DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 13 
left of station 29. Station 32 is in a wooded ravine tributary to the Canadian. Near by is 
Camp 34, upon Epsom spring, the water of which is brackish. 
From Camp 34 to station 4, several ravines are crossed, with high banks, covered with 
cotton-wood trees. Station 5 is a quarter of a mile from the Canadian. Station 8, at the foot 
of the hills, is in the valley of the river. The stream here is shallow, flowing over a wide 
surface of deep-red sand and clay. The bottom-lands are about half a mile wide, and have 
the appearance of having been overflowed; containing bushes and weeds, but little grass or 
timber. 
From Camp 34 the line should keep to the left of the. trai], edging along the ridge to the 
valley at station 8. For six miles the broad valley of the Canadian follows a westerly 
course. The gravelly ridge, which bounds it, is then ascended to avoid a northerly bend 
produced by the Antelope hills that deflect the river from its direct course. Station 16 is 
upon the top of the table-land. Station 17 is on a stream covered with cotton-wood timber, 
and containing good water flowing to the Canadian. On account of its steep banks it is called 
Cafion creek. Camp 35 is upon the bordering prairie, which extends nearly to the river, a 
distance of about a mile and a half, where the valley is a quarter of a mile wide. The trail 
passing between the Antelope hills, to cut off a bend of the river valley, is intersected by 
several ravines with steep banks. Sandy creek, 150 feet wide, is the largest. Indian creek 
is near the Antelope hills. Grape creek is remarkable for the number of vines that grow 
upon its banks. Camp 36 is in the Canadian valley, at the mouth of a dry arroyo. The 
intermediate country is principally prairie, much elevated at the Antelope hills, and, in 
some places, sandy. By the trail, the surface of the ground, from Camp 35 to station 3, has 
a rapid ascending grade, being 284 feet in two and three quarter miles, or 103 feet to the 
mile. From station 3 to station 9 the grades are easy. From 9 to 10, one mile, the difference 
of elevation is 135 feet, in consequence of station 10 having been taken in a ravine which might 
be avoided by an embankment or bridge. Thence to station 16, the grade is light. From 16 
to 17, a quarter of a mile, the difference of elevation is 63 feet. This could be avoided by 
keeping to the left of the ridge between stations 16 and 21. From station 17 to the Canadian 
the distance is one and a half miles; from station 21, one mile ; and between Camps 35 and 36, 
the greatest estimated width of the table-land, which slopes down towards the river, is two and 
a half miles. The distance by the valley will not much exceed that by the trail, and the for- 
mer would be adopted as the line of location, so as to avoid the heavy work and steep grades 
above referred to. | 
From Camp 36, to avoid the soft alluvial soil of the valley, the wagon-road ascends about 150 
feet, to the gravelly prairie that bounds the Canadian river. The plain is considerably cut up 
by water-courses, many of them dry. The highest part crossed is about a mile beyond station 
1; and from that point there is a slope to a ravine, 200 yards wide, containing good water. 
Opposite station 2, upon the left bank of the Canadian, there is a ridge of sand-hills, with trees 
at the foot. A rivulet of clear water crosses the trail near station 7. At station 9 there is a 
dry arroyo, with banks covered with cotton-wood. Beyond station 10 the valley of the Cana- 
dian is well wooded. The trail, after passing several sandy beds of streams, crosses a creek 
with running water, between stations 27 and 28. Camp 37 is on a rivulet emptying into the 
Canadian. It contains good water, with cotton-wood upon its banks. From Camp 36 to this 
place the trail is about a mile south of the Canadian river. For a railroad, the valley would be 
followed at small expense, and with a uniform grade. : 
Leaving Camp 37, the trail enters the Canadian valley near station 1, where the alluvium 
upon the right bank of the river is about one mile in width. It is covered with timber. Upon 
the opposite side the width is half a mile. Beyond, the valley increases in width. Groves of 
cotton-wood occur, sometimes upon the right bank of the river, sometimes upon the left. Mounds 
15 feet in height, and numerous ravines, appear in the vicinity of station 8. Between stations 
10 and 11 is Dry river, with a gravelly bed 200 yards wide one mile from its junction with the 
