18 CONCLUSION OF THE OFFICIAL REVIEW, ETC. 



a description of one may be taken for the other, water for irrigation, where no streams are found, 

 is obtained by a series of wells connected by subterranean conduits. This laborious process is 

 extensively used, and conyerts waste barren land into productive fields. 



If to a demonstration of the practicability of constructing artesian wells at moderate cost on 

 the interior plains and table-lands be joined the discovery of coal beds, fertility, industry, and 

 wealth may be made to take the place of sterility and solitude over extensive areas of those arid, 

 naked, and treeless districts. 



A third party, underthe command of LieutenantE. S. Williamson, topographical engineers, was 

 organized, under instr.uctions from the department of May 1, 1855, to explore, first, the region 

 between the Sacramento and Columbia rivers, to ascertain the practicability of connecting them 

 by railroad ; second, to make examinations and surveys near the sources of Carson river, to 

 ascertain the practicability of crossing the Sierra Nevada in that vicinity by railroad, provided 

 the information obtained from the troops and others who had recently crossed the mountains by 

 that route should indicate the probable existence there of a railroad route. By a report of this 

 officer of the 19th of October, the first duty has been successfully executed. 



In addition to the immediate practical value of these explorations in ascertaining the best 

 routes suitable for rail and common roads ; their importance from military considerations ; their 

 usefulness in making known shorter and better routes of travel to emigrants by which much 

 sufiering and loss is avoided ; their value in indicating additional sources of national wealth 

 and strength ; in substituting exact knowledge for vague surmise and the entirely unknown ; the 

 large amount of valuable information collected by them respecting the physical features and 

 condition of our country in topography, geography, and geology, meteorology, botany and 

 zoology, render it highly desirable to continue them. 



Many portions of the interior are entirely unknown ; and for continuing their exploration 



during the following year an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars could be 



•well expended. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 



A. A. HUMPHREYS, 



Captain Top. Engineers in charge 

 Hon. Jefferson Davis, 



Secretary of War. 



