CHAPTER II. 
General Description of the Country along the Route. 
In glancing at the topographical features of the immense plains which extend westward from 
the frontiers of Arkansas and Missouri, the first great peculiarity which strikes the attention 
is the remarkable interruption to their vast monotony presented by the belt of country between 
the 32d and 34th parallels of latitude. The great deserts, commencing about the meridian of 
97°, extend over a distance of six hundred miles, to the eastern base of the Rocky mountains. 
In this whole extent they are badly watered by the few sluggish streams which intersect 
them, many of which disappear altogether in the dry season, and are destitute absolutely of 
timber, except a sparse growth of dwarf cotton-wood along the streams. 
From the northern frontier of the United States, at the parallel of 49°, this immense region 
of desert country extends without interruption as far to the south as the parallel of 34°. At 
this parallel its continuity is suddenly and remarkably interrupted. 
Between the 32d and 34th parallels of latitude, a broad belt of well-watered, well-timbered 
country, adapted in a high degree to agricultural purposes, projects for three hundred and 
twelve mi les, like a vast peninsula, into the parched and treeless waste of the plains, and, at 
its western limit, approaches to within less than three hundred miles of the Rio Grande, at El 
Paso. The eastern line of this immense region of fertile country is the western limit of the 
timbered or well-watered country on the north; and this striking peculiarity of the country 
along the 32d parallel is most specially to be noticed, as a matter of paramount importance in 
selecting any route for a railroad or wagon road across this continent. 
The four great rivers of Texas—the Red river, the Trinity, the Brazos, and the Colorado— 
taking their rise at the eastern base of the “Staked Plain,” intersect this wooded peninsula at 
nearly equal distances apart; and the Red river having its head of navigation far to the north 
of it, the other three streams are navigable for steamboats to points not remote from its southern 
limit. 
In selecting any route for emigration, or for the construction of a railroad, and in the estab¬ 
lishment of the chain of military posts designed for its protection and for operations against 
Indians, much time, labor, and expense are avoided, by so locating the route that it shall 
approach, at as many points as possible, the navigable waters of the streams which drain the 
country. This subject is so plain and so well understood as to require no detailed explanation, 
and a glance at the country will suffice to exhibit what facilities of this kind are presented by 
the route along the northern frontier of Texas. 
We find that the navigable waters of the three principal streams of Texas—the Trinity, the 
Brazos, and the Colorado—approach to within comparatively short distances of the line of the 
32d parallel of latitude, and that this parallel intersects the Red river at a point very far below 
the head of its navigation. The importance of this extremely favorable natural feature of the 
country cannot be over-estimated. 
With this brief reference to the two great peculiarities of the region west of the Mississippi, 
which are observable at a glance, I will proceed to a general description of the southern portion 
of New Mexico, and that portion of Texas contiguous to the line of survey, and which properly 
come within the range of the exploration intrusted to my command. 
This description will be as brief as in my judgment is consistent with clearness, and will 
