ADAPTATION OP COUNTRY TO THE CONSTRUCTION OP A RAILROAD. 
First Division. — From San Jose to Rio Pajaro —the ground is particularly favorable for the con¬ 
struction of a railroad, there being no obstacles to long tangents and light curves, with easy grades 
to the summit, which, being itself a broad plain, required but little earth work save suitable 
ditching and ballasting. From the summit the same character of country prevails to the Pajaro. 
The length of this division is 39.25 miles. 
Maximum grade required, 18 feet per mile. 
Probable cost of graduation and superstructure, $1,177,500. 
Cost per mile, $30,000. 
Second Division. — From Rio Pajaro to the Salinas .—This division extends from the point of 
reaching the Pajaro river, down its valley to near its debouch into the Bay of Monterey, thence 
around the foot hills of Mount Gavilan to the open plains of the Salinas. The graduation 
upon this division will not be very heavy, the terraced character of the banks of this stream 
presenting nearly throughout the entire division most favorable slopes and natural beds for the 
location of a railroad. There will, however, be required several bridges of a medium class, i. e., 
from 50 to 150 feet, single span, and one first class bridge across the Pajaro, two miles above 
the Rancho de las Aromas, where the line crosses from the right to the left bank of the stream. 
To bridge the stream at this point will require three spans of 100 feet each ; there is a natural 
abutment on one side. Between the Pajaro and the plains there will also be required several 
small bridges across the sloughs into which the ravines from the Gavilan foot hills empty 
themselves. Very little rock cutting will be required upon this division. 
Length of second division, 20.75 miles. 
Maximum grade required, 11 feet per mile. 
Probable cost of graduation and superstructure, $1,141,250. 
Cost per mile, $55,000. 
Third Division. — Salinas Plains. —This division is 45.50 miles in extent, traversing that 
immense area known as the Salinas plains, and is peculiarly favorable for the location of a rail¬ 
road, requiring but slightly undulating grades to conform to the wave-like character which is pe¬ 
culiar to all these plains, with hut little earth work. Traversing this plain for nearly forty miles, 
the line impinges upon the river Salinas a few miles above the old mission of Soledad, thence 
following the meandering of the river to the mouth of the San Lorenzo, (a tributary of the 
Salinas, heading towards the Tulare plain, and forms what is known as the San Lorenzo Pass 
to that plain.) Within the first ten miles several bridges across sloughs will be necessary. 
The length of this division is 45.50 miles. 
Maximum grade required, 6.5 feet per mile. 
Probable cost of graduation and superstructure, $1,365,000. 
Cost per mile, $30,000. 
Fourth Division. — From San Lorenzo creelc to the Atascadero. —This division, extending 
from the mouth of the San Lorenzo, pursues the meanderings of the stream to about six miles 
above, where a suitable place offering, it crosses to the left bank and continues nearly the 
entire distance to the mouth of the Atascadero creek, in the valley of the river. At several 
points where a shortening of distance would be accomplished, and where the terraces abut down 
upon the bed of the stream, a slight increase of grade above the average ascent of the river 
bottom will secure a favorable location along the edge of the first terrace, which, for many 
miles, presents the appearance of a natural embankment. The general character of the work 
upon this division varies from that of either preceding division. The river having a more con- 
