CHARACTEEISTICS OF THE llOUTE. 



Section 1. SOIL. 



The character of the soil traversed hy the line of survey is two-fold, depending upon the 

 location. That of the river bottom is alluvial and exceedingly fertile, yielding, by irrigation, 

 enormous crops of grain, vegetables, and fruits ; while that of the mesa, or upland, is loose and 

 light, and is also rich, hut, owing to the scarcity of water and failure of rains at the proper season, 

 it is not available as a grain-growing district, but at the same time much of it is well adapted 

 to grazing and stock raising. 



In the valley of the Eio Grande, between Frontera and Dona Ana, there are about forty lineal 

 miles of bottom land, but of this area only a small part is now under cultivation. Corn, wheat, 

 beans, and melons succeed admirably ; also the grape ; the sgil, climate, and location, seeming 

 particularly favorable to its culture. On the upper Mimbres, in the vicinity of the Copper 

 Mines, there are several localites where the valley widens, affording attractive sites for the 

 farmer, who would have at the same time fine grazing for his stock on the adjacent hills. On 

 the establishment of Fort Webster, at the Copper Mines, corn was successfully raised in the 

 valleys in the vicinity, but the project was abandoned on the removal of the troops to 

 the Rio Grande. A great portion of the bottom land of the lower San Pedro can be cultivated, 

 its own waters, as well as those of its tributaries, being available for irrigation, and I doubt not 

 but that in several localities irrigation will be unnecessary. Near the Gila the bottom widens, 

 and forms at its junction a large triangular area of rich soil, a small portion of which has already 

 been used by the Apaches for raising corn. Thence down the Gila but few patches in the gorge 

 district are available. Below this, however, is found the broad bottom, which extends below 

 the Pimas and Maricopa villages. 



The richness of the soil of this plain is fully attested by the crops raised by these Indians, but 

 it is very doubtful whether much of the bottom land can be made productive, other than that 

 now cultivated in this immediate vicinity, owing to the limited supply of water for irrigation, 

 the bed of the river being entirely dry at times below the villages. About twenty-two miles below 

 the Pimas villages the Gila receives a tributary from the north — the Salinas — whose bottom is 

 broad and extensive, and presents a large area 13 1 for cultivation. The stream is rapid 'and 

 clear, and, according to Mr. Bartlett, its volume is double thatof tlie Gila. 



The piles of ruins and evidences of irrigating canals are suificient proofs that this valley 

 once supported a large population, and there is no reason why it cannot do so again. 



The soil of the plateau or uplands is made up of alternate patches of sandy and clayey 

 districts, owing to the out-cropping rocks on the adjacent elevations, whose debris passes through 

 several gradations down to a finely comminuted material, forming the surface of the playas. 

 The growth of grass depends not only on the composition of the soil, but also on the configura- 

 tion of the surface, the richest being found in the feldspathic districts and near the lines of 

 drainage. 



