CHAPTER VI. 



NOTES BY LIEUTENANT G. K. WAEREN, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, ON THE ROUTE FROM INDE 

 PENDENCE TO SANTA FE, AND FROM INDIANOLA, VIA SAN ANTONIO, TO EL PASO. (Compiled from the 

 Reports of Lieut. Col. JOHNSTON, Top. Engrs., Lieut. SMITH, Top. Engrs., Capt. S. G. FRENCH, 3d Regt. Arty., and 9thers.) 



It will be seen from the results of the late explorations, that there are two practicable passes 

 by which to reach, from the east, the New Mexican population of the Rio Grande valley, viz : 

 by the passes near Sanfa Fe and by El Paso. As regards grade, a practicable route exists for 

 connecting the former of these passes with Independence and St. Louis, (by the Cimarron route,) 

 and probably a practical connexion of El Paso with San Antonio, or a part of the Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



The following notes relate to these two routes : 



1st. Route from Independence to Santa Fe. From Independence, Missouri, in latitude 39 7 , 

 longitude 94 26 , to Santa Fe, in latitude 35 41 , longitude 106 01 , was barometrically sur 

 veyed by Dr. Wizlizenus in 1846, and the following notes are mainly from his report. 



It is very direct, and lies mostly on a table-land gradually ascending towards the west, where 

 little difficulty need be apprehended in obtaining easy grades. Its length is 765 miles. 



From Independence to Council Grove, a distance of 143 miles, the route passes through a 

 well-watered fertile prairie, which resembles the sea in its gentle undulations. There is suffi 

 cient wood along the water-courses to supply the railroad with ties and fuel. Westward the 

 country undergoes a change, becoming gradually more sandy and barren, until we reach the Ar 

 kansas, a distance of about 200 miles. It still preserves its wave-like character, and can only 

 be settled by a pastoral people. 



The Arkansas is broad and shallow, with a sandy bottom. It has low bluffs or none at all. 

 It is sometimes bordered with cotton-wood, but is generally quite bare. From this uninviting 

 river to the lower springs of the Cimarron, a distance of 66 miles, the route lies over a barren, 

 level desert, elevated 3,000 feet above the sea. It is scantily supplied with parched buffalo- 

 grass ; but is entirely without water, wood, or even buffalo-chips, the usual fuel in such inhos 

 pitable regions. 



The lower springs of the Cimarron form a little green oasis with running water. From this 

 point to Cold Spring, a distance of 80 miles, the desert character of the country continues. 

 Water is sometimes found in the Cimarron river; but often it can only be obtained by digging 

 in its dry and sandy bed. The want of it has often occasioned much loss and suffering in this 

 barren wilderness. 



From Cold Spring to the Canadian river, a distance of 110 miles, the route approaches and 

 skirts a spur of the Raton mountains. Its character rapidly improves. The mountains are 

 covered with cedar and pine forests, furnishing an ample supply for railroad purposes. The 

 valley of the Canadian is fertile, and wel I adapted to settlements. 



From this point to Galinas, a distance of 60 miles, the trail passes over an elevated plain nearly 

 surrounded by mountains. The valleys of the streams are fertile. Water is abundant, and the 

 mountains are thickly wooded with pine. 



From Galinas, Dr. Wizlizenus says, &quot; we shall now travel mostly in narrow valleys, and 

 through mountain passes surrounded by high precipitous rocks.&quot; As he did not survey the route 

 for a railroad, his information is not sufficiently definite to determine whether it is practicable for 



