46 TABLE OF ASCENTS AND DESCENTS. 
shorter than the one surveyed; and if the ranges of the Guadalupe and Hueco mountains 
can be avoided, the route would unquestionably be in all respects more favorable. 
These routes I consider it of consequence to explore, and I respectfully invite the attention of 
the department to the propriety of doing so as early as possible in the spring. 
It is also, as it seems to me, desirable to make a reconnaissance of the route from the crossing 
of the Brazos in a direct line to the Red river in the vicinity of Fulton. There are many 
reasons for this change from the route already surveyed, among which may be stated that the 
heavy work in the Upper Cross Timbers would probably be avoided, and that a more practica- 
ble crossing of Red river could be found. 
With a view to the continuation of the line to the eastward, the survey of this route would 
be in all respects advantageous. 
The country in the direct line from Preston to the Mississippi is very much broken, and very 
rough through the range of the Ozark mountains, which would be completely turned at the 
south by the route to Fulton. At this place, also, many lines of railroad, from different points 
on the Mississippi, are rapidly concentrating, and would perfect the connexion with the east- 
ward without the heavy work and enormous expense of continuing in a direct line the route 
already surveyed. 
t would probably be only necessary to make a rapid reconnaissance of this line for the pur- 
pose of fixing the positions and determining the character of the crossing places of the Trinity 
and its tributaries. It is well known that the country would offer no serious obstacle to the 
construction of a railroad. 
o the tables which accompany this chapter I refer for a condensed statement in detail of the 
ascents and descents to the mile along this route. These are in all cases steeper than it would 
be either necessary or advisable to establish grades of the railroad. The routes suggested for 
examination are marked on the map with a dotted blue line. 
Table of ascents and descents to the mile from Red river to the Rio Grande. 
— a 
From Preston, on Red river— Distance from | Total distance | Ascent, in feet. |Descent, in feet. on along 
point to point. | from Red river. the surface 
line, in feet. 
To Mrs. Steele’s 5,7 EE 2 66. 2 
1 Jis Minerat.-..-... 9.9 14.9 40. 9 4.5 
wer rine Timbers 9.3 94.9 135 15 
utes e 12.5 36. 7 96. 8 8 
Clear fork of Trinity 9.5 Bie loca eey messes 91.2 10,1 
Elm fork of Trinity 10.5 56. 7 .6 23.9 
East edge of Upper Cross Timbers 8.8 65.5 Hid lig i rr 19 
Lower line of same 4.6 70.1 956.5 51.4 
3 va p of Trinity. 61.3 131.4 12.3 0.3 
Br river 23.7 153. 1 IM OS Lol. 2e 8 
[ ne di rk of Br 32.4 187.5 402. 1 12.6 
Double Mountain fork of Brazos 90 277.5 1, 755. 8 19.5 
Divide of Brazos and Colorado 7.8 985.3 x RE ey san Gears 45, 2 
Colorado rive Sus 22.8 “gos oie a epee 278.6 13.3 
f ved springs of Colorado. 44. 352.1 319. 3 6.3 
Sum Llano Estacado 89.1 441. 9 O23, 0 LL. 4.8 
P 35.6 476.8 659. 1 18.3 
Head of Delaware creek...... 30 506. 8 102, 6 3.5 
Summit of Guadalupe Pass 24,4 531.2 1,545 61.8 
Ojo del Cuerbo 23 554.9 1, 824. 3 79.3 
] rand i 24.1 578.3 478.6 23.8 
Los Alamos.......... 8.2 586. 5 207.4 26 
East mie of Hueco Pass 20.4 606. 9 16.7 0.9 
Summit of Hueco Pass kT 608. 6 Wr 97 
' West edge of Hueco Pass 3.8 619.4 876. 6 79.8 
- Hueco Tanks 2.7 615.1 z 
f i 22.2 637.3 B5 Renee er ear te 2.3 
: 3 639.3 161 53.6 
