36 
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
north, forms the head of Pueblo creek. The second follows the gentle slope of a wide and 
smooth valley towards the west-northwest, and becomes tributary to Williams’ river. 
The accompanying sketch, taken from the ancient ruins that crown a height upon the north, 
overlooking the pass, represents the summit of the dividing ridge and the prolongation of the 
Aztec range towards the south. In the distance, upon the left, is seen the top of Mount Hope, 
and the Gemini mountain is shown upon the right. From the latter extends a sloping plain 
to the wide valley in which Williams’ river takes its rise. 
The difficulty in constructing a railroad through this pass consists in the high embankment 
that would he required to cross the northerly ravine above referred to. With a cut, about 40 
feet deep at the summit, the excavation and embankment would he nearly equal, and the 
gradients probably would not exceed 50 feet per mile. Having accomplished the passage of 
the summit, the descent would he easy down the wide valley through ^hich the trail follows, 
to Camp 105. Below, upon the hanks of the same rivulet, Camp 106 is situated. A small 
stream threads the valley and is occasionally lost beneath the surface. But few trees line its 
hanks, though pines abound in ravines among the mountains, and cedars are plenty upon 
the hill-slopes and upon the plains adjoining. 
From Camp 106, the trail follows the valley, in which there are a few small canons cut through 
beds of lava. The soil is a sandy loam, producing good grass. Two miles distant upon the 
left, there is a ridge of frills bordering the valley. Station 3 is in the bed of a ravine contain¬ 
ing water. From station 3 to station 4, the valley is several miles wide. The slopes of 
the hills upon the right are regular ; while, upon the left, the country is rocky and 
broken. A low ridge, which, extending from the Gemini mountains, turns the valley towards 
the north, was crossed at station 7. Thence, passing a gently undulating prairie, sprinkled with 
occasional thickets of cedars, we struck the stream again at Camp 107, where it has high 
bluff hanks. A short distance below, a chasm is formed ; width about 80 feet, and height of 
rocky sides from 60 to 100 feet. There is water in the bed of the stream, and cedar trees upon 
the banks. The railroad line from Camp 106 would follow the valley of the stream, making 
a bend towards the north, and thus avoid crossing the canon. 
From Camp 107 to station A, the ascent is not difficult. Thence, attempting to descend 
along the bank of the stream, a deep ravine was crossed. One mile to the right of the trail, 
there extends a ridge of hills belonging to the Aquarius mountains. The general surface of 
the country is an undulating prairie ; the soil containing much clay and loam. The prevailing 
rocks are granite and trap, which are so much cut up into chasms as to make the passage with 
wagons difficult. Hence the train returned ; and Camp 108 was formed at station A, in the 
immediate vicinity of Camp 107. A reconnoitring party, however, pursued the course of the 
stream some miles further, and then passed northerly over the slopes of the Aquarius range, to 
White Cliff creek, which was followed to its junction with Big Sandy. 
From Camp 108 to station A, the surface is somewhat broken. A small stream crosses the 
trail between stations 1 and 2, and another between stations 5 and 6 ; both evidently branches 
of White Cliff creek. From station 3 to station 7, the surface continues undulating ; although 
the general slope is quite uniform, and from a slight eminence appears level. From station 7 
to E, between stations 10 and 11, the trail passes over low ridges which divide ravines that 
have a southerly direction. Upon the right, three miles distant, there is a range of hills 400 
feet high. To the left of station 9 there is a large valley, supposed to contain the main branch 
of White Cliff creek ; and from station E to Camp 109 the ground is furrowed by various 
ravines, apparently tributaries to that stream. North of camp are rocky hills, covered with 
cedars. There is a chain of highlands also upon the left. The profile, from Camp 108, is 
projected south of the trail, along the valley noticed above. 
The rivulet is rocky in the vicinity of Camp 109. The trail toward the west-northwest 
crosses several small valleys which extend southwest among small ridges, peaks, and mesas. 
From station 2 to station 3 the surface is level. Near station 4 the dry bed of a stream 
