ROUTE NEAR THE FORTY- FIRST AND FORTY-SECOND PARALLELS. 61 



EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF LIEUTENANT BECKWITH. 



&quot;Round valley, through which the Sacramento river descends from the northeast, and through 

 which a road can he carried at pleasure, extends for fifteen miles below this point to the head of 

 the first canon of the Sacramento. This canon is a formidable obstacle to be overcome. Its 

 entire length is 13.74 miles, succeeded by an open valley of similar extent, which is followed 

 by another canon, 8.95 miles in length, of the same character as the first. The river, as it 

 enters the first canon, is from thirty to forty feet wide, flowing with a rapid current over a bed 

 of rocks, and it is sixty feet wide as it enters the second cafion just below the junction of 

 Fall river, and flows over a similar bed with an equally swift current. At their heads these 

 canons are vertical, metamorphic rocks, eighty feet high, with large masses of fallen rocks 

 accumulated at the bases of the walls. The first is cut through a high plain for six miles ; the 

 plain then rises somewhat, and is surmounted by high sloping ridges, rising five or six hundred 

 feet above it, and the canon becomes much broader and its walls more elevated for two miles, 

 to where it makes a large bend to the north; below this the walls gradually decrease, and in 

 two miles the cafion opens to the width of half a mile, which it preserves for three miles to the 

 succeeding valley. The highest portions of the walls rise two hundred feet above the stream, 

 with an accumulation of fallen rocks extending half way to the top. For eight miles the 

 course of the cafion is direct. It then makes a long bend to the north, and is followed by two 

 or three short curves, but with a generally direct course. Its open part is timbered and its 

 walls less abrupt, and on the right bank of the stream the mountains, followed by the river, 

 extend considerably into the plain of Fall river. The most favorable line for the passage of a 

 railway leads along the plain on the north side of the river, and descends the sides of the rocky 

 hills which surmount it, and continues on the side of the mountain until it enters the plain 

 of Fall river. The second canon is only less formidable than the first because of its less 

 extent. Its character is entirely the same, except that it is surmounted near its head by sloping 

 mountain ridges of a similar altitude to the former. But on the south side, a few miles distant, 

 the ridge subsides into rocky volcanic hills and plains. It will require a minute survey to 

 determine the most practicable line by which to pass it; but it is probable that the best line will 

 be found to leave the river a few miles above Fall river, and to pass around the ridge extending 

 southward, and again return to the Sacran.ento at the mouth of Canoe creek, four miles below 

 the foot of the cafion,, avoiding short curves which must be encountered in it, and diminishing 

 the amount of rocky cutting ; for, in the passage of each of these canons the expense will be 

 very heavy from this cause, and can only be estimated after an extensive and complete survey. 



&quot;For ninety-six miles below the mouth of Canoe creek to seventeen miles above Fort 

 Beading the course of the Sacramento lies entirely through heavily-timbered mountains, 

 which rise precipitously from the river-banks to the height of from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above 

 the stream. Its course is winding, with all varieties of curves greater than a right-angle, and 

 it is seldom entirely straight for two miles consecutively; but its general courses are more uni 

 form. 



&quot; The foot of the mountains along the stream is often obstructed by fallen rocks to such an 

 extent as to prevent its passage on horseback, and it is also obstructed by fallen timber and 

 dense thickets of bushes ; but the obstructions from fallen rocks are favorable rather than other 

 wise, for the construction of a railroad, as they will serve to form its sub-structure. At 

 many points, but for short distances only, the way is obstructed by rocks in place. The road 

 will require to be carried on the side of the mountains, a few feet above the stream at high 

 water, throughout this entire section to the open valley of the Sacramento, whence it can be 

 continued on the open plain.&quot; 



The estimate of cost may be set down at not less than from $150,000 to $200,000 per mile; 

 100 per cent, to the cost at eastern prices having been added. 



