22 EXTRACTS FROM [PRELIMINARY] REPORT. 
From El Monte, passing a few hills, we enter the valley of Los Angeles. The stream upon 
which it is situated is about fifty yards wide and two feet deep. There were numerous acequias 
irrigating vineyards, orange and olive groves, peach orchards, gardens, and corn fields. Even 
as early as March 21st, full-grown oranges were seen ripening in the open air. 
The town had the sombre cast of a Spanish pueblo, relieved, as it were, by innovations of 
American comforts. There was the hustle and activity of a business place. Many new houses 
were in process of construction. Everywhere was indicated a thriving population and a land 
of intrinsic wealth. Los Angeles is said to number five thousand inhabitants. 
Our course from Los Angeles was twenty-four miles nearly south, over the low plains and a 
slight ridge, to the port of San Pedro. The town is situated on a bluff thirty feet above the 
ocean. Spring tides here rise nine or ten feet—neap tides from four to five. Small vessels, by 
crossing the bar with ten or twelve feet at high water, enter a basin at the mouth of San 
Gabriel river, where they are perfectly secure. A city has there been laid out, hut its success 
is problematical. 
At the playa (port,) shipping is said to he completely sheltered, except from southeast 
winds, which seldom occur, and only in winter. During the last season hut one such storm 
occurred, and a ship in port rode it out at anchor. A breakwater, it is said, of about a mile 
in length, would afford complete protection even to a fleet; and wharves could be extended to 
deep water, so as to afford every advantage of a first rate harbor. 
For a great portion of the route from the Mississippi we followed natural channels, where 
streams flow nearly east and west. The river Arkansas and the Canadian lead us to the base of the 
Rocky Mountains. Thence crossing table-lands to Rio Pecos, we ascend to the head of the 
Galisteo, which is followed to Rio del Norte. Descending Rio del Norte to Albuquerque, we 
cross to the Puerco and join Rio San Jose, which leads to Ojo del Oso, near Campbell’s Pass, 
the summit of Sierra Madre. We now reach Rio Puerco of the west, which furnishes a 
valley to Rio Colorado Chiquito. The latter carries us to Chevelon’s fork, where we turn wes 
ward, crossing the final spur of Mogoyon mountain and the headwaters of Rio San Francisco, 
to a branch of Bill Williams’ fork, which leads to the Colorado. Thence we would propose to 
ascend to the mouth of Mojave river and follow the bed of that stream to the base of Sierra 
Nevada. The route should traverse, thence, the northern slope of the San Bernardino spur, 
which is said to furnish numerous rivulets, bearing clear waters into the sandy plains below. 
Approaches from the east to the various passes in this range— <c Walker’s,” “ Canada de las 
Uvas,” and “ Tejon”—are known to be favorable. To examine these passes minutely, in 
order to determine that which shall be available for a railway to San Francisco, was a duty 
intrusted to another, whose labors, it is hoped, will be crowned with success. 
As the shortest line to the Pacific ocean, we proceeded to San Pedro through the Cajon Pass, 
which is, indeed, difficult; but, should no better be found, ought not to be esteemed a barrier 
to the construction of a Pacific railway. 
More specific information regarding the feasibility of this route for a railway, I beg leave to 
present in the form of reports from my principal assistants upon the survey. 
That of the railroad surveyor is designed to speak more definitely upon the most favorable 
curves and grades available upon this line, and the labor required to construct the railway. 
The geologist and mining engineer notices the rocks, and their adaptation to the purposes of 
construction ; also the positions of beds of coal and mines of precious metals. 
The botanist describes the forest trees, the quality and amount of timber, the produce of the 
soil, and its adaptation to agricultural purposes. 
The zoologist refers to the game noticed upon the route ; their habits and means of subsistence. 
The details of our operations, with the results of the scientific investigations to be deduced 
from them, are necessarily deferred to the subsequent part of this report. 
