DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. g 45 
“The soil of the Tulares and San Joaquin valleys is well constituted for fertility, and needs 
merely the proper amount of water to be highly productive. There are settlements along the 
eastern side of these valleys under the mountains. The San José valley is one of the best 
cultivated and most populous districts of California. 
** Sufficient water and fuel for working parties can be found at convenient distances on this 
section, and lumber and good building stone at various points along the line in the mountains, 
15 or 20 miles from the foot of their western slopes." 
Subsequent to the examinations previously referred to, a reconnoissance has been made in 
California by Lieutenant Parke, of the topographical engineers, and it is understood that he 
has found a highly favorable route, leading from Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass across the Coast Bange 
to a branch of the Salinas river, and thence directly to San Francisco. His report will, 
probably, give specific information upon this subject. 
It would be desirable to construct a branch railroad from the Mojave river to the port of Los 
Angeles. The country is well adapted to the purpose, excepting the portion embraced by the 
Cajon Pass. "There, a long tunnel would be required through the crest of the summit, and 
grades from 100 to 150 feet per mile along the ravine in which the Cajon creek flows, or 
expensive cutting and filling across spurs of the mountain slopes. For a road of secondary 
importance, however, it might be deemed advisable to adopt the surface grades along the creek, 
and, perhaps, use stationary power to ascend the summit from the Pacific side. Upon those 
conditions the expense for constructing the road would be brought within very moderate limits. 
