AjN^JS'UAL repoet UPON THE GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF THE ONE-Ilt'iNDREDTH MERIDIAN IK THE STATES AND TERRITORIES OF CAL- IFORNIA, OREGON, NEVADA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, COLORADO, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND WYOMING, riKST LIEl'TEXAKT OF E\C.IXF,K1!S, U. fe. A., APPENDIX N N 01 THF ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS FOR 1877. ^V A S H I N G T O ^^ : (iOVEENMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1877. ^e^Ay' y/n^€y' C^/riMt U//t^/f-^ _^^ 'VO ■? -7 LIBRARY OF 1685- IQ56 ANNUAL REPORT UPON THE GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF THE ONE-HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN IN THE STATES AND TERRITORIES OF CAL- IFORNIA, OREGON, NEVADA, TEXAS, ARIZONA, COLORADO, IDAHO, MONTANA, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND WYOMING, aEOKOE M. W^HEELER, FIRST LIEUTENANT OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. ; BEING APPENDIX N N OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS FOR 1877. WASHIl!^GTOE: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1877. NOTE. The following topographical atlas mapa, published during the year, accompany the copies of Appeudix N N of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, being an- nual report of Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, in charge of United States Geograi^hical Surveys for 1877, and are in continuation of the series, ninety-five in number, on a scale of 1 inch to 8 miles, embracing the territory of the United States lying west of the 100th meridian. (See Progress Map.) 1. Atlas sheet 53 C, embracing portions of Central Colorado, and lying principally in the drainage-basin of the South Platte River. 2. Atlas sheet 61 B, embracing portions of Central Colorado, and showing portions of the drainage-basins of the Rio Grande, Arkansas, Gunnison, and "South Platte Rivers, indicating economical features. 3. Atlas sheet 61 C sub, embiacing a portion of Southwest Colorado, and drainage- basins of the Gunnison, Rio Grande, Animas, Miguel, and Uncompahgre Rivers, repre- senting economical features. 4. Atlas sheet 61 D, embracing portions of Southern Colorado, and lying principally in the drainage-basin of the Rio Grande. 5. Atlas sheet 65 D, embracing a portion of Southeastern California, and showing the interior basin of Panamint and Death Valleys, Amargosa River and Owen's Lake drainage, indicating economical features. 6. Atlas sheet 69 B, embracing portions of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, and lying principally in the drainage-basins of the Rio Grande, Conejos, Chama, and Navajo, indicating economical features. 7. Atlas sheet 70 A, tmbracing portions of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, and showing the drainage-basins of the Purgatory and Canadian Rivers, and Costilla and Culebra Creeks, indicating economical features. 8. Atlas sheet 70 C, embracing a portion of Northern New Mexico, and showing the drainage-basins of the Canadian and Mora River.*), indicating economical features. 9. Atlas sheet 77 B, embracing portions of Central New Mexico, and lying in the drainage-basins c f the Rio Grande and Pecos River, indicating economical features. [extract from the annual report of the chief of engineers to the secretary of war.] Office of the Chief of Engineers, ^Yashington, D. C, October 12, 1877. GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS OF THE TERRITORY WEST OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN. Officer in charge, First Lieut. George M. W'^heeler, Corps of Engineers having under his orders First Lieurs. Eric Bergland and Samuel E.Tillman and Second Lieut. Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers ; First Lieut Eogers Biruie, jr., Thirteenth Infantry ; First Lieut. Charles C. Morri son, Sixth Cavalry ; and Second Lieut. M. M. Macomb, Fourth Artillery The following gentlemen have been engaged in special scientific inves- tigations during the year : Dr. F. Karapf, astronomical and triaugulation observer and computer; A. R. Conkling, geologist; H. W. Heushaw, ornithologist; Dr. J. T. Rothrock, botanist; and Prof. F. W. Putnam, ethnologist. Owing to the lateness of the appropriation act, the expedition of 1876 was only enabled to take the field in August, and was disbanded at Fort Lyon, Colo., and Carson City, Kev., during the latter part of November. The expedition of 1877, in three sections, took the field at Fort Lyon, Colo., Ogden, Utah, and Carson City, Nev., during the month