246 JOHN C. FREMONT. 



falls there, and that cattle were left in the range aL 

 the winter through. 



" This character of country continued to the foot 

 of the dividing crest, and to this point our journey 

 resulted in showing a very easy grade for a road, 

 over a country unobstructed either by snow or other 

 impediments, and having all the elements necessary 

 to the prosperity of an agricultural population, in 

 fertility of soil, abundance of food for stock, wood 

 and coal for fuel, and timber for necessary con- 

 structions. 



"Our examinations around the southern head- 

 waters of the Arkansas have made us acquainted 

 with many passes, grouped together in a small space 

 of country, conducting by short and practicable 

 valleys from the waters of the Arkansas just de- 

 scribed, to the valleys of the Del Norte and East 

 Colorado. The Sierra Blauca, through which these 

 passes lie, is high and rugged, presenting a very 

 broken appearance, but rises abruptly from the open 

 country on either side, narrowed at the points 

 through which the passes are cut, leaving them only 

 six or eight miles in length from valley to valley, 

 and entirely unobstructed by outlying ranges or 

 broken country. To the best of these passes the 

 ascent is along the open valley of water-courses, 

 uniform and very gradual in ascent. Standing im- 





