COUNTRY BETWEEN THE VALLEYS OF THE RIO GRANDE AND THE PECOS. 7 
of the road across the desert, and will speedily lead to a settlement of the richest portion of 
the valley of the Rio Grande. 
The full advantages of these measures, and the impolicy of undertaking any system of 
improvements which shall interfere with them, will be fully set forth in a subsequent part of 
this report. : 
Of the country between the valleys of the Rio Grande and the Red river.—Of the country 
between the valley of the Rio Grande at the 32d, and the valley of the Red river at the 34th 
parallel of latitude, nature has made three great divisions, which present characteristics distinct 
from each other in every respect. . 
The first of these divisions embraces the region between the Rio Grande and the Pecos, a 
distance of one hundred and sixty-nine miles; the second the country occupied by the Llano 
Estacado, between the valley of the Pecos and the well-watered and fertile lands of Texas, at 
the headwaters of the Colorado, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles; and the 
third, considerably more extensive than the first two together, extends from the headwaters of 
the Colorado to the valley of the Red river, at the parallel of 33° 45'. 
Of the country between the valleys of the Rio Grande and the Pecos.—The country between 
the valleys of the Rio Grande and the Pecos consists of elevated table-lands destitute of wood 
and water, except at particular points, but covered with a luxuriant growth of the richest and 
most nutritious grasses known to this continent. 
This region is intersected by three ranges of mountains, nearly parallel to each other, and 
having a general direction north and south. 
The first of these is the range of the Organ mountains, which, commencing on the east side 
of the Rio Grande, about one mile north of the town of El Paso, extends to the northward 
along the east side of the “Jornada del Muerto,’’ until, under other names, it unites with the 
immense ranges of the Rocky mountains which extend indefinitely to the north. 
There are several passes through these mountains from the valley of the Rio Grande, but 
they are rough and difficult of access from their abrupt inclinations. "The approach from the 
eastward, however, is effected without difficulty, by passing to the south of this range, and 
intersecting the river about one mile above the town of El Paso. Next in order to the eastward - 
are the Hueco mountains, twenty-four miles from the river. "This range extends much farther 
to the south, but along the present travelled route presents passes easy of access. This ridge 
ünites itself at a short distance above the 32d parallel, with the Sacramento and White mount- 
ains, whieh, continuing to the north, are lost in the main chain of the Rocky mountains. 
The most easterly range is that of the Guadalupe mountains, one hundred and eight miles from 
the Rio Grande, and fifty-four miles west of the Pecos. This ridge, although higher and more 
rugged than either of the others, seems isolated from any connexion with the mountains. It 
extends with a decreasing altitude, but with more difficult passes, at least forty miles south of 
the route pursued by the survey, but sinks into the valley of the Pecos about sixty miles north 
of the 32d parallel. The route through these mountains, although rough in some places for 
want of work, is of easy passage, and offers grades which, although steep and requiring heavy 
work, are nevertheless practicable for a railroad. Three hard and elevated table-lands, ascend- 
ing in order to the eastward, occupy this region, their longest lines being to the southeast, and 
their greatest width to the northeast, with a very gentle inclination through long distances to 
the eastward, and an abrupt descent to the westward, their highest lines being in every case 
very near their western limits. The three ranges of mountains above mentioned occupy the 
summit-levels of these table-lands, and the highest point of the road between the Rio Grande 
and the Pecos is the summit of the Guadalupe Pass. — : 
Water is found at intervals, not to exceed twenty-eight miles, between the Rio Grande and 
the Guadalupe mountains, and from the western base of the mountains to the Pecos abundant 
springs of water, both fresh and mineral, occur at much shorter intervals. 
Timber of large size is only found immediately contiguous to the 32d parallel on the east side 
