•12 
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
The ridge which divides the waters of the Canadian from those of the Washita, maintains a 
nearly uniform height throughout its -whole extent; hut it is much contracted in width near the 
head branches of the latter stream. The arroyos, therefore, which lead from it are washed into 
gullies, and have steep declivities. For a railroad, it might be preferable to ascend in a northwest 
course along the southern slope of this ridge, cross the elevated mesa south of the Antelope hills, 
and enter the Canadian valley at Grape creek. Our trail followed a northward course towards 
the Canadian, crossing various tributaries of the Washita. Comet creek flows in a canon, with 
banks about thirty feet high, requiring, near its mouth, a heavy embankment and a bridge 
from fifty to one hundred feet in length. Thence to Camp 33, the appearance of the country 
remains nearly the same as has been described ; a succession of spurs and intervening rivulets, 
which unite a short distance below, in the valley of the Washita. Marcou creek, Oak creek, 
Buffalo creek, and some others, are flowing rivulets, with banks covered with timber, which 
would suffice for the necessary bridges. The numerous valleys are adapted to agriculture, and 
the high lands to grazing. Buffalo-grass appears near the head-waters of the Washita. Other 
prairie grasses are abundant eastward. 
The first of the engineering difficulties encountered upon this route is in crossing the narrow 
ridge which divides the head-waters of the Washita from the Canadian. From the summit, 
gullies have been washed from the red clay banks so as to render considerable excavation and 
embankment necessary for a side location upon the ridge. In order to avoid the gullies, two 
modes are proposed. The first—following the main valley of the Washita to its head, edging 
along the southern slopes of the mesa to its top, near the Antelope hills, and then crossing into 
Grape creek—has already been referred to; the other, is to ascend a branch of the Washita, and 
cat through the crest to a corresponding ravine which leads to the Canadian.* The distance is 
short, but the excavation would be considerable. According to the profile a maximum grade of 
75.6 feet per mile would be required for a short distance. 
The following brief extracts from the field-notes will give more in detail the character of this 
dividing ridge, and other difficult portions of the route immediately on the line of survey. 
The creek at Camp 33 is well timbered with oak and some cotton-wood. From the camp back 
to where the road crosses the river is a valley, the general width of which is about half a mile. 
The stream is very crooked. There is a low range of hills to the left. From station 19f the 
ground appears more favorable upon the left of the trail, until, passing Camp 33, we reach 
station 3. Grade, from station 3 to station 12, not more than fifty feet per mile. Station 7 
is upon the table-land, and the ascent to it, from Camp 33, is gradual. Two creeks, branches 
of Buffalo creek, pass through stations 11 and 12, and join below. Both are dry, but contain 
large alamos and oaks. Station 15 is on the top of a ridge. The hill is considerably cut up 
into gullies ; the soil is composed of red clay and sand ; good water is found at Alamo spring. 
Beyond, the surface is prairie ; and to station 23 th^re are few obstructions. Between station 
23 and Camp 34 is the dividing ridge which separates the waters of the Canadian from those of 
the Washita. It can be passed by running from station 22 or station 23, slightly to the right 
of station 27, which is upon the summit; and thence entering a ravine which leads to the 
Canadian, about two miles distant. To obtain a grade of sixty feet per mile, a cutting of fifty 
feet would be required. 
Near station 26 there are a few dwarf oaks. Captain Marcy’s trail, which, avoiding the valley 
of the Washita, kept the dividing ridge near the Canadian, passes through, station 27 and to the 
* From this point of the Canadian, it is believed that a railroad might easily be constructed, in nearly a direct line, 
to Springfield, Missouri, there to unite with the railroad from St. Louis. The gypsum formation extends for some distance 
north of the Canadian, and produces, probably, a country not unlike that traversed upon the south. Beyond this the 
route would cross the new red sandstone and carboniferous formations, developing mines in the coal basin. The most 
important items of expense on this location, would doubtless be for bridging the Arkansas and Canadian rivers; and, in 
that respect, the line under consideration from Fort Smith is more advantageous. 
-j- The stations referred to are plotted op. the detailed sheets, but the general maps are upon too small a scale to allow 
them to be represented. 
