110 ROUTE FROM INDIANOLA TO EL PASO. 



this purpose. Near this point it should, therefore, be considered as joining that of Lieutenant 

 Whipple. 



2. From Indianola, via San Antonio, to El Paso. A route for a railroad has been surveyed and 

 located between Indianola and San Antonio. It crosses the Guadalupe river at Victoria, about 

 30 miles from Indianola. Thence to San Antonio is about 100 miles. 



A route was surveyed, barometrically, from San Antonio to Frontera by the Mexican boundary 

 commission, and the profile was furnished to the Pacific railroad office, by Brevet Major Emory, 

 of the topographical engineers, the distances being taken irom the report of Colonel Johnston, 

 topographical engineers. This profile gives the elevations along the route travelled, where the 

 object was more to find good pasturage and water for the animals than to obtain easy grades. It, 

 therefore, is only valuable as showing the general elevation of the country. 



From San Antonio, the travelled road keeps along the foot of the hills, near the parallel of 29 

 20 , as far west as the San Pedro or Devil s river, longitude 101. It then ascends that stream 

 60 miles, and crosses over to the Pecos, and ascends this to the parallel of 31 north. It then 

 proceeds west over the plains to El Paso, crossing the mountainous belt of country forming 

 the continuation of the Guadalupe mountains on the north, the greatest elevation attained being 

 5,766 feet in the Wild Rose Pass of the Diabolo mountains. 



Colonel Johnston undertook to explore a route north of this pass, and more directly west, but 

 found it impracticable. Lieutenant Garrard, under orders from Captain Pope, explored this 

 ranffe about 30 miles south of the Guadalupe Pass without finding one more practicable so 

 there now remains but about 40 miles of these mountains unexplored. 



There would probably be no difficulty of grade in continuing up the Pecos to the mouth of 

 Delaware creek, and connecting with the route surveyed by Captain Pope in 1854, through the 

 Guadalupe and Hueco mountains. This latter is usually known as the upper or northern, the 

 former as the lower or southern El Puso routes. Distance from Indianola to Fort Fillmore, by 

 the upper road, 820 miles ; by the lower, 840 miles. 



The lower route was first explored by W. H. C. Whiting, Corps of Engineers, and Lieuten 

 ant W. F. Smith, topographical engineers, in 1849 ; and subsequently surveyed by Colonel 

 Johnston, who was followed by Captain S. G. French, of the quartermaster s department, in 

 charge of a large train. 



The upper route was first explored by Lieutenant Bryan in 1849, afterwards by Captain 

 Marcy ; was surveyed by Colonel Johnston in 1849, and again surveyed by Captain Pope in 

 1854, who added to our previous knowledge by giving us a profile. That route from the mouth 

 of Delaware creek to El Paso forms part of the railroad route near the 32d parallel. 



The following notes concerning the lower route are taken mainly from the report of Captain 

 French, the distances being from Colonel Johnston s report : 



From San Antonio to Rio San Felipe, 160 miles, most of the soil is excellent for agriculture or 

 grazing. Wood is abundant on the banks of the streams. The road through this extent crosses 

 numerous streams, some of which when swollen by rains are &quot;large rivers.&quot; There is, how 

 ever, sometimes a deficiency of water, particularly on the Rio Seco and Rio Frio. Bituminous 

 coal is said to exist in abundance on the Nueces, 90 miles from San Antonio. 



After leaving the San Felipe, a marked change takes place in the face of the country. Before 

 reaching it, in the vicinity of 100 meridian, the surface becomes more rolling and hilly, and less 

 covered with trees ; and by the time we reach the San Pedro, on the 101st meridian, it is nearly 

 barren. The valley of the San Pedro varies from a quarter to half a mile in width, and, owing 

 to its vertical sides, it is difficult to approach. Much of the way it is very rough, and the road 

 along it frequently takes the bed of the stream, and is in places submerged by the autumn freshets 

 at least 20 feet. The travelled route usually avoids the lower part of the valley, keeping to the 

 west of it. 



After leaving the San Pedro, the first reliable water is 40 miles distant, at Howard s spring, 



