JOHN C. FREMONT. 257 



where a wagon would not find any obstruction for 

 forty miles. 



"The country around the passes in which the 

 Sierra Nevada here terminates declines considerably 

 below Us more northern elevations. There was no 

 enow to be seen at all on its eastern face, and none 

 in the pass ; but we were in the midst of opening 

 spring, flowers blooming in fields on both sides of 

 the sierra. 



"Between the point of the mountains and the 

 head of the valley at the Tejon the passes generally 

 are free from snow throughout the year, and the 

 descent from them to the ocean is distributed over a 

 long slope of more than two hundred miles. The 

 low, dry country and the long slope, in contradistinc- 

 tion to the high country and short sudden descent 

 and heavy snows of the passes behind the Bay of 

 San Francisco, are among the considerations which 

 suggest themselves in favor of the route by the 

 head of the San Joaquin. 



" The above results embody general impressions 

 made upon my mind during this journey. It is 

 clearly established that the winter condition of the 

 country constitutes no impediment, and, from what 

 has been said, the entire practicability of the line 

 will be as clearly inferred. A fuller account here- 

 after will comprehend detailed descriptions of the 

 R 22* 



