DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
33 
the vicinity of New Year’s spring, and also in the region of Bill Williams’ mountain. East 
of Yal de China lies an extensive tract covered with large cedars and pinons, forming the 
so called Black Forest. 
It may he seen from the profile, that, by the trail from the San Francisco springs to Picacho, 
the route is not impracticable for a railroad. The conformation of the country south of that 
line, however, is such as to lead to the belief that, by crossing the head branches of Rio Verde 
south of Bill Williams’ mountain, traversing the Black Forest, and entering Yal de China 
near the mouth of Pueblo creek, we would avoid the ascent above the San Francisco springs, 
entirely dispense with the most elevated summit upon the route, and shorten the distance to 
Aztec Pass without increasing the grades or expense per mile for graduation. Many questions 
regarding similar deviations from the line are to be determined by more elaborate surveys. 
A semi-circular range of hills extends from the San Francisco peaks to Bill Williams’ 
mountain, forming the northern and eastern boundary of the flat prairie and forest basin, which 
has been described. Near New Year’s spring there is a wide gap in it, where the ridge is 
almost inappreciable. From thispointalow spur extends westand west-northwest toth,e mountains 
of La Laja; dividing the water courses which drain northwest, through Park valley, from those 
that flow, by various branches of Partridge creek, into Val de China. From the examinations 
made, it was found easy to pass down the southern slope of this ridge into the valley of an eastern 
branch of Partridge creek. By some mistake, however, attributed to the intricacies of the 
numerous ravines, and the thickets of trees that cover much of this region, the train and the 
main survey followed, for a considerable distance, the northern base of the ridge, and beyond 
Camp 95 crossed over to Partridge creek. The more minute topography is, therefore, upon this 
line. 
New Year’s spring, at Camp 94, is at the head of one of the branches of Park valley. It 
is surrounded by a grove of pine trees, from 125 to 150 feet in height. Leaving the spring, we 
ascend the low prairie ridge and take a westerly course over a surface that, at a distance, 
appears level; but is found to be considerably broken by ravines, some of them from 30 to 50 
feet in depth. The first contained pools of water. Station 1 is in Park valley, which, covered 
with cedar trees, extends like a broad plain towards the northwest, with the view uninterrupted 
almost to the horizon. Savedra made an exploration across this valley, and was absent three 
days without finding water. Again rising to the prairie at station B, we were about half a mile 
from the most northerly peak of Bill Williams’ mountain, which is about 500 feet in height. 
To our right, between stations 3 and 4, there is a valley ; and from 4 to 7 the trail is parallel 
to it. Between stations 8 and 9 we crossed a canon, and at station 10 entered another ; both of 
which incline to the right. Passing onward to Lava creek, we found a magnificent pool of water, 
and encamped. The soil of the prairies, though covered with excellent grama, is somewhat sandy, 
and overlies beds of lava or trap. The rock is exposed upon the sides of the canons. Even the 
valleys have little depth of soil, and are uncultivable. Pine trees cover the hills and extend 
along the valleys. The grade for a road need not exceed 55 feet per mile. The ravines would 
be difficult to cross, but by keeping more to the left, most of them could be headed. 
From Camp 95 to station 4, the trail descends to a broad canon, about one-fourth of a mile 
wide at top, and the banks 75 feet in height. Near stations 7 and 8 are large piles of naked 
lava. The pines have now given place to cedars, which cover the slopes in every direction. 
Passing a slight elevation, we entered another valley, which, as we advanced, grew narrow, 
and between stations 8 and 9 formed a rocky ravine. We ascended the side slopes 135 feet to 
station B, which is upon the crest of a high ridge covered with cedar and piiion trees. It is 
composed of sandstone and carboniferous limestone, and extends far towards the right with a 
regular slope. About three or four miles beyond, there is a similar and parallel range of hills ; 
and, between, lies a wide valley, densely wooded, and called—perhaps improperly, for we found 
no water in it—Cedar creek. From station B the descent for about 200 feet was at an inclina¬ 
tion of nearly 45° ; thence to station 13, two miles, 280 feet ; and from that point, one mile and 
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