62 



45° from the meridiaD, which improves the appearance of the map, and does not consume the time 

 necessary for mathematical hachuriug.* 



NAEEOW-GAUGE RAILWAYS. 



Since the writing of my preliminary report in the fall of 1869, much iuformatiou has been 

 gathered and progress made in the introduction of narrow-gauge railways into this country. Sev- 

 eral narrow-gauge tracks have been constructed, notably those iu Utah reaching from Bingham 

 City to a point in Cache Valley at the north ; from American Fork, and to the vicinity of the mines 

 in the American Fork Caiion ; in Colorado, from Denver to Pueblo, known as the Denver and 

 Kio Grande Railway, and from Golden City to Central City, and to Floyd's Hill and Clear Creek 

 CaSon, These roads prove available and economical. The latter relation applies to their con- 

 struction and repair, and to the current expenses of the road. Tlie highest grade reached on the 

 American Fork road is two hundred and ninety-six feet per mile. This has been found practicable 

 with ordinary traction-engines. Considerable has been written as to the utility of introducing 

 narrow-gauge roads as a means of transit for jjassengers and freight. Nothing definite appears 

 to have been decided upon as to the width of track, size and power of engine, accommodations for 

 passengers, the capacity of freight-cars, &c., most desirable to answer all the wants of a varied 

 travel and traffic. It is a notable sign of the spirit of the times, however, that the Erie Road, long 

 run upon the wide gauge similar to that first introduced into England, where latterly with success 

 narrow gauges have been introduced, has made arrangements to change its gauge so that it may 

 be uniform with the ordinary broad-gauge roads of the country. In my belief, the introduction of 

 this class of tracks, not exceeding three feet in width, with rolling-stock to match, will mark an 

 era of competition among lines of transportation most beneficial to interior commercial interests. 



WHEELER'S PEAK. 



This name has been given to the most elevated point of the Snake range, which is one of the 

 highest crests between the Sierra Nevada and Wahsatch. It was found by careful barometric 

 observations to be thirteen thousand and sixty-three feet above sea-level ; corroborated by angles of 

 elevation taken from points whose altitudes were determined barometrically, thereby checking errors 

 that are likely to arise from the use of barometric results at such large altitudes. Some peaks iu the 

 Uintah range, I am informed, have been found by the geological survey of the 40th parallel to 

 exceed fourteen thousand feet ; others on the Humboldt range approximate thirteen thousand feet, 

 but none are found to exceed that height. 



Our party, consisting of Rev. Mr. White, acting geologist. State of Nevada ; Lieutenant Lock- 

 wood, Messrs. Hamel and Rahskopff, and the guide, Mr. Butterfiekl, all succeeded in reaching the 

 top on the morning of the second day, having left camp at Rattlesnake Springs at 2 p. m. Messrs. 

 White, Lockwood, and myself reached the summit at 8 p. m. same evening, but were obliged to 

 return to the limit of vegetation for food and fuel. 



Meteorological observations were taken during the day, as well as those for time and latitude; 

 the latter have doubtless seldom been attempted at a greater altitude. The party by mutual con- 

 sent, and at the suggestion of Professor White, proposed that hereafter this point should be called 

 Wheeler's Peak,t which name has been adopted upon the map. 



REPORT OF LEEUT. D. W. LOCKWOOD, 



Headquakters Departjvient of Calipoenia, 



Sa7i Francisco, Cal., January 25, 1870. 

 Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report of special reconnaissances made under 

 my charge, in compliance with instructions received from you at various times during the progress 

 of your exploration from the White Pine mining district to the Colorado River, and return ; the 



* Several manuscript maps have been prepared, the iuformatiou upon which has been introduced upon the later 

 atlas-sheets or may be made available iu further publications. 



tThis peak has been called iudiscrimiuately, on published maps, Uuion or Jeff Davis Peak. 



