147 



tliesoutlicni bank until Hearing Bristol Head. Here it crosses to tlic north- 

 ern bank ; then, soon leaving the river, and skirting the ibot of the 

 mountain, crosses a low spur, and descends to Antelope Park. This 

 point is about fifty-five miles from Del Norte. So far the road is very 

 good, having no heavy grades, and, passing as it does over the gravelly 

 bottoms, it is naturally solid and quite smooth for a mountain road. At 

 this point the road again leaves the river, following up Crooked Creek 

 for about eight miles; reaches a high pieateau, which it crosses, bear- 

 ing again toward the river ; descends a high and <piite steep bluff; crosses 

 and recrosses the river, when it again leaves the river for a short dis- 

 tance, coming upon its bottoms once more at the Half-way House. So 

 far the road is passable for lightly loaded wagons ; but from here on it 

 is of no use in its present condition, as it is about all they can do to get 

 an empty wagon over it. From the Half-way House the road follows up 

 the river for some distance, when it turns to the right, and ascends quite 

 a steep sloi)e, winding its way along to the pass. Jt is at this point that the 

 greatest difficulty is met with, owing, lirst, to the sudden descent of the 

 slope from the pass to Baker's Park, the whole distance being some four 

 miles, with a descent of 2,900 feet, and in the first two miles a descent of 

 about 2,300 feet; and, secondly, owing to the very rocky and bluffy char- 

 acter of the slopes, it will be very difficult to give the road swing enough 

 to get anything like a good grade. Still this appears to be the most prac- 

 ticable route at present, as there is a good road for so much of the way. 



The trail from Antelope Park does not follow the same course as the 

 road ; it more nearly follows the river, and (crosses a [)ass about one mile 

 farther south, near the head of Cunningham Creek. This ])ass is a 

 few feet lower than the one through which the road goes. Height of 

 trail jjass above sea level, 12,000 feet. 



The distance by the road from Del Norte to Howardville is about 

 ninety-five miles. There is a trail leading from Howardville down the 

 Animas; also another leading out to the northwest to the jhead waters 

 of the San Miguel and Dolores. Both of these trails have been described 

 by Mr. lihoda. 



The accompanying map gives the drainage in detail of the country 

 immediately surrounding the San Juan mines, with all the important 

 mountain-i)eaks, roads, trails, and other features of the country that 

 could be represented within the limited time at my disposal. The lower 

 portion of the Kio Grande was located preliminarily in order to show 

 the route of the wagon-road from Del Norte. 



The heights of many of the importa)it i)eaks and valleys are given 

 on the map; and there will l>e a list giving the heights of all the 

 higher peaks and other important ])oints, with an explanation of the 

 method used in their determination by Mr. lihoda, who has worked 

 them up with great care. 



The small contour map of Baker's Park and vicinity will give an idea 

 of the character of the country which we were engaged in working up 

 the past season. It will also give some idea of the care with which this 

 region has been surveyed. Owing to the want of time, I was not able 

 to get more of the country drawn finally for this report. 



Mr. Khoda has written quite a detailed description of the country. 

 Therefore I will refer the reader to his cliapter for any information that 

 may be sought in regard to the api)earance or charactei' of this region. 



Dr. Endlich has also written a geological and mineralogical report of 

 the region surveved. 



