1790 



REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



The second and rival route, which may be known as the 



SAN ANTONIO, 



ill contradistinction to the former, approaches nearer a direct line. Ascending the 

 valley of the Conejos, to include the plaza of San Raphael, it passes south across the 

 plain to the plaza of San Antonio and contiguous towns in the fertile valley of that 

 river, near which it is crossed. Thence it passes almost due south, near the right or 

 east hank of the river, and between it and San Antonio Peak, following what was an 

 old Indian trail southwest over the divide. Thus far the construction will be inex- 

 pensive, as there is at present a hay-road used by the Mexican teams up to this point — 

 the chief items of cost being slopes of volcanic mesas that are met with, and the bridge 

 over the river. When once put in traveling order, this part will but rarely need 

 repair. 



From the time of departure from the San Antonio west of the Peak, until the vol- 

 canic field intervening to the mountains has been passed, occurs an interval, much 

 less than a day's drive, however, between water, after which it is found at short inter- 

 vals. The route over the range is similar to that of the Chama line, over an easy pass 

 and through low valleys or depressions between the elevated ridges. 



Several small streams, tributary to the Servilleta, a creek flowing southeast into the 

 Rio Grande, are crossed near their heads, together with one on the Chama or Brazos 

 watershed. Thence it passes to Las Nutritas, not far from its head and some eight 

 miles distant from the plaza of the same name (Tierra Amarilla), to which it proceeds 

 along the bank of the stream in a westerly direction, the total length of the line from 

 Conejos being 55 miles. Over this latter part is already a road used by hay-wagons, 

 and along the trail followed in general by the route Mexican shepherds have for years 

 driven to and fro their numerous flocks — a favorite range, on account of the fine graz- 

 ing and water in the mountain parks and valleys. 



Timber being abundant in the elevated regions, there will be little expense, save 

 where it may be needed for small bridges or corduroy. The route being much of the 

 way parallel to the line of drainage, there will be obviated what are always two items 

 of considerable expense in such localities — cutting on side slopes for embankment, and 

 side ditching above the road for drainage. The melting of snows on the mountain 

 slopes, and the thawing of frozen surfaces in the spring, keep such a surface con- 

 stantly moist, and a road inclined to the flow of water boggy and miry to a great ex- 

 tent, on being traveled. 



Save the short section of 8 miles from Nutritas Creek to the plaza of that name, the 

 entire road will be a portion of the shortest line en route from the railroad to Fort 

 Wing-ate and the Arizona posts. From the Nutritas, the latter passes southwest to 

 the Rio Nutria and the Chama, reaching the latter at the mouth of the former, where 

 it is intended to bridge the river. 



To consider briefly this in relation to the route to Fort Wingate, the distance, as 

 surveyed by Lieutenant Anderson in 1874, is from the point of departure from the road 

 to Tierra Amarilla (which place is 8 miles distant; Conejos being 47), down to the 

 crossing of the Rio Chama, near the mouth of the Rio Nutria, 18.2 miles, making the 

 Chama crossing distant from Conejos, by this, the San Antonio line, 65.2 miles. 



Via the Chama road, as above stated, the distance from Conejos to Tierra Amarilla 

 is 60.7 miles. The crossing of the Chama River by the Wingate road, having been 

 found to be 14.5 miles distant from Tierra Amarilla, in an examination made during 

 September last, by Lieut. D. J. Gibbon, Ninth Cavalry, we have the following sum- 

 mary to the Fort Wingate route : 



"Wmgate crossing of the Chama River — 



Yia Chama route and Tierra Amarilla. 

 San Antonio route 



Ph 



Distance saved by San Antonio route 10 



Miles. 

 75.2 

 65.2 



O 



Miles. 

 121.2 

 111.2 



10 



OS 



lO 



Ph 



Miles. 

 127.7 

 117.7 



10 



A charter for the construction of the San Antonio road, under the name of the 

 " Tierra Amarilla and Narrow Gauge Wagon Road," was taken out March 5, 1877, and 

 riled on the 29th of the same, the incorporators being five men of means, any one of 

 them being alone able to construct the entire line. The capital stock is $15,000, over 



