88 
ROUTE NEAR THE THIRTY-SECOND PARALLEL. 
distance of 11J miles, natural slopes varying from 90 to 100, 117, 142, 159, 171 feet per mile; 
then a tunnel is requisite, 3 or 4 miles long, ascending constantly 100 feet per mile, the ground 
at the highest point being 1,600 feet above the tunnel. Lieut. Williamson is of opinion that these 
high grades cannot be much reduced by location on the side-hills. Lieut. Whipple thinks that 
they can. 
The “ New Pass,” made known by Lieutenant Williamson’s explorations, is more favorable 
than the Cajon. It is along the headwaters of the Santa Clara river, to reach which it is neces¬ 
sary to cross the divide between one of its tributaries and one of the Los Angeles river, through 
the San Fernando Pass, near the mission of San Fernando. From San Bernardino to the mis¬ 
sion of San Fernando, 78 miles, the road may pass over a country requiring gently undulating 
grades, and in other respects presenting features highly favorable to its construction. There is 
good building-stone and plenty of water and fuel. Ties and lumber can be brought from the 
mountains. The soil is fertile and well watered, excepting on the divides and in some elevated 
places where irrigation must be resorted to. This promises to be a highly cultivated, populous, 
and rich region of country. A branch road about 25 miles long to San Pedro from near Los 
Angeles, over ground favorable to cheap construction, will enable that port to be used for lum¬ 
ber, iron, coal, and all the materials and supplies for the construction of the road eastwardly. 
In the San Fernando Pass the natural slopes on the south side must probably be followed, as 
deep ravines cut up the hills on either side. Rising from the mission of San Fernando 600 feet 
in 4.4 miles, at the rate of about 155 feet per mile, we reach a point where a tunnel must be cut 
through soft sandstone, one-third of a mile long, at an elevation of 1,746 feet. We then have a 
descending grade for 4 miles of 115 feet per mile. This part of the pass is narrow, and will 
require side and other heavy cutting in earth. Hence to the point where the grades of the New 
Pass are given on the profile of Lieutenant Williamson is 7 miles, with an ascending grade of 55 
feet per mile. 
In the new pass an excavation in drift, (clay, gravel, &c.,) 40 or 50 feet in depth, for a short 
distance at the summit, and a side location which will not require much cutting, will give an 
average grade of 67 feet per mile ; the natural grades without side location are 55, 37, 58, 73, 62, 
70, 105, and 77 feet per mile for 22 miles to the summit. In a portion of the approach, about one 
mile in length, where the mountains close in precipitously and the stream winds abruptly, it may 
be necessary to cut two or three short tunnels 100 or 300 feet long through slaty granite. The 
summit of the pass is 3,164 feet above the sea. East of it for a distance of 1.35 mile the direct 
natural slope is steep, 240 and 218 feet per mile, and the ground will require cutting and filling 
to adjust the grade for a distance of at least three miles to that west of the summit. It must 
probably be 100 feet per mile. From this point to the elevation which will probably be main¬ 
tained in the Great Basin, about 2,900 feet, the grade may be any that is desirable, and the 
ground will require little or no preparation for the superstructure. 
The San Francisquito Pass (on one of the main tributaries of the Santa Clara rivetj is more direct 
than the New Pass, but, if not positively impracticable, is at least difficult, and the grades are 
excessive. 
Having now reached the Great Basin, we have several passes by which to enter the Tulares 
valley. 
In the Canada de las Uvas Pass, elevation of summit 4,256 feet, the average slope for 5£ miles 
from the summit to the Tulares valley is 302 feet per mile, the maximum being 34S feet per mile, 
and the minimum 229 feet per mile. But the bounding hills are so cut up with deep ravines, that 
the average grade cannot be had, and the natural slope must be used. 
In the Tcjon Pass, elevation of summit 5,285 feet, beginning at the western entrance, for 2.83 
miles the slope is 173 feet per mile; for 11.4 miles the average slope is 234 feet per mile, sup¬ 
posing a side location; then a tunnel 1.15 mile long; then a descending slope towards the Great 
Basin of 205 feet per mile for 6.4 miles, supposing a side location. 
