32 
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
pass—according to the profile—is 85 feet per mile ; and an excavation would he required at the 
summit. Thence to Camp 90, the descent would not he difficult with moderate grades. 
From Camp 90 to station 5, the line continues upon the edge of the pine forest overlooking 
the immense valley of Rio Verde. This stream heads in various ravines formed by spurs from 
the San Francisco mountains. The southeastern terminus of this range, or rather mass of mount¬ 
ains, is a huge pile of granite, rising abruptly upon the right of the trail to the height of 
about 2,500 feet. To the northwest, several volcanic peaks appear, elevated 5,000 feet above the 
base. Crossing the low spur upon which station 7 is situated, we enter another branch of the 
valley, and at station 13 reach the springs of San Francisco. Water is abundant here, and it 
flows in a small stream southward to the Rio Verde. From these springs we pass a slight 
ascent, and enter a dry canon, the narrowest part of which (about 100 feet) was plentifully 
strewed with boulders broken from the cliffs. From this point the trail ascended the bank, 
about 200 feet in height, and, having crossed an undulating surface, re-entered the valley at 
station 9. Thence to Camp 91 there is a broad valley the whole way, and at the head of it 
is Leroux’s spring, where a stream of clear water gushes from the hill-side. Its temperature, 
December 29, at sunrise, was 48.4° Fahrenheit; that of the atmosphere at the same time 
being 37°.5. Large pine and spruce trees grow in the ravines and upon the sides of the mount¬ 
ains ; and extensive forests of different varieties of good timber cover the vast plains and 
valleys that slope toward the south. With regard to the construction of a railroad from Camp 
90 to Camp 91, no difficulties were presented to the eye, except for a short distance through the 
canon referred to. The reduction of the notes of survey, however, leads to conclusions less 
satisfactory than bad been anticipated ; and, unless some error has crept into the work, the maxi¬ 
mum grade will exceed 90 feet per mile, and the labor of graduation will be great. To avoid 
these objections a more southerly course across branches of Rio Verde has been recommended. 
Leaving Leroux’s spring, and the fertile basin which it irrigates, the trail crosses a slight 
ridge* north of Triangulation hill, traverses a forest of yellow pines and long, grassy plains to 
New Year’s spring, at Camp 94. A secondary range extends towards the west, from the San 
Francisco peaks, and, two or three miles distant from the trail upon the right, contains several 
peaks from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above the plains at their southern bases. 
Nearly south-southwest from New Year’s spring is Bill Williams’ mountain, about 10 miles 
distant, whose peaks are above 3,000 feet high. The intermediate country has a generally level 
surface, divided into woodland and prairie. The hill-slopes are covered with pine timber. 
One mile east from New Year’s spring there is a hill about 200 feet high, from the top of 
which is obtained an extensive view of the surrounding country. Towards the north and north- 
northwest appears an elevated plain, looking bleak, waterless and barren. It is dotted with 
conical hills of black volcanic rock. In a west-northwest direction, a broad open valley, dark 
with the foliage of cedar forests, extends to the mountains of La Laja, and for some distance is 
bounded upon the southwest by a low range of hills covered with trees excellent for timber. 
Towards the south-southwest lies the volcanic pile of mountains called “Bill Williams’,” west of 
which is a succession of valleys and plains extending about 30 miles from New Year’s spring 
to a conspicuous peak known as Picacho. This is the southern terminus of the range of La Laja ; 
and at its base Partridge creek, which drains the intermediate country, empties into Val de 
China. The triangular space included between New Year's spring, Bill Williams’ mountain, 
and Picacho, has the general appearance of a vast plain sloping gently to the southwest; ex¬ 
amined more minutely, it is dotted with small hills and traversed by valleys, which in a few 
places are contracted, and enclosed by low walls forming canons. There is good pine timber in 
« A reduction of the reading of the barometer at noon upon the summit of this ridge makes its altitude 204 feet above 
Leroux’s spring. Mr. Campbell agrees with me in the opinion that it is too great. This appears to be one of the errors 
which will be found referred to in the subsequent “Remarks upon the profile.’* It is consequent to the application of the 
formula for correction due to mid-day air temperatures. The effect is, as there stated, to give a roughness to the profile, 
and heavier grades than the surface of the country requires. 
