REPORT OF CAPTAIN HUMPHREYS TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 1S5G. 27 



blasting. The maximum grade on this division is 15 feet per mile, and it may possibly he 

 increased to 20 feet per mile, in a final location, for a short distance. The distance from the Rio 

 Grande at Fort Fillmore to the Maricopa wells is 345.25 miles; being about 23 miles shorter 

 than the line by the former survey. The highest elevation attained is 4,000 feet. 



For the purpose of comparing this route with others, and to form an approximate estimate of 

 its cost by an assimilation to roads already built, Lieutenant Parke has divided the country 

 through which it passes into three characteristic portions, viz: prairie, rolling or hilly, and 

 mountainous. The prairie section comprises that portion which will require but little more 

 work than the adjustment of the sills for the reception of the rails; the hilly or rolling, that 

 portion which will require light earth work and little or no rock cutting; and the mountainous, 

 the bolder features of the line, where side locations and heavy earth and rock work will be 

 necessary. The respective lengths of these divisions are : 



Qf prairie 230 miles. 



c< 



Of rolling 05 



Of mountainous 50 " 



Total 345 miles. 



The longest line of continuous prairie route is 130 miles, and the shortest 25 miles. 



The longest line of rolling route is 30 miles, and the shortest 5 miles. 



The longest line of mountainous route is 25 miles, and the shortest 5 miles. 



The estimates for the final report are not yet completed. According to these estimates, so far 

 as they have been made, the cost of the three sections will not exceed $30,000, $00,000, and 

 $90,000 per mile, respectively, including equipment; making a total of $15,300,000, or an 

 average cost per mile of the whole line of $44,000. 



With reference to the supply of water between the Eio Grande and the Gila, Lieutenant 

 Parke is of opinion that an abundance can be delivered on the line, at suitable distances, by 

 conduits from the following localities: Cooke's spring, Eio Mimbres, Ojo de la Vaca, Agua Fria, 

 Ojo de Inez, Cienega de Sauz, Croton springs, at the Playa de los Pimas, Antelope, Dove, and 

 Castro springs, and Bear springs, at the head of the Aravaypa. The above localities are per- 

 manent watering-places, and have never been known to fail, notwithstanding the drains upon 

 them by evaporation, by large herds of stock en route for the Pacific coast, and the frequent 

 visits of the wandering Apaches. It is well known that while little rain is delivered iipon the 

 plains and valleys during the rainy season, the clouds are nearly always hovering over the 

 mountains, dispensing copious showers^ furnishing abundant supplies to the springs and streams 

 enumerated. The longest distance between the points which can be supplied with certainty 

 from permanent water is fifty-one miles. This occurs between Ojo de Inez and Cienega de 

 Sauz; but there are two points in the Pyramid basin — one east and one west of the Pyramid 

 range — where there is every reason to conclude that ample supplies of water can be procured by 

 common or artesian wells. The distances between the water stations proposed along the line 

 are as follows : 



From Rio Grande to station 1, 31 miles. 

 From station 1 to station 2, 19 " 

 " " 2 " 3, 15 " 



" " 3 " 4, 22 " 



