26 
ENGINEERING REPORTS. 
separates the waters of the eastern and western tributaries of the 
Jumuapa, and along the crest of which, a jpicadwra for the 
carriage road has already been cut. Continuing its course, it 
finally reaches Paso de la Puerta. Soon after leaving this place 
it skirts the open ^fields, or savannas, belonging to San Juan 
Guichicovi, and passing these, which are somewhat broken, it 
continues to the Rio Sarabia. Thence, the line extends two 
miles to the eastern base of Cerro Sarabia, from whence it con- 
tinues in a southerly direction to the Malatengo over the plains 
of Boca del Monte ; thence leaving Cerro Tigre about one 
mile to the left, it reaches the deep gorge in the hills of Xochi- 
apa through which the Malatengo runs. Ascending on a sixty 
feet grade, it continues its sinuous course up the banks of this 
stream ; and finally, leaving it on the southern side of the hills, 
it again ascends on a grade of sixty feet to the plains of 
Xochiapa, crossing which and advancing, it is brought to the 
summit of Elsi Conejo, on a grade of sixty feet to the mile. 
This pass opens on to the plains of Xochiapa, and divides a 
range of limestone mountains, whose western extremity is called 
Cerro Majada. It commences near El Barrio, and runs in a 
southeasterly direction about six miles, where it is finally ar- 
rested by the Pio Almoloya. This range forms the southwestern 
limit of what are termed the plains of Xochiapa. 
From the summit of Nisi Conejo the line continues in a south- 
easterly direction, descending on a grade of sixty feet to the 
mile, to the level of the plains of Chivela ;. thence it continues its 
course to the Hacienda of that name at the entrance of Chivela 
Pass. 
The entrance from these plains to the Pass of Masahua is three 
miles distant, from a point 2000 feet north of the Hacienda, 
and bears S. 74° E. From this initial point the line ascends the 
valley of a stream winding among the bare hills, on a general 
direction a little east of south, nearly one mile and three-quarters 
to the summit, which is 125 feet above the plains of Chivela ; 115 
feet above the bench mark at the Hacienda of that name, and 
843 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Here it is proposed to make 
a thorough cut of about 2500 feet, with an average depth of 
40 feet, the grade line at the deepest point being 63 feet below 
