ADAPTATION OF COUNTRY TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILROAD. 



First Division. — From San Jose to Bio Pajaro — the ground is particularly favorable for the con- 

 struction of a railroad, there being no obstacles to long tangents and light curves, with easy grades 

 to the summit, which, being itself a broad plain, required but little earth work save suitable 

 ditching and ballasting. From the summit the same character of country prevails to the Pajaro. 



The length of this division is 39.25 miles. 



Maximum grade required, 18 feet per mile. 



Probable erst of graduation and superstructure, |1, 177,500. 



Cost per mile, $30,000. 



Second Division. — From Bio Pajaro to the Salinas. — This division extends from the point of 

 reaching the Pajaro river, down its valley to near its debouch into the Bay of Monterey, thence 

 around the foot hills of Mount Gavilan to the open plains of the Salinas. The graduation 

 upon this division will not be very heavy, the terraced character of the banks of this stream 

 presenting nearly throughout the entire division most favorable slopes and natural beds for the 

 location of a railroad. There will, however, be required several bridges of a medium class, i. e., 

 from 50 to 150 feet, single span, and one first class bridge axjross the Pajaro, two miles above 

 the Eancho de las Aromas, where the line crosses from the right to the left bank of the stream. 

 To bridge the stream at this point will require three spans of 100 feet each ; there is a natural 

 abutment on one side. Between the Pajaro and the plains there will also be required several 

 small bridges across the sloughs into which the ravines from the Gavilan foot hills empty 

 themselves. Very little rock cutting will be required upon this division. 



Length of second division, 20.75 miles. 



Maximum grade required, 11 feet per mile. 



Probable cost of graduation and superstructure, |1, 141, 250. 



Cost per mile, $55,000. 



Third Division. — Salinas Plains. — This division is 45.50 miles in extent, traversing that 

 immense area known as the Salinas plains, aud is peculiarly favorable for the location of a rail- 

 road, requiring but slightly undulating grades to conform to the wave-like character which is pe- 

 culiar to all these plains, with but little earth work. Traversing this plain for nearly forty miles, 

 the line impinges upon the river Salinas a few miles above the old mission of Soledad, thence 

 following the meandering of the river to the mouth of the San Lorenzo, (a tributary of the 

 Salinas, heading towards the Tulare plain, and forms what is known as the San Lorenzo Pass 

 to that plain.) Within the first ten miles several bridges across sloughs will be necessary. 



The length of this division is 45.50 miles. 



Maximum grade required, 6.5 feet per mile. 



Probable cost of graduation and superstructure, $1,365,000. 



Cost per mile, $30,000. 



Fourth Division. — From San Lorenzo creeJc to the Atascadero. — This division, extending 

 from the mouth of the San Lorenzo, pursues the meanderings of the stream to about six miles 

 above, where a suitable place offering, it crosses to the left bank and continues nearly the 

 entire distance to the mouth of the Atascadero creek, in the valley of the river. At several 

 points where a shortening of distance would be accomplished, and where the terraces abut down 

 upon the bed of the stream, a slight increase of grade above the average ascent of the river 

 bottom will secure a favorable location along the edge of the first terrace, which, for many 

 miles, presents the appearance of a natural embankment. The general character of the work 

 upon this division varies from that of either preceding division. The river having a more con- 



