4 



to the depth of one thousand and fifty feet; beyond that depth it could 

 not be carried. 



Captain Pope expresses the belief that wells might be bored to a 

 much greater depth on the Llano by using heavy cast iron tubes of 

 large diameter, and suitable driving apparatus, but that the cost 

 of transporting this heavy material would preclude its use. Upon 

 this I can express no opinion, as the dimensions, weight, &c., of this 

 tubing are not stated. 



The reports received from Captain Pope do not specify how many 

 new supplies of water were met during the last operations. One new 

 supply, described as a strong stream pouring into the well, is marked 

 on the diagram as entering it twohundredfeet below the lowest water 

 previously encountered, (in 1856,) which, coming from a source six 

 hundred and seventy-six feet below, rose to within one hundred and 

 ten feet of the surface. As it is not stated that the water from this 

 new supply rose higher in the well than during the previous year, it 

 is presumed that it did not. In Captain Pope's letter of the 4th of 

 June, 1858, mention is made of powerful streams of water pouring into 

 the well without rising to the surface. This would indicate that they 

 find vent at lower levels than that of the surface of the Llano at the 

 well, and would lead us to apprehend the same result for streams that 

 might be encountered at greater depths, and to doubt whether the 

 water would flow out at the surface even if the boring were carried 

 to the depth originally intended. Captain Pope does not appear to 

 entertain any such doubt, biit, on the contrary, explicitly states in his 

 report of the 22d of August last, that his opinions about the certainty 

 of getting water to overflow at the surface are unchanged. 



The suggestions of Captain Pope, in his report of the 4th of June, 

 that the work upon the well near the Pecos should be discontinued, 

 and the next experiment be made upon or near the route between 

 Anton Chico and Albuquerque, were approved by the department, 

 and instructions to that effect were sent him on the 10th of July. At 

 the date of his last communication (September 28) the party had ar- 

 rived at Galisteo, and commenced the experimenton the plain between 

 Anton Chico and Albuquerque, at the intersection of the road between 

 those two places with the road from SantJi Fe to Fort Stanton 



In order to exhibit the nature and extent of the operations of Cap- 

 tain Pope, I submit herewith copies of his instructions and reports of 

 progress. It is only by their perusal that his labors can be properly 

 appreciated. 



II. — EXPLORATION OF THE BIO COLORADO OF THE WEST. 



The expedition for the exploration of the Rio Colorado of the West, 

 commanded by First Lieutenant J. C. Ives, Topographical Engineers, 

 has completed its field operations. Lieutenant Ives returned to 

 Washington in August, and is now employed in preparing the report 

 and maps. I submit herewith a communication from him, showing 

 briefly a portion of the results of the expedition. 



In the last annual report it was stated that the expedition was at 



