APPENDIX SS. 1773 



bottom ; the road here abruptly turns to the north and so continues for a mile, when it 

 as sharply pursues its former course to the west. The top of the Florida divide is hut 1£ 

 miles from the river, the rocky hills being closer and steeper than upon the other water- 

 shed. A beautiful spring is found about a thousand yards from the river, and along the 

 right bank of its stream the road descends. Here for the first time is noticed any work of 

 importance, excepting the bridges on the road upon which toll is collected. It is pos- 

 sible that half, if not all, of the entire amount expended in its construction is annually 

 received into the coffers of the road company. 



THE RIO FLORIDA. 



The Eio Florida signifies the Eiver of Flowers or flowery banks. Taking the cue 

 from eminent and scientific explorers who have gone before, one is inclined to doubt 

 the fitness of things on reaching it at the road-crossing. Having observed, however, 

 as we traveled, the peculiar adaptation of local names, whether of Spanish or Indian 

 origin, and having also heard that the Indians haunted it as they did the Navajo, we 

 were inclined to expect a lovely stream. Disappointed at first sight, the portion above 

 appeared the more beautiful for that reason. Steep hills, 350 to 500 feet, increasing in 

 height to the north, here confine the river, a modest stream of scarcely over 30 feet. 

 Boldly protruding on the opposite side is traced a lignitic deposit, which was utilized 

 by our blacksmith during our vicinity thereto. 



At a distance of If miles up the stream was a handsome park containing 45 acres of 

 fine grazing land, well timbered, where a cabin stood. Above this was another, small- 

 er but more open, where another ranchman had located, the hillsides being almost 

 precipitous, and covered with scrub-oak ; thence up the stream successively are low 

 rolling hills within the river depression, above which appear again level bottom 

 widths of 350 to 400 yards, increasing to 600, the contents of the parks being 15, 30, 

 and 50 acres of fine grass-land, susceptible of irrigation. Below where the general 

 surface was 40 feet aboA'e the river, came in from the west a tributary from the Animas 

 watershed, whose valley in extent over 1,000 yards disclosed its bounding walls of the 

 brightest of red sandstones. 



About 7 miles up the river a trail passes due east to the Los Pinos as already men- 

 tioned, 4 miles in length. The evidences of Indian camps were abundant at this point. 

 Beyond, upon the east bank, after passing closely timbered groves of pine and aspeu, 

 a pretty park opened before us. Occasionally heavily wooded but chiefly open, the 

 valleys succeed one another, increasing in width from 150 yards to 600, of magnificent 

 grazing, alternating upon the river-sides, below which the true valley appears to 800 

 and 1,000 yards in width. 



The brilliant red of the towering sandstone cliffs, a sheer vertical for over 600 feet, 

 increasing to the north, the stretches of great pine to the grassy bottom below, long 

 lines of meadow green sloping to the willow-fringed banks of the river, with an 

 abundant flora, were witnesses to the stream's appropriate name. Deer (C. maorotis 

 Say) in the wood, wild turkey (21. gallopavo Barte) and grouse (T. obscurus Say) in 

 the grass and trees, and trout (S. fontinalis Mitch.) in the river, did not lessen its at- 

 tractions. 



As we continued in extended opens where the river has spread to a width of 40 feet, 

 about 6 inches deep, the girdling mountains rose abruptly ahead upon either side 

 nearly 3,000 feet on the east, perhaps 2,000 on the west, meeting beyond on the ivpper 

 stream as links in the great chain of "Needles." The scenery was magnificent, and 

 involuntary praise was heard from even our colored cook. The elevation of these 

 bottoms extended from 7,600 to 8,000 feet, and nowhere has any one located. 



Nature, lovely and prolific here, is as desolate ahead. An abrupt canon region fol- 

 lows closely upon the last of the parks. Over precipices, down immense mountain 

 walls, often inaccessible, dashing over bowlders reft in its struggling descent, its way 

 clogged by huge timber and drift, the stream has worn its way; emerging from a 

 box canon, with perpendicular walls of 100 feet without, the river passes forth from 

 desolation and war above to peace and quiet below. 



The close proximity of the high mountains does not augur well for agriculture here, 

 indicating short season and severe and early frosts. The portion of the river-bottom 

 well adapted therefor is limited and near the reservation line. 



From the Pagosa road-crossing the transition from the upper region is complete. 

 The bottom is, for 4 or 5 miles, from 200 to 300 yards wide, being contracted and ir- 

 regularly slox3ing, in which the stream winds from side to side ; much of the land being 

 too high above the water for irrigation renders agriculture impracticable. 



Here passes the middle road from Animas City to Tierra Amarilla, following the 

 river down for more than 9 miles. The river's width and volume has increased to 50 

 feet with a foot depth ; its fringe is of cottonwood timber, with pifion upon the hills 

 that skirt both sides, being 300 feet high on the east and about half that on the right 

 bank. Six miles below the road-crossiug there is a widening of the river-bottom to 

 600 yards. On account of the reservation line but 2 miles of this wider valley is avail- 



