1796 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



East. — By two routes, known as the Upper and the Middle roads. 



On the upper, the line followed was mainly that of an old Indian trail and a natnral 

 route to Tierra Amarilla via Pagosa Springs. This is a toll-road; work done, very 

 slight beyond bridging of rivers en route. 



At Animas City, it should be mentioned, a fine bridge exists, constructed by the town 

 company; river here 170 feet wide, nearly 2 deep ; very clear and beautiful, with a 

 rapid current. Animas City to Pogosa, 64^ miles ; road in good order ; wood, water, 

 and grass abundant. The toll-gate of the road company is a few miles east of Ani- 

 mas City ; the bridge on the Florida, the first stream, was inexpensive, the stream 

 being small with high banks. 



Over the Rio de los Pinos, 13| miles east of the Florida, is the most expensive bridge 

 on the line ; western bank being low, bridge proper with approach for high water, 245 

 feet long, the river in August, 1877, being here but 90 feet wide. Its width was 18 

 feet, and 8 feet above water ; ordinary side rails, flooring of square hewn timber, being 

 loose and without stringers ; total cost, $550. 



Over the Rio Piedra, 20 miles east by the road, was the next expensive bridge, owing 

 to the banks being high, and resultant cost of rock-filling for cribs. Length 80 feet ; 

 about 20 wide, and some 15 above the Avater's surface, resting on piers of the usual 

 pine log cribbing. Flooring of usual square hewn beams, lacking stringers to keep 

 them in place, a fault also existing at the Los Pinos. So inexpensive an item should 

 never be neglected, as danger to passing teams results from the liability to get their 

 feet entangled ; cost of bridge was $400. 



The Rio Nutria, a puny sluggish stream, without high banks, offers no obstruction 

 to easy passage. 



The Rio San Juan, 25 miles from the Piedra, 13 from the Nutria, was the last point 

 bridged, being crossed nearly a mile below the main spring. The river here was 85 

 feet wide, and about 2 deep, the bridge being 108 long, of substantial construction, 

 costing $300. 



From Pagosa to Tierra Amarilla, 58 miles, the Blanco, Navajo, and Chama are forded, 

 no bridges existing. 



The middle road is a more direct route to the Animas from Tierra Amarilla. Its 

 route is from the Chama, by the Laguna de los Caballos, the Piedras de Legurados, 

 and the Canon Curacoa to the San Juan, reaching it about 5 miles below the mouth 

 of the Navajo; entering the Ute Reservation, passing westerly near the San Juan for 

 some 9 miles to the Piedra, after its crossing it continues northwest to the Florida, 

 near the reservation line. It follows up this stream by the ranches along the river, 

 meeting the upper road at its crossing of the Florida, en route to Animas City. 

 For about 35 miles, over a third of its entire length, this road is within the Indian re- 

 serve. 



Its advantages as a route to Tierra Amarilla from the Animas and Florida settle- 

 ments are its being more direct than the upper road, which makes a detour by Pa- 

 gosa, and its more southern position, rendering it less exposed and a warmer and bet- 

 ter winter line. 



Its objections are the scarcity of wood, water, and grazing, compared with the 

 northern line ; particularly between the San Juan and the Chama, where the country 

 partakes of an arid nature with alkaline character, a vegetation sparse and of sage- 

 brush rather than the nutritious grasses above, while piiion replaces the pines to the 

 north. 



West. — Communication with the settlements beyond and upon the lower river, from 

 Animas City, is by the toll-road to the La Plata, a branch ascending to Parrott City, 

 whence a county-road passes to the Mancos, another descending the stream to the 

 lower La Plata, the San Juan, and the Animas. 



The road was inexpensive, the toll-gate being placed four miles beyond Animas 

 City, a point common to upper and lower travel. 



A road can be constructed down the Animas River to the settlements below, along the 

 line of the trail already existing ; or less direct and not so expensive, from the road 

 on the Florida, southwest to the Animas a few miles above the former's mouth. 



From the lower San Juan, between the Animas and the Pinos, a route known as the 

 lower road, passes southeast via Canon Largo to Abiquii and Santa F6, affording a 

 direct line to these regions which is open to travel at all seasons of the year. 



The upper country. 



The extension of the railroad over the Sangre de Cristo Range to Garland City has 

 resulted in making Del Norte a passing-point for nearly all travel and traffic destined 

 for the more settled and richer mining regions of the upper country. 



Saguache, on the upper and western rim of San Luis Valley, distant 33 miles, was its 

 rival when Canon City was the nearest railroad point to the San Juan. A wagon-road 

 was constructed from this railroad terminus, 117 miles, to Saguache, passing up the 

 Arkansas River for 55 miles, and crossing the range over the Puncho Pass. Thence, 



