476 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
The San Juan extension, or branch reaching from Alamosa to Silverton, will 
be 228 miles in length. The line of the road enters New Mexico three times, the 
second entrance making a run of about thirteen miles. The branch also passes 
through a portion of the Ute reservation, the entrance upon Indian ground being 
at a distance of thirty miles probably from Chama summit, or forty miles from the 
present terminus. 
The grade from Animas to Silverton ; over a line nearly due north, is natural 
and easy and will require but very little work as compared with other portions of 
the route. There is one cafion near Silverton somewhat difficult of passage and 
a force of men has been at work there for some time making ready thus far in 
advance for the grading party, which is rapidly and persistently going ahead. It 
is now confidently believed that Silverton will be reached before the autumn 
leaves fall next year. 
Regarding the other extensions, it will be appropriate, as showing the extent 
of advancement now being made by the Rio Grande, to refer to them in this con- 
nection. The New Mexico line anticipated a length of ninety-one miles due south 
from San Antonio to Santa Cruz. The latter point is twenty-four miles west of 
Santa Fe, which places the narrow-gauge within a few hours’ stage ride of the 
New Mexican capital. Of this distance, sixty-five miles have already been ironed, 
and the entire length of this branch will be in operation by November roth. 
Three hundred track-layers are now at work on this extension, and all the grad- 
ing has practically been done. Track is going down at the rate of half a mile a 
day, and if a deep and difficult rock cut had been completed the Rio Grande 
would have been reached before this. 
The Gunnison branch starts out from Cleora, or South Arkansas, proceeding 
to Poncha, a distance of five miles. Here the road parts, one branch leading up: 
to Maysville, eight miles, and the other or main line going via Marshall Pass to- 
Gunnison City, sixty-five miles. The grading on the Maysville branch is very 
light, as cheap as the Platte valley. The Gunnison line is more difficult, but 
nothing as compared with other achievements of the company. It is expected 
that track laying will begin on this line within ten days and it will be pushed 
with all speed. 
The branch from Leadville to Kokomo is nearly completed, and within 
twenty days trains will be in operation. This branch is twenty miles long and 
will be extended to Breckinridge right away. 
Two hundred men are at work on the branch from Malta to Eagle river, 
which will be thirty-one miles long, the objective station being Red Cliff. It is. 
confidently believed that the line will be in operation early in the Spring. 
On the Silver Cliff extension from Cafion City, three hundred men are em- 
ployed, and every exertion is being made to complete the road as early as possi- 
ble. The line has been graded for nearly twenty miles, and as there is little fear 
that the snow will halt the work, the entire distance of thirty-one miles will doubt- 
less be accomplished some time during the month of January.—ZaFlatz Miner. — 
