1756 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



terior slopes of the great <, the San Juan, the Los Pinos, and others on the southern 

 side of the lower part hound south and southwest; the Animas, immediately west of 

 the vertex, has forced a passage to the south through the mountain barriers in an 

 enormous gorge ; the Dolores and San Miguel to the west of the divide of the Animas 

 west and northwest ; the Uncompahgre beyond the source of the Animas to the north 

 and northwest, while near by is the Lake Fork of the Gunnison flowing south, then 

 east, and finally to the north into that river. 



THE PAGOSA SPUR. 



One of the handsome spurs in the lower San Juan is the divide between the head- 

 waters of San Juan and the Piedra, extending from the main range some 12 miles 

 to the southwest and terminating in a very handsome pyramidal peak, rising sym- 

 metrically from the mountains about, giving the general effect of a towering cen- 

 tral spire in some fine architectural structure. Although but 12,674 feet in height, 

 the lower elevations adjoining render it a fine point for triangulation, especially 

 from the east, south, and west, for which it has been utilized by both the Wheeler and 

 Hayden engineers. Its name was derived from the celebrated Pagosa Springs of Indian 

 nomenclature, which it overlooks. 



THE NEEDLES 



The most remarkable geological formation certainly in Colorado, and probably in 

 the entire country, is to the west, mainly between the Los Pinos and the Animas 

 Rivers, south of the great divide, and particularly about the heads of the Florida, 

 Animas tributaries, and those of the Vallecito or West Fork of the Pinos. They are 

 designated as the Quartzite Group or Crags by the geographers, but are locally known 

 as the "Needles." 



The metamorphic changes by which the rocks were altered to quartzite, with the 

 crystallization peculiar thereto, together with the terrible upheavals and convulsions 

 of nature attending these alterations, have combined to distort the strata and render 

 the peaks more rugged than any elsewhere to be found. 



Their name arises from their appearance at a short distance. Instead of encircling 

 in graceful rounded slopes, mountain valleys, well timbered and full of nutritious 

 grasses, they rise precipitously, abruptly, with sharp summits, with thin and pointed 

 tops, most veritable crags. Ascents with animals are impossible ; on foot it is a matter 

 of extreme difficulty and often bodily suffering. Rising to heights of 12,000 to 14,000 

 feet, even when there is a way to reach their summits, it is only accomplished by 

 climbing up rock over rock, or over slopes and debris at the foot, lying as steeply as 

 hard rocks will lie, the flint-like edges cutting boots and shoes invariably. This mass 

 of steep, precipitous slopes, with ravines between well-nigh impassable, without graz- 

 ing in their limits proper, can play but one part in the future economy of the San Juan, 

 that of a portion of its mineral wealth, to be hereafter noticed. Two outline sketches 

 (Plate I) herewith accompanying, giving east and west rivers from a peak at the 

 headwaters of the West Fork of the Yallecito (Camp 52), will serve to convey an idea 

 of the formations described. 



THE LA PLATA MOUNTAINS. 



The next range to the west appearing to the traveler in the lower San Juan is the 

 La Plata Group, a number of peaks at the lower end of the huge divide between the 

 waters of the Animas and those to the west. They trend gently to the west and east, 

 and end abruptly to the south, where the La Plata River emerges from the mountains, 

 between which, for a dozen miles or more, it has coursed it way southwest and south. 



At this point of departure from the mountains, beautifully situated on a wide plateau, 

 is Parrott City, the attractions being the lodes of silver, Avhence the river and mount- 

 ains derive their name, and the placer deposits claimed to exist along the stream. 



baker's park. 



Passing up the valley of the Animas through the lovely part which the river waters 

 and the Grand Canon beyond, an immense gorge, varying in depth from the summits of 

 the quartzite peaks on either side 3,000 to as great as 5,000 feet, Baker's Park is reached, 

 noteworthy for its topographical features and for the mining interests here centered. 

 It extendsfrom the mouth of Mineral Creek up the Animas as far as Eureka, 10 miles 

 along the river, with a general width of about £ mile. The park proper, however, is 

 only the lower part, where at Mineral Creek it is 2 miles wide, narrowing to the north, 

 about 3 miles in length along the stream, containing perhaps 2,500 acres. 



We here pause to note this remarkable level piece of land, completely encircled by 

 mountains rising abruptly about 4,000 'feet above it, excessively steep as are all the 



