FORT ORAIG, 9 
Grande on the Atlantic slope, they have received by the 
m Spaniards the collective name of Sierra Madre, which name 
must not cause them to be confounded with the Sierra 
gi Madre 3° south of them in Mexico proper. This fact is 
g certain, that no railway can ever be constructed across this 
great western barrier between Campbell’s Pass and the 
@ Miembres Mountains; and even if it were possible to cross 
fi the main divide between these points, and to strike the Rio 
Gila in New Mexican territory, it would be perfectly 
impossible to follow that stream through its mountain 
@ gorges. 
We found all our parties congregated at Fort Craig, for it 
had been made the general rendezvous previous to reorganisa- 
tion anda fresh advance westward. Mr. Imbrey Millar, 
having taken his men safely through the Sangre de Christo 
Pass, and surveyed a line over that lofty region to the head- 
waters of the Rio Grande, had rapidly marched with them 
Straight down the valley 380 miles. Mr. Eicholtz and his 
party had surveyed a good line through the Abo Pass; 
and Mr. Runk, under the immediate superintendence of 
General Wright, had continued the main line of survey down 
the Rio Grande valley from Isleta to Fort Craig. 
_ Having thus far completed the object of the expedition, 
4, General Wright’s labours in the field came to an end; and 
here he left us, in company with our geologist, Dr. Le 
Conte, the one to make up his reports and lay them before 
the expectant directors, the other to visit the coal-fields near 
4 Denver. 
Here we found Palmer straining every nerve to hasten as 
4 quickly as possible the fresh start. For some time it had 
4 been undecided whether the route along the 35th parallel 
would warrant a separate examination or not; for Jeffer- 
