ROUTE NEAR THE THIRTY-SECOND PARALLEL. 
85 
The most unfavorable condition, towards the termination of the dry season, has been presented 
above. At other seasons lakes and springs will furnish water at much shorter intervals; but the 
first step in the construction of the road will be building wells between the points of abundant 
supply. It is supposed that the two ends of the road from the Mississippi and Pacific will 
reach the Rio Grande and the point of departure from the Gila at the same time, and that the 
road across the intervening space will be commenced at the two ends. 
FUEL. 
The report of Lieutenant Parke is not very positive upon the subject of fuel; but it is probable 
that a very scanty supply for the working parties will be found between the Rio Grande and 
Tuczon. Should the dwarf mezquite be found in the usual quantity, with grama grass, west of 
the Rio Grande as east of it, fuel for the working parties will be had along the route without 
great expense; should it not be, however, the supply will be very scanty. From Tuczon to the 
Gila there is no fuel whatever, but little or no grass, and at certain portions of the year no water. 
The deficiency must be supplied from the Rio Grande and the Gila, and, if necessary, by the 
portions of the road already built, from the Guadalupe mountains, and from the forests on 
the mountains at the sources of the Rio Mimbres, some 30 miles distant from the route near 
Cook’s spring, and from the Mogoyon and other mountains at the sources of the Gila, San Fran¬ 
cisco and Salinas rivers. 
The climate is so mild as to require but little more fuel than is necessary for culinary purposes, 
and the trace so favorable as to require but small working parties. Should the line along the 
San Pedro be found practicable, the desert between Tuczon and the Gila will be avoided, and 
the expense of supplying fuel to working parties from the Gila to the point of leaving the San 
Pedro be saved. 
TIES-LUMBER. 
For ties, the lumber of the Sacramento and Guadalupe mountains, and, if necessary, from the 
eastern portion of the route, must first supply them ; then the mountains at the sources of the Rio 
Mimbres, should it be found economical to resort to them, and the source of supply for the road 
along the Gila, which will be pointed out presently. Lumber will come from the same points. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
A party under Lieut. Parke has been directed to make further examinations and surveys in 
this region, and to give especial attention to the geological structure, with a view to the loca¬ 
tion and construction of artesian wells. 
If the cost per mile of making wells and supplying fuel for culinary purposes from distances 
unusually great on railroad routes, will add to the usual expense of construction, the regularity, 
smoothness, and hardness of surface, mildness of climate, and absence of heavy rains, which will 
dispense with the usual precautions taken against frost, will so far obviate the necessity of the 
most costly item of construction of a railroad, as to make the construction over this and similar 
regions of country a positively economical one. The road must be made, as far as practicable, 
and, as before remarked, as far as consistent with a good adjustment of economy of time with 
economy of means, to transport its own material. Short sections should be built at a time, so as 
to have railroad transportation near the working parties. Building-stone, lime, sand,- &c., are 
found at various convenient points along the route. 
The further examination of this region, to be made by Lieut. Parke, will no doubt develop 
more favorable lines even than that gone over. The labors of the Mexican boundary survey, 
now in progress, will also furnish further information respecting this country. 
