ENGINEERING EEPOETS. 
49 
be found, by diverging from the present line, near the conflu- 
ence of the Pachine and Malatengo rivers, thence running to 
the west of Mount Sarabia, striking the Sarabia River some 
distance above the present crossing, and thence, by nearly a 
straight course, to the Jumuapa, keeping to the west of the mule- 
road leading to Paso de la Puerta. This line, in connection 
with the one proposed up the valley of the Tortugas Creek, 
would form a pretty direct route. 
I am, however, of opinion that decidedly the best route by 1 
which to pass the Xochiapa hills to the plains of Chivela, will 
be found through the valley of the Almoloya Eiver. 
There exists no impediment to running a straight line from 
the confluence of the Almoloya and Malatengo Pi vers, to inter- 
sect the existing line of location near Mount Sarabia. 
As regards the supply of material necessary for purposes of 
construction on the line of the road, little more need be said. 
On all those portions of the work, which, from the nature of the 
ground, are most difficult of access, are found abundance of 
good building stone immediately at hand ; and where it is 
necessary to haul it any distance, the surface of the country 
is uniformly favorable for its cheap transportation. The road 
for the greater portion of the distance lies through forests capa- 
ble of supplying timber of any size and quality. On the up- 
lands we find two species of live-oak, which are extremely hard 
and durable, and generally of a convenient size to be manufac- 
tured into railroad sleepers. Every thing required for the sus- 
tenance of man or beast can be grown on the line of the road. 
Bordering the Malatengo, Sarabia, Jumuapa, and Jaltepec 
rivers there is a great extent of rich bottom-lands, which, with 
little labor, could be brought under cultivation. On the first 
three mentioned rivers the inhabitants of San Juan Guichicovi 
have extensive milpas, or cultivated fields. On the prairies 
are ' large droves of horses, mules, and cattle ; the latter are 
generally very large and fine, and will be of great service in the 
transportation of the earth and other materials required in the 
construction of the road. 
In conducting the above surveys, we had occasion to employ 
considerable native help, principally from San Juan Guichicovi. 
4 
