4 EXTRACTS FROM [PRELIMINARY] REPORT. 
accordance with our survey, may follow that stream for many miles, to its source near the south 
hank of the Canadian. A reference to Captain Marcy’s map of the survey of Red river and its 
branches, seems satisfactory evidence of the feasibility of such a connexion. Not only is the 
deviation from a direct line quite inconsiderable, but as neither hills nor canons intervene, 
gradients will be favorable without expensive excavations or embankments. 
In the report of the same officer we find additional advantages in favor of the route, with re¬ 
gard to the excellence of the soil upon and near the region to be traversed. He states that “the 
lands included within the Choctaw reservation which are not occupied or made use of by them 
are embraced between the 97th and 100th degree of west longitude, and are bounded on the 
north and south by the Canadian and Red rivers, being about one hundred and eighty miles in 
length by fifty miles in width ; and constituting an aggregate of about nine thousand square 
miles of valuable and productive lands, or one thousand square miles more than the State of 
Massachusetts.” This section includes the whole valley of the False Washita, which we pro¬ 
pose the railway from Preston should traverse. 
Various portions of this country are more specifically described. Captain Marcy speaks of 
“ charming landscapes ; of soil remarkable for fertility ; vegetation in old Indian corn-fields 
twelve feet high ; of beautiful springs and streams ; of natural meadows clothed with luxuriant 
grasses ; broad and level bottom-lands covered with dense crops of wild rice, and of excellent 
timber, large and abundant.” He adds : “ Indeed, I have never visited any country that, in 
my opinion, possessed greater natural local advantages for agriculture than this.” The kinds of 
timber he mentions are “ gigantic pecan, overcup, white-ash, river elm, hackberry, and post-oak.” 
A more favorable location for a railway than that described could scarcely be desired. The 
distance by this line to Albuquerque, as measured upon Captain Marcy’s map, is from twelve 
to fifteen miles less than from the same point to Dona Ana by the southern trail. 
Two routes leave the Mississippi river at St. Louis : one, recently opened, proceeds nearly 
west to Independence; the other, now in process of construction, leads southwest, through 
Springfield, to the Neosho, and, if prolonged, would intersect the Memphis middle branch upon 
the Canadian, not far from the headwaters of the False Washita. Every indication presented 
upon our route, and the well-known geological character of the intervening country, led to the 
belief of the practicability of such a line. Bridging the Arkansas and Canadian rivers might 
be difficult, although, doubtless, points can be found where bluffs converging to the river would 
greatly facilitate such an operation. 
The branch from St Louis to Independence would join the main trunk upon Rio Galisteo. 
Upon this line we have abundant information—the reconnaissance of Major Emory, with a profile 
through the Raton mountains, and the survey of Lieutenants Abert and Peck, with a profile hy 
Dr. Wislizenus, of the Cimarron route to Santa Fe. A copy of this latter profile will accom¬ 
pany the map, and show the availability of that route to unite with our own upon a branch of 
the Galisteo river. With reference to this route, Lieutenant Abert, who traversed it in 1845, 
says: “ I find the maximum grade to be eighty-five and six-tenths feet per mile. It occurs between 
Cold Spring and Cedar Creek. * * * There are no difficult places to bridge, but water 
and wood are extremely scarce.” * * * Lieutenant Peck, who accompanied 
Lieutenant Abert, refers to this route as follows : “ With reference to the railroad, I am inclined 
to think that a route to Galisteo can be found in the general direction of the Santa Fe trail, 
which will be more favorable than that by the Canadian. By keeping to the north, so as to 
cross the Cimarron plains and come upon the head of the Canadian at the north end of the Great 
Canon, the ground will be more favorable, as it is less cut up by cations than it is where the 
Canadian escapes from the high table further south. Building material—that is, in the way of 
timber—would be scarce on the northern route from about Cotton Wood Fork to the very entrance 
into New Mexico. The rapid falling off of the country from Santa Fe to San Felipe must have 
struck you; and it has undoubtedly been suggested to you, that a road once brought as far as 
Galisteo ought to keep as far to the north as possible, crossing the Rio Grande near San Domingo. 
