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Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



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Santa Fe to the Pacific,'! ^vas aided by First Lieutenant 

 W. H. Warner, of the topographical engineers, and Mr, Norman 

 Bestor; all of whom deserve notice for the zeal and industry with 

 which they performed their duty/ Whilst with me. Lieutenant 

 Peck made the topographical sketches; after he left, they were 

 made by Lieutenant Warner. ' . 



I would here gladly avail myself of the opportunity of thanking 

 Colonel Robert^Campbell and Dr. Engelmann,* of St. Louis, for the 

 disinterested and efficient aid they .rendered us in St. Louis in Qur 

 hurried preparations for a long and tedious journey. ' The advice 

 given us by Colonel Campbell, a gentleman of great experience in 

 prairie life, was felt beneficially to the last of the journey. 



The country between Fort Leavenworth and Santa Fe, traversed 

 by the army of the we^t, may be divided into three great divisions, 

 distinctin character, climate, and products, viz: from Fort Leav- 

 enw^orth to Pawnee fork, from Pawnee 

 from Bent^s Fort to Santa Fe. 



fork to Bent*& Fort, and 



The two first divisions have been so often traversed, that I have 

 omitted, my diary embracing them, contenting myself with a few 

 general remarks^ but the scientific, and especially astronomical ob- 



as in regard to the other; 



seryations referring to them, are as full 

 regions. 



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• An interesting acconnt of the cacti observed on the route, furnished by Dr. En^lemann, 

 •wul be found in Appendix No, 2 y continued. •-- o / 



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comparisonj as far as Santa Fe^ is a series of observations made at 

 Fort LeavenAvorthj with the same instrument, running through two 

 years; and the height of the hospital at Fort Leavenworth above 

 the sea assumed at 912 feet. '* ■ 



From Santa Fe, down the Del Norte, and thence west as far as 

 camp 83, of October 26th, the btisis of comparison is the series of 

 observations, running through two months, at Santa Fe. 



From the camp of October 26th, on the Gila, the basis of com- 

 parison is the mean of the observations made at San Diego, on the 

 Pacific, near the level 'of the sea. The barometer was left on the | 

 Pacific, under the charge of Lieutenant Warner, topographical en- 

 gineers; and the further observations made with it on that coast 

 will afford, at some future time, data upon which to reconsider the 

 results now given, particularly those in the last section.' In the 

 absence of corresponding observations, the object has been/ to get a 

 •column of reference, progressing west, with tlie places observed at. 



The formula used is that of Altman^s. The heights deduced are 

 marked on the map; but they should be considered, at^besb^ but as 

 near approximations to the tiuth. 



The time of day at w^hich the observations were made is not that 

 which experience has shown to be best ; but, the halts b^ing-be- 

 yond my control,- I was compelled to yield to circumstances. 



As far as Santa Fe, I received the assistance of Lieutenants J, 

 W, Abert and G. W. Peck, of the corps of topographical engi- 

 neers; both of whom had but toe recently returned .from an ex- 

 ploring expedition in less favored climates, and fell ill — the first at 

 Bent'S fort, and the last at Santa Fe. 



