APPENDIX SS. 1787 



perhaps, a preferable ford to the one at Stewart's, it, like other points, presents no 

 crossing-place over the Eio Grande during high-water seasons and hence will not he 

 considered. 



The second route from Garland City passes a little west of south to the Rio Culehra, 

 crossing it at Mexican plaza of Lower Culebra; thence southwest to the Eio Grande, 

 where is the ferry formerly kept by Mr. Fred. Meyer, now in the hands of Sefior 

 Valdez, 39| miles from Garland City, 33 from the fort ; thence the road passes due 

 west to Conejos, 18 miles distant, and 57£ from the railroad. Both roads lie wholly in 

 San Luis Valley and are natural ones, as easy in traveling and as hard as the ordinary 

 prairie, save in a few places where they are heavy from shifting sands, a belt of which 

 extends over the valley. 



In June, while in that section, a whirlwind would here or there keep in sight almost 

 constantly a cloud of sand, and as they occasionally passed, they shut out completely 

 earth and sky, filling eyes and ears, taking along hats and other movables if possible — 

 happily a brief visitor, leaving as a souvenir a line stratum of sand. The height to which 

 these moving, flying pillars rose, seemingly gathering strength as they whirled along, 

 was very great. The other variation to the usual monotony and far more agreeable 

 were the occurrences of mirages, which were noticed almost daily while traveling over 

 these level surfaces. Trees lining the banks of streams far away would be uplifted 

 from beneath the horizon, and before us lay spread out a lovely sea or huge lake whose 

 distant shores were hemmed in by luxurious vegetation, only to fade away as we ap- 

 proached, a never-resting will-o'-the-wisp, in whose place were found the burning 

 sands of the plain. 



Stewart's Ferry. — The approach to the Eio Grande on the upper or Trinchera road 

 is over low ground. During the high-water season the river reaches back for some 

 distance upon either side, and with its diurnal fall and rise the ground, at other sea- 

 sons hard and dry, is changed to a marsh, and easy access to and from the river-ferry 

 is for heavy teams often quite problematical. 



In our crossing the ferry in June last, one of the wagons of the train, in the detour 

 which is selected as the best approach upon the eastern bank, mired twice in the boggy 

 ground, and caused a delay of two hours ; upon the opposite shore another long and 

 Tedious delay resulted, the road being two feet under water, necessitating unloading 

 by hand in water above the knees. There is a bend in the course of the river just 

 above the ferry, and as the ground here rises but slowly from the stream outward, it 

 is at the best a faulty location for such a purpose. 



The river was then about 150 feet in width, with a very rapid current. The ferry- 

 boat, rather a small affair, about 20 feet in length, barely held an army wagon and the 

 wheel span of the team ; a flimsy rail was along each side, protection chiefly in ap- 

 pearance, each mule requiring holding during the passage. In taking over the cavalry 

 escort, the horses were led on the boat, heads alternating up and down stream, to 

 equalize the load, which was limited to eight. A crossing with horses only was made 

 in eight minutes, and four six-mule wagons, including the teams, were ferried over 

 safely in one and a quarter hours. A small pier or planking of some kind was lack- 

 ing, nothing of service in the nature of gangway being provided. The rates charged 

 were, for single horsemen, 50 cents ; light wagons, .$1.25; two-horse wagons, $1.50; 

 and four-horse wagons, $1.75. The ferriage was, however, reduced in consequence of 

 the size of the party to 25 cents per animal, riding and team, with no charge for 

 wagons. The more direct and better road, as before stated, is up the course of the 

 Conejos River, above and skirting the edge of the plain, always high and dry ; it is, 

 however, nearly barren of grazing, in need of which the command took a left-hand 

 road at a distance of about 12 miles from the ferry ; this passes over what is known 

 as the Island, a long point of land included between the San Antonio and Conejos 

 Rivers, across which, during high water, flows a net-work of small streams, render- 

 ing it the best watered and most fertile land in this section ; it is, without doubt, the 

 garden-spot of the entire valleys of the two rivers, and would be literally ' ' flowing 

 with milk and honey," were it in the hand of eastern farmers instead of those of Mexi 

 can descent, whose ambition is generally satisfied with cigarettes and a "baile." 



The Conejos was crossed at the plaza of LosCerritos, " the Hills," taking the name 

 from some high hills that are grouped near by, whence the road soon passed into that 

 from Chavez's Ferry to Conejos. 



The passage of the Conejos was made without loss, though not without difficulty; 

 the stream high and rapid, with about a six-mile current, was in the beds of the rivers, 

 and one of the team-mules falling in the river and becoming entangled in the harness, 

 was with difficulty saved from drowning. From the appearance of the banks at 1 

 o'clock p. m., it was evident that the water had very lately fallen fully a foot. 



Valdez' Ferry. — The ferry on the lower road differs in location, &c, materially from 

 that above. It is in a direct line 18 miles south of it ; by the windings of the river 

 about twice as much; a trail leading down from the upper ferry, which is called by 

 the Mexicans but 12 miles. This ferry, formerly known asMyer's Ferry, and described 

 iu 1874 as a "dilapidated affair," was purchased from Mr. Myer in the spring of 1875, 



