File:Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean (1855) (14756424091).jpg

Identifier: reportsofexplora02unit_0 (find matches)
Title: Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: United States. War Dept Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Subjects: Pacific railroads Discoveries in geography Natural history Indians of North America
Publisher: Washington : A.O.P. Nicholson, printer (etc.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant

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luxuriant fields of blue grass (of the mountain men)and flowers. Quaking-asp covers the mountains around us, interspersed with small pines.Fire, however, swept over these mountains two years ago, destroying much of the timber.Sandstone, an impure limestone, and porphyritic rocks, are among the most common of this partof the mountains. Distance marched, 5.12 miles. August 12.—A working party was engaged during yesterday afternoon in opening a roadthrough the forest to the summit of the pass, and much of to-day has been spent in the samemanner and in working on the opposite side-hill, along which it is necessary to descend fromthe pass. The teams, too, were engaged all day in making the ascent as the road advanced,and at dark the most of them had reached the summit, and a fow had descended to El Sangrede Cristo creek; and all were obliged to encamp where night overlook them, on a line of twoor three miles, on the summit and either side of the pass. The examination of the various uJ X
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EL SANGRE DE CRISTO PASS. 37 depressions in the mountains also went on to-day, to ascertain their elevations and practicabilityfor roads. The scenery around us is very fine—the views from various points extendingfar back over the plains, buttes, ridges, and streams, on which we have for so many dayslaboriously pursued our march. The bold, rocky mountain peaks tower loftily above us—whi-tened here and there with lines of snow—around which, at mid-day, dark masses of clouds gatherand the lightning plays, while torrents of rain pour down their sides with irresistible fury. Themountain valleys are small, but unsurpassed in luxuriant grass; and the mountain sides areplentifully supplied with aspen and small pine, and all around us, and under our feet, coveredwith exquisitely beautiful flowers. Here, too, the geologist finds an interesting field, and sports-mens spirits are excited by grouse and pheasants, deer and grizzly bear, in every valley and glen,and the streams are alive with

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