SECTION IV. 
From Rio Pecos to Rio del Norte, one hundred and four miles. 
Having reached the top of the bluffs which bound the western edge of the Pecos valley, our 
route, as far as the entrance to Cañon Blanco, lies upon an elevated table-land, the geological 
strata of which, by the upheaval of the Rocky mountains, have been tilted from 15? to 20° to 
the east. The surface is somewhat broken by wooded hills and broad valleys leading to the 
Pecos. The descent is easy into Cañon Blanco, which for several miles forms an excellent loca- 
tion for a railway. To issue from it, near the head of one of its branches, and cross a low ridge 
which separates its waters from those of Laguna, would require considerable labor. The summit 
may be reached by edging along the side of the cafion and throwing a high embankment across 
a branch ravine. The profile, however, follows to the head of one of the branches, and makes 
a deep cut through the crest of the ridge. This summit, the most elevated crossed by our trail 
between the Mississippi river and the Rio del Norte, is 6,943 feet above the level of the sea; and, 
although its elevation above the prairies, east and west, is but slight, it may be considered as 
the Pass of the Rocky mountain chain. 
Laguna, which lies a short distance west of the ridge above referred to, is a depression in the 
prairie, which receives the drainage of a wide surface, and forms a natural reservoir, containing 
a large supply of water. From this point, looking west, are seen the Zandia mountains, about 
thirty miles distant. To the north lie the mountains of Santa Fé. Between these two masses 
of mountains there is an opening, through which Rio Galisteo flows to Rio del Norte. South 
of Zandia mountain is seen a depression in the chain separating the Zandia from Manzana 
mountain, and forming the Pass of San Antonio, which leads directly to Albuquerque, or 
to Isleta. Eastward of that range, and from the vicinity of Santa Fé on the north, to the 
Salinas on the south, lies a prairie, the general surface of which is somewhat undulating, and 
occasionally traversed by ravines. The crest, which bounds it upon the east, seems to possess 
about the same height at the head of Rio Galisteo as at the point already noticed near the 
Laguna. This appearance, connected with subsequent observations, led to the belief that a 
railway might ascend the east bank of the Pecos to some favorable crossing place, said to exist 
in the vicinity of San Miguel, and thence pass into the valley of Rio Galisteo, which leads to 
the Del Norte, near San Felipe. Our own explorations for a crossing of Rio Pecos were confined 
to the vicinity of Anton Chico and La Cuesta. This river, as has been stated, flows in a deep 
cañon, with a ribbon-like valley of excellent soil enclosed within bluff banks near the villages 
mentioned. Between those places the cañon is contracted to a narrow chasm, which may be sur- 
mounted by a viaduct. Its construction might involve greater expense than would be required 
by the route upon which the profile is traced ; but it would cause a saving both in distance and 
in grade. 
From Camp 54, near Anton Chico, to station 7, the ascent by the road is steep. There isa 
ravine further south, through which the profile is carried to obtain a practicable grade. Station 
8 is at the summit of the acclivity ; and beyond, the general surface is moderately undulating. 
In the vicinity of station 10 are hills covered with forests of pines and cedars. Near station 11 
is a peak 200 feet high, and higher hills appear two miles distant upon the left. From station 
11 to station 13, the surface is a prairie. From 13 to 15 are cedar trees, and at station 17 are 
