REPORT OF CAPTAIN HUMPHREYS TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 1850. 



25 



point at its mouth. The route around Points Purissima, Arguello, and Ooncepcion is 14 miles 

 longer. It lies wholly on the terraced shore, and at no point is over 100 feet above the sea. 



From Gaviote creek to San Buenaventura (60 milesj the character of the location will he the 

 same as that of the route around Point Ooncepcion, being near the shore and on the terraces. 



The most favorable route from San Buenaventura, or the Santa Clara river, follows the Semi 

 plain and pass to the San Fernando plain. The Semi pass divides the San Fernando plain from 

 the Santa Clara plain. A tunnel is proposed here, which will not exceed three-fourths of a mile 

 in length, and, upon closer survey, may be materially shortened. The rock is sandstone of 

 easy cleavage. The summit of this pass is 1,577 feet above the sea ; the summit of the grade, 

 976 feet above that level. The ascending and descending grades are light. The San Fernando 

 and Los Angeles plains are separated by a narrow valley. The route from San Jose, on the 

 waters of the bay of San Francisco, to near Los Angeles, is divided into nine parts. The length 

 of each division, the maximum grade, and approximate cost are presented by Lieutenant Parke, 

 as follows : 



" For the line via Point Ooncepcion, 13J miles longer, the maximum grade is 60 feet per mile ; the average cost per mile 

 $60, 000. This makes the cost of the entire division $2, 835, 000, which exceeds the above $155, 000 and increases the total 

 cost to $19,623,750 



The above estimates are exclusive of equipment. If we take a proportional amount for this 

 distance of 400 miles of the entire amount estimated for the 32d parallel route, for first equip- 

 ment, we shall have about $1,200,000 to add to the above, giving $20,823,750. 



The examinations of the coast route having been completed, the Mojave river and basin were 

 explored and found to have no connexion with the Colorado river and basin. 



Proceeding to the Pimas villages, the initial point of the last reconnaissance, a division of 

 the party was made ; one half proceeding, via Tuscon, San Xavier, and the Cienega de los 

 Pimas, to the river San Pedro, and the other up the Gila and San Pedro valleys. In his report 

 of 1854, Lieutenant Parke suggested the probability of finding a feasible route from the Valle 

 del Sauz to the Gila valley by passing between the Chiricahui mountains and Mount Graham, 

 and continuing thence in a north westerlj' direction, along the western base of Mount Graham to 

 the Gila. His views in this respect were fully confirmed by tlie examinations of the division 

 of the party retained under his own command. Following the Gila river to the mouth of the 

 4 CO 



