CONTENTS. 
7 
on Green river.—Spanish trail followed to Akanaquint spring.—Grades From Akanaquint spring to White river: 
rocks, soil, water, and grades.—Ascent of the valley of White river to Clever creek.—Return to White river —San 
Rafael river.—Return to the Spanish trail.—Course of this trail, and character of the country traversed by it from 
Akanaquint spring.—Indicated line via the San Rafael.—Improved soil.—Indians subsist on buffalo-berries.—The 
country between Green river and the Wahsatch mountains: valleys, hills, and rocks. Oak springs.—Indian guide.— 
Weak condition of our animals.—Grades. 58 
CHAPTER VI. 
From the eastern base of the Wahsatch mountains, via the Wahsatch Pass and Sevier river, to near the 
Sevier lake, the most western point of exploration, and back to Cedar Springs, after the death of 
Captain Gunnison—October 13 to 28, 1853. 
Akanaquint creek.—Rude figures drawn on rocks.—The Wahsatch Pass.—Character of the hills to the east and west 
of the pass.—Grades.—Tunnel.—Salt creek.—Swambah creek.—Spanish trail.—Un-got-tah-bi-kin creek.—Colonel 
Burwell and Mr. Ross.—Tewip Narrienta.—Course of the Spanish trail to the west.—Wahsatch mountain reconnois- 
sance.—Salt Creek canon: its length, character, and grades for a railroad.—Wagon trail.—Entering Sevier River 
valley.—Moot-se-ne-ah Peak.—Mountains surrounding the Sevier River valley.—Mormon settlements.—Vegetation 
of the valley.—Sevier river.—Captain Gunnison’s statement of the result of his explorations, for mail and military 
roads and for railroads.—Manner in which their duties were performed by the gentlemen of his party.—San Pete 
creek.—Road from Great Salt Lake to California.—Captain Gunnison’s visits to Manti.—Cross the Sevier river.— 
Lake valley.—Un-kuk-oo-ap mountains.—Fillmore.—Sevier Lake valley.—Rabbit fences.—Return to the Sevier 
river.—Departure of Captain Gunnison and party to explore the Sevier lake.—Extract from his journal.—Party 
ascending the Sevier river.—Sand-hills.—River course.—Sage.—Canon of the Sevier river.—Un-kuk-oo-ap mountains 
terminate.—First intelligence of the disaster to Captain Gunnison’s party.—Departure of Captain Morris to the 
scene of the attack.—Stragglers.—Movement of the train and party to Cedar springs.—Return of Captain Morris.— 
Scene of the disaster.—Bodies of the slain.—False charges against the Mormons. 66 
CHAPTER VII. 
From Cedar Spring, by way of Nephi, Pay son, Palmyra, Springville , Provo, Pleasant Grove, Lake 
City, Lehi, Willow Creek, and Cottonwood settlements, to Great Salt Lake City—October 28 to No¬ 
vember 8, 1853. 
Pioneer creek.—Citizens of Fillmore.—Messrs. Call and Richards.—Express to Great Salt Lake City.—Courtesy and 
assistance from Mr. Call and Governor Young.—Papers and property recovered.—Kenosh’s account of the murder.— 
Excitement of our men.—Course from the Coochetopa Pass to the Wahsatch Pass.—Character of the country from 
the Wahsatch Pass to Little Salt lake and Vegas de Santa Clara: its impracticability for a railroad.—Railroad fol¬ 
lowing the Sevier river.—Western limit of the explorations of 1853.—Unobstructed passage from Sevier lake to Great 
Salt lake.—Return to Sevier river.—Appearance of Sevier River canon.—Village of Nephi.—Payson.—Spanish 
fork.—Palmyra.—Provo.—Timpanogos river.—Western range of the Wahsatch mountains.—Line of Mormon settle¬ 
ments.—Supplies purchased.—Lake Utah.—Reference to Stansbury’s Report.—Winter camp.—Condition of animals 
crossing the Plains.—Winter quarters at Great Salt lake. 75 
CHAPTER VIII. 
General Summary of the line explored for the Pacific railroad near the thirty-eighth parallel of north 
latitude, from Fort Leavenworth [Kansas) to the Sevier lake, ( Utah.) 
Character and fertility of the Plains: timber, grass, rain.—Approach to El Sangre de Cristo Pass of the Rocky 
mountains.—Soil, cultivation, grazing, and water.—Mountain valleys.—Valley of San Luis.—Coochetopa Pass and 
surrounding country.—Grand River valley lands.—Roan mountains, and the country between Grand and Green 
rivers.—From Green river to the Wahsatch mountains.—Summit of the Wahsatch mountains.—Valley of the Sevier 
river and Sevier lake : its sterility.—Ingredients in the soil injurious to vegetation over large spaces.—Aqueous 
depositions unfavorably distributed and very limited.—Capacity of the country to contribute to the support of a rail¬ 
road.—Railroad stations and posts.—Permanent water on the line.—Great scarcity of timber on the line.—Coal, 
where found.—Building stone.—Railroad practicability of the line.—Elevations, grades, sections, passes.—San Luis 
valley.—Coochetopa Pass and tunnel.—Altitudes and grades.—Pass and Coochetopa creeks.—Grand river section.— 
Blue to Green river.—Miry soil.—Stone for sub-structure.—Grades and bridges.—Rocky district west of Green 
river.—Grades from Green river to Akanaquint spring, White river, Clever creek, San Rafael river, &c., to the 
Wahsatch Pass.—Wahsatch Pass and tunnel.—Salt Creek canon, grades, and character.—Sevier River valley, and 
passage through the Un-kuk-oo-ap mountains to Sevier Lake valley.—Further surveys, and existence of other lines 
near this.—Duties performed by scientific gentlemen of the party.—Climate.—Indian hostilities in Utah.—Further 
surveys will be made 
79 
