appears; but still Their is no more veg
citation. On arriving at the river. the
scene changes entirely. There is fine
grazing in the bottom. and plenty of
large cottonwood timber. besides large
cornfields orchards. and vineyards. En-
camped On the island. about one mile
from the village of Isleta-
In conclusion. have to remark that
the country from Fredericksburg to FL
Paso del Norte. by the route which |
have travelled, presents no distractions
To hn 90 Of G-1E SC
and water may be had every day. with ,
in marches of twenty-five miles. eX-
cept from the head of the Concho to the |
PecoS-a distance of siXty-eight miles. !.
which is entirely without permanent |
water at present. The character of the |
is such. however. as to leave no /
doubt of the success of attempts to !
find water by means of wells, sunk
at proper intervals. The soil in many !
places is soft and moist. giving promise ]
of water at slight depths. The re-
lnainder of the road is sufficiently well
In passing through the Qua
dalupe mountains, we encountered two
places which might be much improved
by working party. and one place in
the Waco mountains-though, as they
stand they may be passed without
much difficulty.
After leaving Kickapoo creek. and
until arriving at the Concho. it would
be well for parties taking this route to
keep farther to the north than we did.
and thus avoid some of the spurs of the
lying on the south of Con-
cho river.
The route from Fredericksburg to Ell
Paso might be shortened in several
places. so as to lessen the distance at
least fifty miles-on one place. from
Fredericksburg to the San Saba: one
between San Saba and Brady's creek:
and another between the Pecos and the
Guadalupe mountains. To effect this
of distance would require
we'll to be sunk at each of three places
between the spots mentioned.
| have the honor to be. very respect
fully, your obedient servant.
Frank T. Bryan.
Brevet LIST Lieut.. Top. Engineers.
Lieut.. Col. J. E. Johnston. Il
Typographical Engineers.
Account of distances from San An
onio de Bexar to Ell Paso del Norte:
From San Antonio to various camps: