44 
BUILDING STONE.—COST. 
or 2.1 feet to the mile. The distance between the Hueco and the Organ ranges is twenty miles, 
and along the east face of the latter an abundance of large pine timber is found. From the 
summit of the table-land the line descends along the plateau to the Eio Grande, at Molino, 
passing close under the south base of the Organ mountains. No descent is made to the bottom¬ 
lands of the river ; as at Molino, the elevated table-lands extend down to the very hanks. 
The descent from the summit of the Mesa to Molino is 161 feet in a distance of three miles, or 
a descent of 53.1 feet to the mile. At this point the Rio Grande is closely bordered on both 
sides by table-lands, and descends over rapids for the space of half a mile. The bed and hanks 
of the river are rocky, and there is no doubt hut that this place presents greater facilities for 
bridging than any point to the north within three hundred miles. 
The table-lands appear to extend uninterruptedly to the west; hut my instructions did not 
authorize any examination west of the river. Major Emory, the present boundary commis¬ 
sioner, is of opinion that it would he impossible, from difficulties of ground, to connect this 
point immediately with the table-lands, which extend as far to the west as the Rio Mimhres, 
and that it will he better to continue the line up the immediate valley of the river, to a point 
three miles above, and there cross. In either case, the best and only easily practicable approach 
to the river is made at the town of Molino. By this means the whole range of the Organ 
mountains is avoided, and the profile which accompanies the map will exhibit the impractica¬ 
bility of reaching Dona Ana, with allowable grades, through this range. 
Timber .—Timber is found in this section on the east side of the Guadalupe mountains, upon 
the immediate line of the road, and along the east face of the Organ mountains, about thirty 
miles north of it. 
The valley of the river Sacramento, which is at an average distance of thirty miles north of 
the line, between the Guadalupe and the Hueco and Sacramento mountains, is said to contain 
fine timber of almost every description, hut my orders did not justify me in attempting the 
examination of it. 
Stone .—Building material of this kind is very abundant along the line throughout this sec¬ 
tion, and for its character I again refer to the report of the geologist, Mr. Blake. It will be 
seen that there is an abundance of excellent building-stone, such as granite and carboniferous 
limestone. As regards the construction of a railroad, the rocks between the Guadalupe mount¬ 
ains and El Paso are very favorable. There are sandstone, limestone, and granite; and it is 
probable that artesian wells could he bored with success. 
Cost .—In estimating the probable cost of this section, it will he necessary to compare the 
country with a region as nearly similar in character as possible, through which railroads have 
been built. The route of the Baltimore and Ohio road seems best to fulfil this condition, and 
it is therefore adopted for the comparison. 
It is to he remarked, however, that although the country along both routes is mountainous in 
some places, yet the mountains are quite distinct in their topographical features, and the inter¬ 
vening valleys are wholly different. 
The Alleghany mountains, through which the Baltimore and Ohio road has been constructed, 
are approached over a very rough country, and numerous lofty spurs of the mountains project 
far into the uneven valleys along which the road has been located. These spurs prevent the 
location of the road along the faces of the mountains, and must he cut through or turned. In 
either case the work is heavy, and the route very much lengthened. The mountains of New 
Mexico, on the contrary, rise abruptly from a table-land comparatively level, and have few 
spurs projecting from their faces. In the case of. the Guadalupe and Hueco Passes, there are 
absolutely none. The descent along the lower faces of the mountains is very gradual and very 
uniform, and conducts to table-lands nearly level, which separate the ranges of mountains. 
Any heavy work in grading is therefore confined to the short lines through the passes. When 
practicable passes through these mountains can he found, they present facilities for constructing 
a railroad altogether superior to those attainable in the mountains east of the Mississippi. 
