124 . NEW TEACKS IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



observation, that tlic rain-fall along tlic base of the mountains 

 was quite snj05cient to supply artificial reservoii's from wliic! 

 tracts of land could be successfully ii-rigated. Kotwitbstand 

 ing the chance of such an experiment turning out a costi 

 failure, he set to work, and has formed on the open plain tw( 

 or three lakes, or reservoirs, from which he now irrigateij 

 2,500 acres of land. I bathed in one of these lakes in passing, 

 went over a fine house he is building near it, and saw witi' 

 pleasiu-e the groves and avenues of young trees which he hac; 

 planted, all thriving beautifully. The yield last year was aE 

 average one of thirty -five bushels of maize, forty of wheat, 

 and fifty of oats to the acre. He is now a rich man, anc 

 hopes soon to have another lake, and several himdi'ed acre 

 more land, in good working order. He also states that he' 

 feels convinced, that the rain-fall has increased since he com- 

 menced to iiTigate and form the lakes. The success of this 

 experiment is of infinite importance to the emigi-ant. 



On August 29th, we bid good-bye to Fort Uniou, and prof 

 ceedcd to Los Yegas, distant twenty-six miles, the firs; 



Mexican town our line of survey had ye^ 

 encountered. The situation of this thi-ivinl 



August 29. 



little town of 5,000 inhabitants, at the gate of the mountains 

 has made it, within the last few years, the seat of a ver;j 



flourishing trade, and the abode of many energetic merchants, 

 Americans as well as Mexicans ; so that when the people o 

 the place heard that " El cameno de fiero caril " (the road o 

 the iron wagon) was actually going to pass through thei 

 town, they called a meeting and determined to give our part} 

 a hearty welcome. As we approached the town a party o 

 about thirty, consisting of the chief men of the place, came 

 out to meet us, mounted on horses caparisoned with the 

 picturesque and gaudy trappings peculiar to the Mexicans. 



