REPOET OF CAPTAIN HUMPHREYS TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 1856. 
25 
point at its mouth. The route around Points Purissima, Arguello, and Concepcion is 14 miles 
longer. It lies wholly on the terraced shore, and at no point is over 100 feet above the sea. 
From G-aviote creek to San Buenaventura (60 miles) the character of the location will he the 
same as that of the route around Point Concepcion, being near the shore and on the terraces. 
The most favorable route from San Buenaventura, or the Santa Clara river, follows the Semi 
plain and pass to the San Fernando plain. The Semi pass divides the San Fernando plain from 
the Santa Clara plain. A tunnel is proposed here, which will not exceed three-fourths of a mile 
in length, and, upon closer survey, may he materially shortened. The rock is sandstone of 
easy cleavage. The summit of this pass is 1,577 feet above the sea ; the summit of the grade, 
976 feet above that level. The ascending and descending grades are light. The San Fernando 
and Los Angeles plains are separated by a narrow valley. The route from San Jose, on the 
waters of the bay of San Francisco, to near Los Angeles, is divided into nine parts. The length 
of each division, the maximum grade, and approximate cost are presented by Lieutenant Parke> 
as follows: 
Division. 
Length. 
Maximum grades, &c. 
Cost per mile. 
Total cost. 
1 
Miles. 
39. 25 
18 feet per mile. 
$30,000 00 
$1,177,500 00 
2 
20.75 
11 feet per mile. 
55,000 00 
1,141,250 00 
3 
45. 50 
6 J feet per mile. 
30,000 00 
1,365,000 00 
4 
71. 50 
70 feet per mile. 
50,000 00 
3,575,000 00 
6 
24. 50 
100 feet per mile. 
117,142 00 
2,870,000 00 
6 
32. 50 
63. 2 feet per mile. 
30,000 00 
975,000 00 
7 
33.50 
100 feet per mile. 
80,000 00 
«2, 680, 000 00 
8 
68.50 
. 60 feet per mile. 
60,000 00 
3,510,000 00 
9 
70. 00 
63 feet per mile. 
30,000 00 
2,100,000 00 
Total_ 
396. 00 
Average cost per mile__ 
49,163 00 
19,468,750 00 
* For the line via Point Concepcion, 13f miles longer, the maximum grade is 60 feet per mile ; the average cost per mile 
$60, 000. This makes the cost of the entire division $2, 835, 000, which exceeds the above $155, 000 and increases the total 
cost to $19, 623, 750 
The above estimates are exclusive of equipment. If we take a proportional amount for this 
distance of 400 miles of the entire amount estimated for the 32d parallel route, for first equip¬ 
ment, we shall have about $1,200,000 to add to the above, giving $20,823,750. 
The examinations of the coast route having been completed, the Mojave river and basin were 
explored and found to have no connexion with the Colorado river and basin. 
Proceeding to the Pimas villages, the initial point of the last reconnaissance, a division of 
the party was made ; one half proceeding, via Tuscon, San Xavier, and the Cienega de los 
Pimas, to the river San Pedro, and the other up the Gila and San Pedro valleys. In his report 
of 1854, Lieutenant Parke suggested the probability of finding a feasible route from the Yalle 
del Sauz to the Gila valley by passing between the Chiricahui mountains and Mount Graham, 
and continuing thence in a northwesterly direction, along the western base of Mount Graham to 
the Gila. His views in this respect were fully confirmed by the examinations of the division 
of the party retained under his own command. Following the Gila river to the mouth of the 
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