APPENDIX SS. 1797 



from Saguache a toll-road, 95 miles in length, was built to Lake City, on the Lake 

 Fork of the Gunnison River, via the Los Pinos Agency. At present, Lake City is over 

 60 miles nearer the terminus of the Denver and Rio Grande, at Garland City, than that 

 at Canon City, and all its supplies are received by the former branch. From Del Norte 

 a toll-road passes west, up the canon of the Rio Grande to Alden's Junction, in Ante- 

 lope Park, distant about 44 miles. 



ROAD TO SILVERTON, DIRECT. 



From this point beyond, to the west, a county-road follows the general course of the 

 Rio Grande in a direct line for Silverton, Howardsville, and the mining towns of the 

 Upper Animas. Although it avoids, by detours, the steep canon localities of the river, 

 it is in a very bad condition save where the canon bottom is level and wide and a nat- 

 ural road exists. With steep grades, numerous side slopes, and a lack of repair, added 

 to the faulty original construction, it has almost entirely fallen into desuetude, and is 

 but little used for freight-carriage, save by pack-trains. Even they do not follow the 

 road intact, and at many points numerous and deeply furrowed trails, running side by 

 side, pass direct where possible, when the road makes a band to the right or left. 



Beyond Carr's Cabin, a point about 27 miles above Alden's, the road has many steep 

 gradients in its ascent to the summit of the range, about 12 miles distant, the Great 

 Continental Divide here sweeping around to the north and east in its separation of the 

 Rio Grande from the waters of the Animas Above Pole Creek, an elevation of nearly 

 2,000 feet must be made in about 6 miles, to attain the summit, a pass above timber- 

 line, exposed and objectionable. Owing to the many steep hills, frequent grades of 500 

 feet to the mile, and excessively rough roads, large amounts of freight are brought to 

 Carr's and lower points by wagon transportation and sent over the range by pack- 

 trains. 



From the summit down to Howardsville the grade is as bad, or worse, nearly 3,000 

 feet being descended in less than 5 miles, an average slope of 600 feet to the mile, or 

 fall of over 11 vertically in each 100 linearly. Necessarily, then, none save the lightest 

 kind of a wagon, and in a case of necessity only, dare attempt the pass. 



Between Howardsville and Silvertou, less than 5 miles, the road is in Baker's Park, 

 and, of course, finds no natural obstacle to overcome it is, however, out of order at 

 several points, where inexpensive repairs will make it a fine passage-way. 



LAKE CITY AND CONNECTING ROADS. 



From Alden's or Antelope Park, a good toll-road passes north and northwest to Lake 

 City, 33^ miles. This thriving town is the seat of the greatest wealth and mining in- 

 dustry in the San Juan, and to its numerous roads and communication with the outer 

 world, much prosperity is due. 



The road from Antelope Park comes from the southeast. This is now under more 

 able and wealthier management than last year, when, during the spring months, it was 

 almost impassable. New and shorter locations, better grades, and side drains made, 

 or under construction, will render the road good and passable at all seasons. The 

 road from Saguache comes from the north, ascending the Lake Fork. It is continued 

 to the southwest to the town of Animas (altitude 11,550 feet), 29 miles distant, passing 

 en route up the stream through the rich mining section known as Burrow's Park (which 

 includes Tellurium, &c), the American Basin, and other camps, and crossing at an 

 altitude of 12,650 feet one of the great mountain chains that here rise up with more 

 numerous and lofty peaks than elsewhere are found upon the continent. From Ani- 

 mas Forks this road continues 3 miles to Mineral City (altitude about 11,500 feet), a 

 promising town located at timber-line, near the top of a mountain spur of the Uncom- 

 pahgre Range. 



THE HENSEN CREEK ROUTE. 



Another toll-road has been lately built to the west, passing up Hensen Creek, open- 

 ing up a rich mining region and serving as an opposition route to Animas Forks, to 

 which point it is shorter by over 6 miles than the Burrows Park road. It was an ex- 

 pensive line, owing to the large amount of rock-blasting necessary. 



At about 10 miles from Lake City, it passes the mining settlement of Capitol City 

 (altitude about 9,500 feet), reaching Mineral City at a distance of about 20 miles. Ani- 

 mas Forks, as might be inferred, is located upon the Upper Animas River, at the 

 junction of two streams, by whose union it is formed. A toll-road is open, down the 

 river, passing Eureka, at tin 1 mouth of Eureka Gulch, 4 miles to the south, and reach- 

 ing Howardsville, at a distance of 8 miles. This route is the only one over which ma- 

 chinery can be readily taken to Silverton and neighboring points. From Del Norte it 

 is a long detour by way of lake, but the difficulties, insurmountable at present, of the 

 route up the Rio Grande, render the former preferable. 



The Hensen Creek line is, from lake to Animas Forks, the most practicable one for 

 heavy teams, for the Burrows Park route, in addition to being 6 to 8 miles longer, is, 

 in the upper sections, in a wretched condition. 



