24 EXTRACTS FROM [PRELIMINARY] REPORT. 
route is, that it will save about thirty-five miles of distance; and, besides, it passes a well watered 
and timbered region as far as the Cross Timbers. The valleys of the Walnut and Deer creeks and 
the Washita are well timbered, and afford an abundance of good land, and a constant supply 
of water. 
From near the Antelope or Boundary Hills the valley of the Canadian is the proper route, 
from its directness, gentle ascent, and ready supply of water. Its general course is nearly due 
west to the mouth of Tecumcari creek, and the ascent of these (the one I believe the tribu¬ 
tary of the other) very gradual to the summit between them and the Pecos. 
From Fort Smith to the Antelope Hills the cost of the graduation, bridging, and masonry, 
other things being equal, would not, I am of opinion, come up to the average cost of the rail¬ 
ways of New England. The soil is loose and gravelly, and the rocks of coarse sandstone, hut 
very little rock-cutting necessary, and fine timber of oak, maple, hickory, walnut, pecan, and 
pine, is abundant as far as Deer creek; and there is some timber, principally cotton wood, upon 
the Washita. It may be said of the whole route from Arkansas to the Pecos, that it will compare 
most favorably with any similar extent of railway east of the Mississippi in point of grade, 
curvature, and ease of construction. 
Passing the divide between the waters of the Canadian and the Pecos about one and a half 
mile north of our encampment on “Hoorah” creek, with light excavation and easy grades, the 
most favorably route extends over a nearly level prairie to the G-allinas valley. The valley of 
this stream is easy of access and egress, there being suitable valleys for occupation; and, indeed, 
from this point to the Pecos, about four or five miles above Anton Chico, the ground is exceed¬ 
ingly favorable. The maximum grade from the Canadian divide to this point, it is believed, will 
not exceed forty-five feet per mile—the graduation light, the soil being loose and gravelly. 
From the Pecos to Albuquerque , via Rio San Antonio , or Canon Carnuel .—The problem of 
leaving the Pecos is a more difficult one than we have yet had to solve. There are, however, 
two methods which are practicable in the vicinity of our exploration, and I doubt not that, by 
following the river to one of its valleys heading with the G-alisteo, a very easy mode of crossing 
the Rocky Mountain range can be accomplished. To determine a suitable point for crossing 
near Anton Chico, and to even approximate to its cost, would require very careful surveys with 
the level and the compass. The approach from the east is not so difficult. The river can he 
crossed with a single span of 150 feet at Anton Chico, or about half a mile below with a 
less span. 
Proceeding, then, from either of those points, one route would lead up a small valley south of 
the town, which heads in the elevated plateaux through which the Pecos canons, as at Cuesta; 
pursuing a westerly course thence, over a rolling region, to Canon Blanco. The average ascent 
per mile to this point is hut forty-three feet, hut the maximum grade for the first ten miles will 
be at least eighty feet per mile. The other route from the Pecos would cross the river some four 
or five miles above the town by a viaduct, at an elevation of from one hundred and fifty to two 
hundred feet; thence to a point some ten or twelve miles from Anton Chico, connecting with 
the other route to the summit between Canon Blanco and the Pecos. This route would be 
several miles the shorter, and the maximum grade probably not exceed seventy feet per mile. The 
great cost of a viaduct on this route, however, would render it a question as to which of these 
r outes would he preferable. From the entrance to Canon Blanco, the line explored pursues that 
canon to near its western limit; thence over the divide, into the basin between the Rocky Moun_ 
tains and the Pecos. For several miles the ground descends in the canon to about halfway 
through ; thence ascends to the divide above mentioned. The drainage of this canon is south¬ 
easterly, probably to the Pecos, the main cleft opening and descending in that direction. The 
grades through Canon Blanco will he light, not exceeding twenty feet per mile, except at the 
western limits, where it will require at least sixty feet grade, and from thirty-five to forty feet 
cutting, to attain the summit. From this summit, a little south of Las Lagunas, to the main 
ummit of the Rocky Mountains, at the San Pedro mountain, the line traverses a rolling country, 
