98 
ROUTE NEAR THE THIRTY SECOND PARALLEL. 
the Gila traversed by the route, although the soil is fertile; nor is it found on the Colorado 
desert, or on the crossing of the southwest corner of the Great Basin, &c. 
The soil of the river valleys is fertile, but for cultivation needs irrigation. After leaving, for 
the first time, ihe body of the productive soil of Texas, we have the valleys of the Pecos, Rio 
Grande, Gila, and Colorado, portions of whose areas possess a fertile soil; the sum of these 
exceeds 2,300 square miles. That portion of California west and south of the coast range has a 
soil and climate which will admit of a dense population. 
GENERAL ADVANTAGES OF THE ROUTE. 
The mineral wealth of the countries near the 32d parallel has been indicated by others, and 
needs no other mention. 
The proposed road passes near the northern borders of the Mexican States, or departments of 
Chihuahua and Sonora. They extend northward from latitude 27° or 28° to our boundary. 
The surface is generally table-lands, affording good grazing; the climate is agreeable. The soil 
of the river valleys is fertile, capable of producing, when irrigated, wheat, cotton, &c. Their 
wealth is principally in cattle farms and mines of gold and silver. The area is 280,000 square 
miles. The population exceeds 300,000. 
Although this route passes near the frontier of Mexico, yet it is not liable to objection from this 
circumstance, since we control the frontier, and the construction of the road would probably break 
the power of the Indian tribes. 
It passes through or near territories having already large populations; that of New Mexico, 
according to the report of Captain Pope, being 50,000; and that of Chihuahua and Sonora, as 
above stated, being more than 300,000. 
The chief advantage of this route is, that for the space of 1,100 or 1,200 miles, the usual item 
of great expense in railroads is in a great measure avoided, there being no necessity to prepare 
an expensive road-bed except in a few instances in the passage of the mountain chains. Drain¬ 
ing and ballasting are also dispensed with at the same time. Over the remaining portions of the 
route—418 miles if to San Pedro, and 839 miles if to San Francisco—the ground is generally 
favorable to the construction of the road-bed. 
The mountain passes of the route are generally favorable; those west of the Rio Grande 
requiring no difficult engineering for location through them, and but little rock excavation or 
expensive embankment and side cutting. The Guadalupe and Hueco passes are more difficult. 
The short tunnel on the San Fernando Pass, and those that may be needed in the New Pass, 
will not be found difficult in their execution. 
The climate throughout the route is salubrious, the heat due its southern latitude being mod¬ 
erated by the elevation of the table-lands. On the Colorado desert it is torrid, but not un¬ 
healthy, and west of the Sierra Nevada and coast range is celebrated for health and agreea¬ 
bleness. 
From a consideration of these favorable circumstances, and after a close examination of all 
the sources of increased cost of construction, from the peculiarities of situation, climate, and 
geological and topographical formation, I am of opinion that the road may be built as a first class 
road, in regard to superstructure, rail, &c., and equipped sufficiently for the business that may 
be reasonably expected, for a sum that-will not probably exceed $45,000 per mile. 
The following estimate is submitted, including depots and equipment: 
ESTIMATE. 
From Fulton, on the Red river, to the Llano Estacado, 449 miles, at $35,000 per 
mile, 25 per cent, being added to the cost at eastern prices for one-half the dis¬ 
tance; over the Llano Estacado, 125 miles, at $35,000 per mile, peculiarities 
of construction having been considered, and 50 per cent, at cost at eastern 
