EXTRACTS FEOM [pRELIMINAKY] REPORT. 21 
Sierra Nevada with the coast range, our course was directed south 38° west towards an apparent 
gap in the mountains east of the snow-capped peaks of Sierra San Bernardino. Grass is 
thinly scattered over the plain, and beautiful yucca trees abound thirty feet in height. Sweet- 
berried cedars began to appear, affording excellent fuel. The Mojave river, not far upon our 
left, divides into three branches, heading in the mountains ; the most eastern said to take its 
rise near Cajon Pass. 
Proceeding through groves of yuccas beautiful as cocoanut and palms of southern climates, 
and dense thickets of cedars, by a gradual ascent, averaging probably sixty feet to the mile, 
we reached the summit of Cajon Pass, where the mercury measured 25.4 inches. Standing 
upon the crest, one could look far towards the'north and northeast over immense prairies of 
gentle inclination. This pass appears the most truly difficult part of our route. It seemed, 
however, possible, by winding from the Pacific side around the slope of the mountain, thus 
increasing the distance, to locate the route upon a spur bounding the valley of Cajon creek, to 
the foot of the crest of drift over which passes the road. Here may commence a tunnel of 
about four or five miles in length, and eight hundred feet below the surface at the summit ; 
thence becoming gradually less, until it issues upon the prairie slope near the Mojave river. 
The material is easily excavated, and would be useful in forming embankments required to cross 
a ravine leading to the spur referred to above. The termini, at least, will require arching ; 
within, the rock may be firm enough to support the superincumbent weight. 
In Cajon creek are boulders of marble, crystalline, white and pure as possible. This would 
form building material of incomparable beauty ; there are also, probably, in the mountains, 
veins of it affording good quarries. Auriferous quartz has also been found in this vicinity. 
The botanist was delighted with the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, affording a class of 
vegetation new to our route. Four different species of cactaceae were found upon the first mile 
of our descent—a new pihon, a new and magnificent oak, two new species of firs or pines, a 
currant, sycamore, and cowania. The hills are covered with a verdant red-barked shrub ; the 
mountains with oaks and pines of many varieties. Here we find abundant material for the 
construction of a railway. With a few exceptions, this range of mountains must be our main 
dependence for supplies of pine timber until we may meet the forests of San Francisco 
mountains. 
We descended about twelve hundred and fifty feet in eleven miles from the first point of 
striking the arroyo at the foot of the ridge. As we proceeded, the valley opened finely ; 
mountain torrents swelled the creek, that boiled and fretted with granitic rocks. The descent 
became less steep, and the sides of the valley were regular slopes, where a railway might 
ascend so as to rise far above the bed of the creek, and diminish the grade to one hundred feet 
per mile in the canon above. 
This development diminishes the obstacles of Cajon Pass. The work will not be so ex¬ 
tremely difficult nor expensive as at first seemed probable. Our greatest regret is, that it leads 
not directly to a port as safe and commodious as that of San Francisco. 
Having descended the Cajon creek about five miles, we left the way to San Bernardino, and 
keeping the road west, under the base of the mountain, entered a region of great beauty. We 
travelled twenty miles along a descent inappreciable to the eye, and arrived at Cocomongo 
rancho, where we encamped upon the beautiful stream that waters it. 
We continued our course west southwest, by a road nearly as level and smooth as if graded 
for a railway, twenty-four miles to “ El Monte.” The valley traversed is continuous from the 
Cajon, fifteen to twenty-five miles in width, with soil abundantly rich, fertile, and at present 
well watered. Some of the streams crossed—Cocomongo, San Jose, and Rancho de Chino— 
are fed by permanent springs. Many others owe their origin to melting snows of the moun¬ 
tains. All were charmed by the beautiful scenery and heavenly climate. Fine spreading 
oaks and sycamores were sprinkled in pleasing variety with flowering shrubs through the 
valley. 
