WAENEE'S PASS — VALLEY OF SAN FELIPE. 21 



bottom of the valley. By continuing along the hill sides, a feasible route is afforded to Warner's 

 ranclio, (a part of the same valley,) which involves, however, the construction of a bridge of 

 considerable height at the crossing of San Jose creek, the head waters of San Luis Rey river. 

 The distance is 4.35 miles, and the grade 26.21 feet per mile, to a point on the slope of the hill 

 opposite Warner's house. This location, from the summit to Warner's, is not probably so 

 favorable in point of economy of construction as a line following more nearly the course of the 

 road as now travelled, that being over a comparatively smooth and equal surface, requiring no 

 bridging or culverts of any magnitude. It may be better to adopt this, with its steep grade of 

 175 feet for a part of the distance, in preference to the other route ; but it is a question which 

 a minute survey only can determine. There is but little timber in this valley, though the hill 

 sides within five or six miles afford a large amount of oak, and large pines are found scattered 

 through all the gulches. 



WARNER'S PASS. 



This is the divide between the waters of the Pacific and those tlowing into the Gulf of Cali- 

 fornia. Its elevation above mean high tide is 3,629.54 feet. 



From the rancho to the summit of this pass there is a gradual acclivity, traversed by a public 

 road, whose average grade for the distance of 4.92 miles is 123.46 feet per mile. By com- 

 mencing the grade line at the point opposite Warner's house, where we left it, which is 55.6 

 feet above the level of the wagon road, and carrying it to a proposed cut of 50 feet at the 

 summit of the pass, the average grade is reduced to 102 feet per mile. A more economical 

 construction of the road would be afforded by diminishing the rate of ascent over the first part 

 of the line and proportionately increasing it near the summit. This portion of the route 

 abounds in timber, and the water is plenty and excellent in quality. The ground is somewhat 

 rolling in character, and the location may be so made as to equalize the excavations and 

 embankments. 



After passing the summit, the wagon road winds down the pass near the arroyo or water 

 course flowing towards San Felipe, and enters the valley proper at the termination of the belt of 

 trees known as Oak Grove. The natural grade of the surface to this point, a distance of nearly 

 2 miles, is 263 feet per mile. A side hill location must here be resorted to, and the left or north 

 side of the valley appears most favorable for the purpose. A grade of 106 feet to the mile can 

 be applied, which will reach an elevation of 249 feet above the bed of the stream at the watering 

 place at Oak Grove. 



Up to this point, throughout the whole route from the sea coast, the soil and climate are 

 adapted to the production of almost every form of vegetation belonging to the temperate zone. 

 But now the scene changes, and the face of the country begins to assume a tropical character, 

 dry, sandy soil and rocky hill sides, thinly covered with low bushes, appearing on each side. 

 The water in the streams is absorbed by their sandy beds, and little, if any, foliage is seen 

 upon their banks. 



VALLEY OF SAN FELIPE. 



From Oak Grove to the Indian village at San Felipe the valley widens from a mile to two 

 and a half miles, the mountain sides being rocky and inclined regularly towards the middle- 

 About midway there is a swampy tract of about one hundred acres in extent, which is the only 



