18 
CONCLUSION OF THE OFFICIAL EEYIEW, ETC. 
a description of one may be taken for the other, water for irrigation, where no streams are found, 
is obtained by a series of wells connected by subterranean conduits. This laborious process is 
extensively used, and converts waste barren land into productive fields. 
If to a demonstration of the practicability of constructing artesian wells at moderate cost on 
the interior plains and table-lands be joined the discovery of coal beds, fertility, industry, and 
wealth may be made to take the place of sterility and solitude over extensive areas of those arid, 
naked, and treeless districts. 
A third party, under the command of Lieutenant E. S. Williamson, topographical engineers, was 
organized, under instructions from the department of May 1, 1855, to explore, first, the region 
between the Sacramento and Columbia rivers, to ascertain the practicability of connecting them 
by railroad; second, to make examinations and surveys near the sources of Carson river, to 
ascertain the practicability of crossing the Sierra Nevada in that vicinity by railroad, provided 
the information obtained from the troops and others who had recently crossed the mountains by 
that route should indicate the probable existence there of a railroad route. By a report of this 
officer of the 19th of October, the first duty has been successfully executed. 
In addition to the immediate practical value of these explorations in ascertaining the best 
routes suitable for rail and common roads ; their importance from military considerations ; their 
usefulness in making known shorter and better routes of travel to emigrants by which much 
suffering and loss is avoided; their value in indicating additional sources of national wealth 
and strength ; in substituting exact knowledge for vague surmise and the entirely unknown ; the 
large amount of valuable information collected by them respecting the physical features and 
condition of our country in topography, geography, and geology, meteorology, botany and 
zoology, render it highly desirable to continue them. 
Many portions of the interior are entirely unknown ; and for continuing their exploration 
during the following year an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars could be 
well expended. 
Yery respectfully, your obedient servant. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, 
Secretary of War. 
A. A. HUMPHREYS, 
Captain Top. Engineers in charge 
