wilson.] GEOGRAPHY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. 445 



northern bank; then, soon leaving the river, and skirting the foot oftbe 

 mountain, crosses a low spur, and descends to Antelope Park. This 

 point is about fifty-five miles from Del Norte. So far the road is very 

 good, having no heavy grades, and, passing as it does over the gravelly 

 bottoms, it is naturally solid and quite smooth for a mountain-road. At 

 this point the road again leaves the river, following up Crooked Creek 

 for about eight miles ; reaches a high pleateau, which it crosses, bear- 

 ing again toward the river ; descends a high and quite steep bluff; crosses 

 and recrosses the river, when it again leaves the river for a short dis- 

 tance, coming upon its bottoms once more at the Half-way House. So 

 far the road is passable for lightly loaded wagons ; but from here on it 

 is of no use in its present condition, as it is about all they can do to get 

 an empty wagon over it. From the Half-way House the road follows up 

 the river for some distance, when it turns to the right, and ascends quite 

 a steep slope, winding its way along to the pass. It is at this point that 

 the greatest difficulty is met with, owing, first, to the sudden descent of 

 the slope from the pass to Baker's Park, the whole distance being some 

 four miles, with a descent of 2,900 feet, and in the first two miles a de- 

 scent of about 2,300 feet; and, secondly, owing to the very rocky and 

 bluffy charater of the slopes, it will be very difficult to give the road 

 swing enough to get anything like a good grade. Still this appears to 

 be the most practicable route at present, as there is a good road for so 

 much of the way. 



The trail from Antelope Park does not follow the same course as the 

 road ; it more nearly follows the river, and crosses a pass about one mile 

 farther south, near the head of Cunningham Creek. This pass is a few 

 feet lower than the one through which the road goes. Height of trail- 

 pass above the sea-level, 12,090 feet. 



The distance by the road from Del Norte to Howardville is about 

 ninety-five miles. There is a trail leading from Howardville down the 

 Animas ; also another leading out to the northwest to the headwaters 

 of the San Miguel and Dolores. Both of these trails have been described 

 by Mr. Bhoda. 



The accompanying map gives the drainage in detail of the country 

 immediately surrounding the San Juan mines, with all the important 

 mountain-peaks, roads, trails, and other features of the country that 

 could be represented within the limited time at my disposal. The lower 

 portion of the Bio Grande was located preliminarily in order to show 

 the route of the wagon-road from Del Norte. 



The heights of many of the important peaks and valleys are given on the 

 map ; and there will be a list giving the heights of all the higher peaks and 

 other important points, with an explanation of the method used in their 

 determination by Mr. Bhoda, who has worked them up with great care. 



The small contour map of Baker's Park and vicinity will give an idea 

 of the character of the country which we were engaged in working up 

 the past season. It will also give some idea of the care with which this 

 region has been surveyed. Owing to the want of time, I was not able 

 to get more of the country drawn finally for this report. 



Mr. Bhoda has written quite a detailed description of the country. 

 Therefore I will refer the reader to his chapter for any information that 

 may be sought in regard to the appearance or character of this region. 

 Dr. Endlich has also written a geological and mineralogical report of 

 the region surveyed. 



