DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
15 
to the valley, until opposite station 1. There it is edged by a perpendicular bluff, composed 
of red marl, limestone, and sandstone, approaching within 150 yards of the river. On the 
right bank the alluvial bottom-land continues a quarter of a mile wide. Between stations 5 and 
6 flows Mole creek, a rivulet six feet wide and one foot deep. At the foot of the bluff near 
station 8, is found red sand strongly impregnated with common salt. There are pools of salt 
water in the vicinity. At station 10, to avoid a canon at the Agate bluffs, the trail leaves the 
valley of the Canadian, enters a wide ravine with irregular banks, ascends near to its head, 
and at station 11 rises to the high, rolling prairie, which slopes gently from the Llano Es- 
tacado. Station 14 is upon the high table-land, which is covered with short grass. The soil 
is a mixture of sand, clay, and a little gravel. Between stations 19 and 20 is a water-course 
with gently sloping hanks. Another is crossed between stations 25 and 26, near Camp 42. It 
is sixty yards wide, containing pools of water and bound by rugged banks. 
Should it prove necessary for the railroad to emerge from the Canadian valley at station 10, 
and ascend, by the sides of the ravine, to the high prairie which the trail passed over, for the 
first five miles a grade varying from 92 to 70 feet per mile would be required. The general 
slope of the plain is about 18 feet per mile; but it is considerably cut up by ravines, some of them 
having steep banks which would render heavy cutting and filling necessary in order to produce 
moderate grades. According to the profile the maximum grade would be 60 feet per mile. 
From Camp 42 the trail continues upon the same undulating prairie at a distance varying 
from three to six miles from the Canadian, which there flows in the canon formed by the Agate 
Bluffs described by Lieutenant Abert. Having traversed the table-land for a distance of about 
25 miles, we descend with a grade of 60 feet per mile to the border of a beautiful stream called 
Shady creek. The broad valley through which it flows to the Canadian is covered with a forest 
of timber, consisting of cotton-wood, white oak, and hickory. To the left of the camp there 
is a small hill composed of dolomite, and beyond is a bluff of red sandstone. The grade 
between Camps 42 and 43 would not exceed 60 feet per mile. At station 17 there is a bed of 
an arroyo 100 yards wide, with steep banks, across which a bridge or embankment would be 
necessary. Shady creek would require a bridge, materials for which, both of wood and stone, 
can be found in the vicinity. The proposed railroad line follows this stream to its mouth, and 
thence ascends the valley of the Canadian to the junction of Tucumcari creek. For a descrip¬ 
tion of the portions of the Canadian river not fully explored by us, reference is made to the 
published reports of Major Long and Lieutenants Abert and Peck. 
From Shady creek our own trail passed over a portion of the Llano Estacado, and crossed 
Tucumcari creek about 30 miles above its junction with the Canadian. The following notes 
relate to this line : 
From Camp 43 to station 1, which is 75 yards distant from Shady creek, the ascent is steep. 
Station 2 is one mile south of the stream. There is but little timber opposite this place. 
Between stations 4 and 5 the valley is contracted to one-fourth of a mile in width. At station 
5 the steep rocky bill-sides approach to within 60 yards of the trail. Beyond we pass into a 
ravine, which soon becomes a canon, 200 yards wide, terminating at a ridge of sand and gravel, 
which separates it from Bed Bank creek. This stream is crossed between stations 11 and 12. 
It is sparsely fringed with cotton-wood, and contains large pools of water. Crossing other 
prairie slopes we reach station 16, upon the bank of Amarillo creek, which contains plenty of 
water, but no wood. Its bed is 30 yards wide. The width of the valley is 400 yards. Beyond, 
the trail traverses the prairie and crosses two dry ravines. Camp 44 is upon the bank of a 
stream, where water is abundant. 
Station 1, beyond Camp 44, is in a ravine 300 yards wide. Station 2 is near the commence¬ 
ment of a broad mesa. Two arroyos are crossed between stations 7 and 9 ; the latter having 
rocky sides covered with small cedar trees. Between stations 9 and 10 is a ravine, deep, broad, 
and rocky. To the right of station 11 is a rocky bluff. Between 13 and 14 there are large pools 
of water. The bluffs of the Llano, covered with cedars, are one-third of a mile to the left of 
