DESCRIPTION OF SAN FERNANDO AND CAJON PASSES, 35 
lengthen the road. The wagon road of the San Francisquito Pass crosses this range at a pass 
known as that of San Fernando, as it leads directly to the mission of that name. It was through 
this pass that Mr. Smith went, and I will now describe it: 
SAN FERNANDO PASS. 
Two small streams, rising near the crest of the Susannah range, and one-quarter of a mile 
apart, flow in opposite directions—the one north into the Santa Clara, the other south towards 
the mission of San Fernando. Between the two is a sharp crest, where the inclination is over 
1,000 feet to the mile. This is the nature of this pass, which is only 8 miles from base to base. 
Leaving the Santa Clara, we ascend 22 miles, at the rate of 43 feet per mile; then 14 mile, at 
260 feet per mile, which brings us to the base of the crest; having passed which by a tunnel, 
we descend 41 miles, at 157 feet to the mile, to the southern foot of the pass. With a tunnel, 
this is decidedly practicable. The only question is, as to the expediency of increasing the 
length of the tunnel to reduce the grade of 260 feet. The Susannah range has been very little 
explored, and it is not improbable that other passes in it may be found presenting much less 
difficulties than this one. ۲ 
Once arrived at San Fernando, the country may be traversed in almost every direction 
between that point, San Bernardino, and the coast. 
About 21 miles southeast of San Fernando is the Pueblo de los Angeles, formerly the capital 
of California, when under Mexican rule. This place is celebrated for its delightful climate and 
fertile soil. Large quantities of grapes are exported to San Francisco, and considerable wine 
was formerly produced. "The accompanying view (Plate X) was taken from a hill near the city. 
From this place Mr. Smith passed over an interesting and fertile country to the valley of San 
Bernardino, and acquired much valuable topographical information. This portion of the route, 
surveyed by Mr. Smith, is perfectly practicable for railroads, and therefore I proceed at once to 
a description of the Cajon Pass, which he surveyed, and which leads from the San Bernardino 
valley, through the Coast range, towards the Mohave. 
CAJON PASS. 
The general direction of this pass is nearly north and south, the base towards the Pacific 
being more easterly than the summit. In approaching the summit from the Mohave there is 
no appearance of ascending a mountain. With the exception of a few low hills or undulations 
on the crest, it is apparently a continuous inclined plane. Arriving at the crest, we are at the 
summit of a very steep hill, descending which we come into the bed of the Cajon creek, 836 feet 
below the summit. The road then follows the creek down to the San Bernardino valley. 
The survey commenced at the Pacific base, about 14 miles from the summit. For the first 63 
miles the average grade was less than 100 feet, and for the next 63 less than 200 feet, averaging 
165 feet to the mile. The ascent of the steep hill is now commenced. We ascend for 0.96 
mile, at the rate of 534 feet per mile, then 0.23 mile at 1,271 feet, and arrive at a point 40 feet 
below the crest. In the descent from the crest we have 21 miles, at 207 feet per mile; after 
which is a nearly uniform slope of 90 feet to the mile to the Mohave river, distant from the 
summit 19 miles. 
It is evident that the mountain here can only be passed by a tunnel. Taking the grades as 
given above with the corresponding horizontal distances—which were deduced from odometer 
meásurement—to be correct, it is found by calculation that if we start a tunnel from the creek 
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