GENERAL REMARKS UPON SPECIAL SUBJECTS. 
TIMBER AND FUEL. 
These necessary requisites for a railroad are found in great abundance upon several portions 
of our route. The State of Arkansas and the Choctaw Territory, as far as Shawneetown, abound 
in superb forests, and contain extensive beds of coal. Westward from Shawneetown, we have 
live-oak and black-jack in the Cross Timbers, and, in the valleys of the streams, as far as to 
the head-waters of the Washita, there is a growth of larger timber. Thence to the Pecos but 
few well wooded valleys occur, and the prairies which bound them are generally destitute of 
trees. Valley river and Shady creek contain groves of timber, and the Canadian is generally 
bordered by cotton-wood trees. Upon the slopes along the base of the Llano bluffs, near the 
head-waters of Tucumcari creek, and thence westwardly to Hurrah creek, there are extensive 
tracts covered with cedars affording a large supply of fuel. As we approach Anton Chico, 
cedars again appear, and upon the mountains, a short distance north, there are pine trees, such 
as are used throughout New Mexico for lumber. Between Rio Pecos and Rio Grande we 
pass through forests which afford, at convenient distances, both timber and fuel. A vein of coal 
crops out in the San Antonio canon, but it is doubtful whether it can be obtained there in suffi¬ 
cient quantities to enable us to depend upon it for a supply of fuel. The Douglas’ spruce and 
other firs, which cover the slopes of the Zandia mountains, would suffice for the requirements at 
this place. 
Wood is scarce in the valley of Rio Grande. Fuel for the inhabitants is usually obtained from 
the Rio Puerco, where cedar thickets again appear. Near the latter stream good coal has been 
found, and there are indications of it further west, but the specimens obtained are said to be 
of inferior quality. The geologist supposes that the quantity which exists there is small. 
Forests of stately pines cover the slopes of the Sierra Madre, furnishing an unfailing supply 
of timber and fuel. 
Beyond Zuni, a region of country, some thirty or forty miles in extent, is covered with a thick 
growth of cedars. Thence, fuel is scarce, for nearly an equal space, to Flax river. That stream 
rises in the well-wooded region of the Mogoyon mountains ; and, by rafts during spring freshets, 
a supply of timber and fuel might doubtless be obtained. The banks of the river are skirted with 
cotton-wood trees. Leaving the valley, we immediately enter among small cedars, which increase 
in size and numbers, until reaching the base of the San Francisco mountains, they intermingle 
with, and finally give place to, immense forests of stately pines and Douglas’ spruce. No finer 
timber grows in the interior of our continent. For 130 miles there is a constant succession of 
these forests. They disappear upon the head-waters of Williams’ river. In the valley of that 
stream, as well as upon Rio Colorado, there are trees of cotton-wood and mezquite, which fre¬ 
quently form large and beautiful groves. They might prove useful in affording material for a 
primary supply of railroad ties. Among the ravines are a few cedars. Leaving Rio Colorado, 
we traverse a region for 110 miles almost destitute of fuel. Thence, the valley of Mojave river, 
sparsely fringed with mezquites and small cotton-woods, leads to the well-wooded region of the 
California mountains. By the direct route from the bend of the Mojave river across the basin to 
Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass, there is a space of above sixty-three miles of prairie, which would 
receive its supply of fuel and timber from the nearest points of the Sierra Nevada. 
