PEEPATORY EEMARKS. 



The instructions given to me August 15, 1854, by tlie Eon. Robert McClelland, Secretary of 

 the Interior, direct that, 'Mn all cases where they do not conflict with the stipulations of the 

 treaty, or the specific directions contained in these instructions, you will be guided by the 

 instructions issued by the Department of State, and those of this department, to the Com- 



missioner 



The instructions referred to, given to one of my predecessors, and not repealed, directed an 

 examination of the country contiguous to the line to ascertain its practicability for a railway 

 route to the Pacific ; and also directed information to be collected in reference to the aori- 



cultural and mineral resources, and such other subjects as would give a correct knowledge of the 

 physical character of the country and its present occupants. 



A compliance with these instructions has necessarily extended this report very much beyond 

 the limits of the record necessary to show the official acts of the joint commission. 



Eifteen thousand extra copies of this report have been ordered by Congress. It consists of 



■ 



two volumes, divided into four parts. The first part comprises the personal narrative ; general 

 description of the country ; journal of the joint commission ; the astronomical work ; 

 barometrical levels ; meteorological record, and magnetic observations. The second part 

 consists of the geological researches, with annotations, and a review of the whole by Professor 

 James Hall. The third part comprises the general botanical features of the country, by Dr. 

 John Torrey, described from memoirs of the assistants^ and from the plants themselves, and 

 a separte description of the cactacefe, by Dr. George Engelmann, of St. Louis. The fourth part 

 embraces the natural history of the country, by Spencer P. Baird, based upon the notes and 

 memoirs by the assistants, and upon the specimens themselves. 



The first two parts, forming volume I, are now presented to the government ; the third and 

 fourth parts, forming volume II, are delayed in conseq^uence of the difficulty of getting the illus- 

 trations engraved. 



Accompanying the first volume are five ma 

 maps numbered from 1 to 4, on a scale of g 



of the country contiguous, as far as information has been obtained from actual survey or recon- 

 noissance. If these maps were placed in the hands of department commanders, with directions 



oVo Tj^ showing the boundary line and topography 



to fill up 



actual survev, from 



from the numerous 



very great, the government would be in possession of delineations of our whole southern 

 frontier, more authentic in character than the maps of many of the old States. 



I have confined myself in all these maps, except the general map, to actual information, 

 derived from instrumental survey, and in doing so, have sacrificed considerable general interest 



wbich misrht have been P-ivftn tbpm Tinr! T innmrinrafAff all ihp, Iaako infArmatiATi w"hin>i a^iata 



