EXTRACTS FROM [PRELIMINARY] REPORT. 29 
reached by this means. If so, a very rich soil, now unoccupied, would become available to 
agriculture. The whole region from the Sierra Madre to the Colorado Chiquito could probably 
be fertilized by the same agency. With the desire to test this question, we carried a small 
boring apparatus ; but not having time to devote to the undertaking, the instrument was sold 
to certain citizens of New Mexico, who proposed to make a trial of its virtues. Between the 
Colorado Chiquito and Rio Colorado, volcanic forces have too much tilted and broken the regular 
strata to allow any dependence to be placed on this means of increasing the supply of water. 
Fortunately, however, the southern slopes of the mountains abound in permanent springs and 
streams, which renders the resort to wells unnecessary. From Rio Colorado to the Mojave 
river, to avoid ascent to mountain springs, we must have recourse to artificial means of procuring 
water. Should the Mojave have a channel to the Colorado, the water cannot pass below the 
level of the latter stream, and by perforations to the proper depth, must be obtained. In Soda 
lake, by turning the sod, we found an abundance of brackish water. Pure water would probably 
be found twenty or thirty feet below the surface. Rio Mojave now furnishes an abundant supply 
until we reach the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, from which numerous rivulets are said to 
flow. After passing the Sierra Nevada, neither in the valley leading to San Pedro nor in those 
we would follow toSan Francisco, is want of water apprehended. Wherever permanent streams 
do not occur, common wells or artesian borings would prove available. 
Snows upon this route can never prove the slightest obstruction to a railway. From Memphis, 
on the Mississippi river, to Rio Pecos, snow storms rarely occur in winter. At Fort Smith, 
as has been shówn, only one such storm was noted in the winter of 1852; that covered the 
ground to the depth of two inches. From thence to the Pecos, snow may occasionally fall to 
the depth of three or four inches, but must rapidly be absorbed by the warm, porous soil. I 
doubt whether the surface would remain whitened for ten days during the year. 
Passing the ranges of the Rocky Mountains east and the Sierra Madre west of the Rio Grande, 
storms are said to be more frequent, covering the surface with snow sometimes to the depth of a 
foot. But here, too, the snow quickly melts, and forms no obstruction to travellers. We 
passed the latter range late in November, and not the slightest trace of snow was visible among 
the loftiest peaks. The first seen was in December, glistening upon the distant peaks of Sierra 
Mogoyon. During the latter part of December and the first of January we were at the base of the 
San Francisco mountains, the only place where much snow was found upon our route. It never 
exceeded eight inches in depth upon the surface, was nowhere drifted into banks, and formed 
no obstruction to our march. We believed, nevertheless, that the season was unusually severe, 
and the amount of snow fallen was almost unprecedented. Soon after leaving these mountains, 
snow disappeared. But on the 18th of January, when on a reconnaissance in the Aztec moun- 
tains, another storm occurred ; snow falling to the depth of four inches. Four days afterwards 
we were again at the same spot, and the snow had nearly disappeared ; the southern slopes 
were entirely bare. Leaving this range, we saw no more indications of snow except upon a 
few distant mountain summits. Without doubt, between the Aztec Pass and California a few 
storms may occur in winter, covering the surface with snow to the depth of three or four inches ; 
but so mild a climate soon melts it away. 
Fuel is believed to be more abundant upon this route than upon any other known from the 
Mississippi to the Pacific. The State of Arkansas and the Choctaw territory, as far as Shawnee- 
town, are covered with wood, excellent for fuel, and also furnish an abundance of coal. West- 
ward of Shawneetown we have wood upon the streams, and live oak and black jack in the Cross 
Timbers to the head of the Washita ; thence to the Pecos are occasional forests of cedars, which 
afford excellent fuel. From the Pecos to Albuquerque, and thence to Zuñi, is a constant suc- 
cession of pines, firs, and cedars. Coal, also, is found in this region. Beyond Zuñi, cedar wood 
covers a wide extent of country for about forty miles. Beyond, plenty of fuel could be floated 
down the Colorado Chiquito from the well wooded region of the Mogoyon, from whence it 
issues. Near the headwaters of Rio San Francisco there are forests of pine, interspersed with 
cedar thickets. These extend to the head of Bill Williams’ fork. Thence to the Colorado, and 
