48 
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
Blake, the geologist, that, within this region, artesian borings may be resorted to with success. 
Within Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass there is water, and the remainder of the route to San Francisco 
is reported favorable in this respect. 
SNOW. 
Upon the parallel of 35° snow cannot prove an obstruction to a railway. From Memphis to 
Bio Pecos, snow-storms rarely occur. At Fort Smith, as has been shown, hut one was noted in 
the winter of 1852, and that covered the ground to the depth of only two inches. From thence 
to the Pecos, three or four inches may occasionally fall, hut must rapidly he absorbed by the 
warm porous soil. It is not likely that the surface would remain whitened for many days 
during the year. Passing the ranges of the Kocky mountains east, and the Sierra Madre 
west, of the Bio Grande, storms are said to he more frequent, snow sometimes covering the 
ground to the depth of one or two feet; hut here, too, it quickly melts, and forms no obstruction 
to travellers. The latter range, which we passed late in November, was entirely hare. The 
first snow seen was in December, glistening upon the distant peaks of Sierra Mogoyon. During 
the latter part of December and the first of January we were at the base of the San Francisco 
mountains, where more was found than upon any other portion of the route. It scarcely ever 
exceeded eight inches in depth, was nowhere drifted, and formed little obstruction to our march. 
We learned, nevertheless, that the season was unusually severe, and the amount of snow greater 
than had been seen at that place during several previous winters. On the 18th of January, 
when upon a reconnaissance in the Aztec range, there was a fall of snow several inches in 
depth. Four days after, we were again at the same spot, and it had nearly disappeared—from 
the southern slopes entirely. Leaving this range, w r e saw no more indications of snow, except 
near a few mountain summits. Without doubt, between Aztec Pass and California, it may 
sometimes fall to the depth of half a foot, hut in so mild a climate it soon melts away. At 
Tah-ee-chay-pah Pass, for a limited season, there may be a greater abundance of snow ; hut prob¬ 
ably not enough to make a serious inconvenience to the use of a railroad passing through it. 
CLIMATE. 
One of the most important of the advantages claimed for this route is the pleasant and salu¬ 
brious climate of the region through which it passes. There is no long series of parched plains, 
rendering the summer heat intolerable, nor do those dreaded winds termed “ northers” reach 
this latitude. The mountain ranges that are crossed are not blocked up in winter by ice and 
snow sufficient to interrupt travel. From July to January, and for the whole year, this line 
may he traversed in safety. 
The different portions of our survey were performed at such seasons as to enable us to make 
observations upon the most unfavorable characteristics of the climate. In August we were upon 
the comparatively low and arid plains upon the head-waters of the Canadian, and near the 
Llano Estacado. During the winter months we passed over the elevated region and through 
the mountain passes between Bio Grande and Bio Colorado. These observations may be found 
in Appendix H. They will he briefly alluded to in this place, although worthy of careful 
examination. 
Judging from the material gathered upon the survey, the climate of the valley of Bio Grande 
is remarkably mild. One hundred and sixty-nine thermometric observations, taken there 
during the month of October, give 62°.2 for the mean temperature of that month. The highest 
temperature recorded is 100°.6 ; the lowest 25°. 
In November we passed from Bio Grande to Zuni, crossing the Sierra Madre. The mean 
temperature for that month is 52°.5 ; the maximum 82°.4, the minimum 23°. 
During the month of December we were between Zuni and the pass of the San Francisco 
