CHAPTER V. 



ROUTE NEAR THE THIRTY-SECOND PARALLEL OF NORTH LATITUDE. 



As the information respecting this route is to be found in several separate reports, and as those 

 upon that portion of it between the Rio Grande and the Pacific ocean do not discuss the railroad 

 practicability and mode of construction with the minuteness necessary, and as there is no railroad 

 report upon the whole route, I have been obliged to enter minutely into details which, on the 

 other routes, are found in the reports of the exploring officer. 



1. FROM FULTON TO THE RIO GRANDE. 



The report of Captain Pope is methodically arranged ; and being brief, yel sufficiently full, 

 it is unnecessary to make a synopsis of it. The portion of the route near the thirty- second 

 parallel examined by him is that from the Red river to the Rio Grande, a distance of 646 

 miles. It is naturally divided into three distinct belts, which are clearly described by Cap 

 tain Pope. 



The first division, from the Red river to the eastern border of the Llano Estacado, 352 miles, 

 gives generally easy grades, except where, in crossing streams, we have probably to descend 

 from the bluffs to near the level of the stream, and ascend again ; but which can be reduced, 

 by lengthening the line, to the grade found suitable to the other portions of the route. This part 

 of his line has an abundant supply of water and fuel, of wood for cross-ties, and lumber for 

 two-thirds of the distance. 



The important characteristic feature of Captain Pope s route, dwelt upon with so much force 

 by him, is the extension westward of fertile land to near the headwaters of the Colorado. It 

 is to be remarked that, from the geological indications, it is probable that a line drawn from 

 Red river at the termination of the fertile soil, in its basin, in a general parallel direction with the 

 Gulf coast, from the mouth of the Sabine to the Nueces river, will mark the boundary between 

 the cultivable and barren soil. The influence of the moist winds of the Gulf of Mexico may 

 also aid in giving this westward extension to the fertile land near the parallels of 32 and 34. 

 North of the Canadian, this boundary line between fertility and barrenness takes the direction 

 of the meridian, and extends along it northward into the British possessions. 



The evidence adduced in support of this western extension of fertile soil is not sufficiently full 

 or conclusive. 



The specimens of soils, of which the analysis is given, were gathered from the Upper Cross 

 Timbers westward ; but it is not stated whether those which belong to the section, from that 

 point to the Llano Estacado, were intended to represent the condition of the most fertile por 

 tions, or the average condition of the whole surface. 



Even if their analysis exhibited fertile constituents, it is well known that many extensive areas 

 of tertiary soil well constituted for fertility are uncultivable, from the meteorological conditions 

 of the district in which they are found. Additional facts are, in my opinion, required to 

 establish the existence of the westwardly extension of fertile soil in this latitude. 



The second belt described is the Llano Estacado, 125 miles across. Upon this it is only neces 

 sary to remark, that its geological formation is such as to render the success of artesian wells, 

 in obtaining large supplies of water, certain. To build a railroad across it, commencing at the 



