66 
STONE.—WATER.—CHARACTER AND LENGTH OF THE LINE. 
the west, is 110 miles, and its termination is at the head of steamboat navigation, in a fertile and 
cultivated portion of the Sacramento valley, which extends unobstructed to the tide-waters of 
the Pacific. 
Further surveys upon this route would doubtless develop important improvements at various 
points; and at two, at least—one from the shore of the lake near Stanshury’s island, by Pilot 
Peak, to the pass in the Humboldt mountains ; and the other in crossing from Humboldt river 
to Mud lake—would probably diminish the length of the line by 106 miles. The grades, also, 
are doubtless susceptible of material improvement by minute surveys with the spirit-level, by 
which the irregular atmospheric variations, which more or less affect barometric observations, 
will he entirely avoided. This method of determining levels with limited means, on so 
extensive a line, infested throughout by hostile savages, in the brief time allowed for these ex¬ 
plorations, was not practicable, nor was it necessary; for the accuracy of the method employed 
is quite sufficient for the determination of the general profile of the route. 
There is an abundance of good stone for bridges and building purposes at short intervals 
upon all parts of this line. Water is also found in abundance for railroad purposes through¬ 
out those portions of the Sierra Nevada, Wahsatch and Rocky mountains explored, and also at 
a few miles intervals in the Basin, where it usually occurs in springs at the bases of the mount¬ 
ains, and in small streams descending from the higher peaks and ridges to the adjacent plains. 
And a simple reference to the map of the route will exhibit an important feature in the fact, 
that in its remarkably direct course, for its great length, from the Missouri west to the Pacific, 
it follows the ascending and descending valleys of permanent rivers and their tributaries for 
more than two-thirds of its entire length, and that water is abundant on all the intermediate 
spaces—affording the means of irrigation to a large extent wherever the lands are suitable for 
it; and that they will doubtless be found so wherever the sage plains are luxuriant, may he 
inferred from the rich aromatic odor and resinous properties of that plant, and from the ex¬ 
ceedingly nutritious character of the grass scattered through it. And it is a well known fact, 
that the Mormons produce some of their finest crops from reclaimed sage plains. 
By reference to the map and accompanying table of latitudes, it will he seen that the route 
explored conforms throughout to a remarkably straight line, deviating, west from Fort Bridger, 
only at the Timpanogos canon, if that line he preferred to the Weber, and on the northern 
portion of the Sacramento river; and then only by 3 minutes and 4 minutes, respectively, from 
the line of the 41st parallel of north latitude. The length of this route from the Missouri to 
the Black Hills may he safely estimated not to exceed 64*7 miles, the distance given by Captain 
Stansbury from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Laramie, (outward journey); and his distance from 
the Black Hills to Fort Bridger, 347 miles, is given from actual measurement. From Fort 
Bridger to Fort Reading, by the line of the accompanying profile, the distance is 1,011.71 
miles, (which may hereafter he diminished by at least 106 miles, as before pointed out,) giving 
a total length for this line of 1,899.71 miles. 
With much respect, I am, sir, your very obedient servant, 
E. G. BECKWITH, 
First Lieutenant , 3 d Artillery. 