of May. The number of small parties organized prosecuted their labors in parts of California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colo- rado, and New Mexico, and with the prospect of a long field-season only to be closed by the inclemency of the incoming winter at the high alti- tudes visited. The areas surveyed by the expedition of 1876 lie in California, Ne- vada, Colorado, and New Mexico, and come within the limits of atlas sheets 47, 48, 56, 61, 62, 70, 77, and 78. (See progress map.) The basins of drainage entered comprise portions of the " great in- terior basin," the Arkansas, Rio Grande, Gunnison, and several of the streams along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The astronomical stations at which latitude-determinations were made were those necessary to the checking of the measured lines of survey through the mountain defiles. Two bases were measured; 194 triaugulation, 765 three-point, and 5,115 minor stations were occupied ; 4,379 miles of survey were run ; 168 monuments were built; 4,553 sets of altitude-observations were made; 15 mining camps were visited. Of the quarto volumes authorized by Congress to be published, the one numbered IV has appeared during the year, and Vol. I[ is passing through the press. The tables of declinations of 2,018 latitude-stars, prepared by Prof. T. H. Safford, are in the hands of the printer. With slight exceptions the MSS. for Vols. I, VI, and VII of the series are ready to be placed in the hands of the printer; and the illus- trations have all been prepared, and are now being engraved and printed. IV REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Seven topographical sheets have been added to the atlas, and a num- ber of others are being completed and in various stages of progress. The edition of colored maps published with the extra copies of the report exhibit the natural resources of the country, and are of value in connection with the settlement of the western region. In the areas given, the land branch of the Government may be able to see at a glance the adaptability of the surface for agriculture or grazing, and the area of timber, position of mines, &c. The special surveys of the Lake Tahoe region, and about the Comstock mines, the maps from both of which are to be shown on scales larger than those usually employed, will illustrate some of the best topographical efforts of the survey, and prove useful to the mining and lumber interests of that section. The topographical maps which are the main results of the labors of the officers and assistants, and regularly issued as material is collected, are at once available to the War Department for its purposes, and reach the public in the regular course of publication, and through map pub- lishers at home and abroad. The continuation of this useful work in its present satisfactory stage of organization will, it is hoped, commend itself to the favorable con- sideration of Congress. The amounts estimated by Lieutenant Wheeler for the continuation of the survey are recommended, viz: For continuing the geographical survey of the territory of the United States west of the one-hundredth meridian, the supply branches of the War Department assisting as heretofore, being for field and office work, * and for the preparation, engraving, and printing of the maps, charts, plates, cuts, photographic plate, and other illustrations for reports ; for temporary office-room at points remote from Washington, D. C, and the purchase at nominal rates of sites for field observations, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877 $120,000 00 (His annual report, with appendixes and estimates, is appended.) (See Appendix NN.) ERRATA. Page 1221, in last column of first table, for " 1.0784 " read "1.0084." Page 1233, ninth line from top, for " Fort Lyon, Colo.," read "Emory's, N. Mex." Page 1233, fifteenth line from bottom, for "Anton Chico" read " Emory's, N. Mex." Page 1268, fourth line from top, for " Slate " read " State." Page 1271, twenty -third line from bottom, for " 30 inch " read " 1 minute." Page 1271, twenty-sixth line from bottom, for " 10 inch or 20 inch" read " 10 sec. or 20 sec." Page 1299, eighteenth line from top, for " northwest " read " northeast." Page 1315, second hue from top, for "iEcmophorus " read "^Echmophorus." Page 1323, sixth line from bottom, for "serous" read "servus." Page 1324, thirteenth line from top, for " Cinex" read " Cimex." Page 1330, second line from top, for "Apiomerina" read "Apiomerinus." Page 1330, tenth and eleventh lines from top, for " liguttatns " read " biguttatus." Page 1333, twenty-second line from top, for " Darius" read " Darnius." APPENDIX N N, ANNUAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT GEOUGE M. WHEELER, CORPS OF ENGINEBtlS, FOK THE FISCAL YEAR E^fDING JUNE 30, 1877. GEOGRArHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF THE ONE-HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN IN TPIE STATES AND TERRITORIES OF CALIFORNIA, OREGON, NEVADA, TEXAS, Arizona, Colorado, idaho, Montana, new Mexico, utah, AND WVOMING. contents. REPORTS. Page. Suniiuary of field and office operations 1211 Astrouomiciil 1213 Geodetic and topographical 1218 Description of measuring-rod, method of measurement, &c 1219 Routes of communication 1^23 Progress map 1245 Profiles 1245 Natural resources 124G Barometric altitudes 1246 Mining information 1246 Natural history, (including geology and zoology) 1248 Publications 1249 Conclnsion 1249 Estimates 1250 APPENDIXES. A. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. Eric Bergland, Corps of En- gineers 1250 B. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. Samuel E. Tillman, Corps of En- gineers 1253 C. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. Thomas W. Sjmons, Corps of En- gineers 1257 D. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. R. Birnie,jr., Thirteenth lofantry. 1262 E. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. Charles C. Morrison, Sixth Cav- alry 1273 F. — Executive and descriptive report of Lieut. M. M. Macomb, Fourth Artillery. 1278 G. — Prelimiuarj' report ou examination at the Comstock Lode, by John A. Church rJ84 H. — Report on the geology of portions of Western Nevada and Eastern Cali- fornia, between the parallels of 39-" 30' and 3rf^ 30', by Mr. A. R. Conkling 1285 H 1. — Report on the lithology of portions of Southern Colorado and Northeru New Mexico, by Mr. A. R. Conkling 1295 H 2. — Report on the foot-hills facing the plains from latitude 35'^ 30' to 38^, ap- proximately, by Mr. A. R. Conkling 1298 I. — Report on the ornithology of portions of Nevada and California, by H. W. Heashaw 1303 J. — Report upon the hemiptera collected during the years 1874 and 1875, by P. R. Uhler 1322 ILLUSTRATIONS. Progress map opposite . . 1245 Protile map opposite.. 1247 Sketch of lignite seams, Vermejo Canon 1300 REPORT United States Engineer Office, Geographical Surveys West op the 100th Meridian, Washhigton, J). C, June 30, 1877. Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report for the fiscal year ending Jnne 30, 1877 : Including the expeditions of 1876-'77, the fields occupied will have embraced parts of the States and Territories of California, Oregon, Ne- vada, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The remaining political divisions of the area west of the one-hundredth meridian, into which parties of this expedition have not entered for its survey, are tlie State of Kansas and the Territories of Washington and Dakota. The w^ork so far has been directed to the most rugged and thinly-settled portions of the western mountain region. As time and means permit, the areas occupied will adjoin the sections of territory already entered and continue toward completion the topographical sur- vey of the entire region. SUMMARY OF FIELD AND OFFICE OPERATIONS. Tlie expedition of 1S7G, ia two sections, (Colorado and California,) took The field during the month of August from Fort Lyon, Col., and Carson, Nev., respectively. Two parties were organized at Fort Lyon and four at Carson. The expedition of 1877 took the field during the early part of May, resuming the labors as left by parties of 1876 in the Colorado and Cali- ifornia sections of the survey, and organizing a third division to operate in portions of Utah, Idaho, and Montana, to be known as the " Utah section "'of the survey. The disbandment of the parties of the 1876 expedition was concluded at Fort Lyon, Col., and Carson, Nev., respectively, during the latter days of November, closing a season of a little less than four months, made short by want of necessary appropriations with which to enter the field during May, as is most economical and satisfactory, and marked by an activity on the part of parties that has aiforded favorable results. The following changes in the personnel have occurred during the year: Lieut. William L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers, relieved from duty August 8, 1876. Lieut. Samuel E. Tillman, Corps of Engineers, reported for duty August 10, 1876. Lieut. Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, reported for duty August 9, in obedience to Special Order No. 161, paragraph 5, Head- quarters of the Army, August 8, 1876. Professor Jules Marcou, a member of the expedition of 1875, and later 1212 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. connected with the office, called by private business, contributes no longer his valuable labors in western geology, having left the country for Europe for a limited period. Dr. Oscar Loew, whose industry in many fields of scientific inquiry are evidenced by his reports, returns' to his home in Germany. His large enthusiasm and commendable energy justifies the hope that he may forego any prolonged professional under- taking there, and return to this country to continue his labors. The services of Frank Carpenter terminated when he left the United States for the purpose of joining in the surveys no^^ being prosecuted by Americans in Brazil. Mr. George M. Lockwood, connected with the work since 1873, upon appointment to the chief clerkship of the Paten Office, comiladed his service here. The only appointments made during the year, except as to minor posi- tions, are those of Mr. John A. Church, mining engineer, now engaged in an examination of the mining affairs about the Comstock Lode, and Mr. E. T. Gunter, who accompanies the party of Lieutenant Bergland for the field season. Dr. J. T. Rotlirock has been engaged during the year in the completion of his botanical report, which, in connection with the special reports of several scientific gentlemen, will make the body of volume vi. Prof. F. W. Putnam, without additional compensation, continues his work upon the archajological collections placed in his hands, and brings toward completion the manuscript for volume vii of the quarto rei)orts. Four general-service clerks have been enlisted, who are called upon, in addition to frequent clerical duty, to assist in the tracing and draught- ing of maps, and in the field for topographical observations. I desire to recognize the cheerful assistance frequently extended by the officers of the supply department of the Army in facilitating the progress of the work, and to others, officers of the Government and indi- Aiduals, who have shown willingness to aid, either directly in the objects sought, or by appreciation of the results obtained. The following list notes certain of the more prominent features of the field and office work : FIELD. Sextant-liititude stations 74 Bases nieasurttl 2 Triangles about bases measured 50 Maip triaiigulation-stations occupied - fi4 Secondary triangulation-statious.., .^. 80 Station on meanders 5, 115 Three-point stations occupied 7(i5 Camps made ^Jl7 Miles meandered 4,879.48 Magnetic variations observed 20S Monuments built 168 Cistern-barometer stations occupied 749 Aneroid-stations occupied 3, 804 Mining-camps visited 15 Mineral and thermal springs noted Hi Mammals, specimens collected 13 Birds, specimens collected 109 Reptiles, lots collected 10 Fishes, lots collected 9 Insects, lots collected 31 Shells, lots collected .• 2 OFFICE. Astronomical positions computed 46 Stations adj usted by method of least squares 93 APPENDIX NN. 1213 Triangles computed 279 Distauces computed 186 Latitudes and longitudes computed 186 Azimuths computed 186 Sheets and parts of sheets plotted, (1 inch to 2 miles) 17 Special sheets drawn, (various scales) 16 Cistern-barometer altitudes computed 7()t) Aneroid-barometer altitudes computed 3,709 Atlas-maps (1 inch to 4 miles) published 7 Atlas-majjs (I inch to 4 miles) nearly ready for publication 4 Atlas-maps (1 inch to 4 miles) partially completed 2 Reports published: Volume iv. Reports distributed 1, 533 Reports in course of publication : Volumes i, vi, vii; Star Catalogue, and table of distances. Maps distributed 8, 133. ASTRONOMICAL. The latitudes of a number of points, as determined by the officers of the survey for the season, are herewith given, viz: 1214 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. ^ •^ '^ £-5 <=3 0) -t-. ■ •jaAax-Bos Ji ■inna:)oatis-Bi!i;v ^fA_^,)i^';£,^,^^^y^_f4^\d,^^\^,m;^^^ OP^<)P^P^P^<((l^pH<1H^pH£H ij'p4 Pn <) nj'fli p^ ■< <] fl, fM <^ i-^"^ <) O &i Oi fLc o'Ph <) <( O APPENDIX NN. 1215. ^1 bo ^i;- •a es. « pq 00 T-H 1-4 fzi«? W^lzi ■"^^jN^'l^ja^W^^asH^iz^aiw^'l^'t/;;?; 8«. a 8 a _« 8 05 :z;«jw^;s5 J ,2 8 .-; 8 .2 «;H^;25 : : ■ 8 , • , o ■£'" £ o'S ;•? E'^ £ '"H'^ £ '-g'S o ■•""So -.SK.zi ;w.sw.gw.2 ;'E-S2.S ; *.2-s o -.S-^.S^.S-^.S 8 Il1illlll3lll1lll1llllllllllil|||ill||ll|i|^ ^cft - - ^-- -.«a. B «stf wBd « (5 t)4(5 -S -5 1216 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. ^ a o t- ri (0 !B 213 »3 Sw S a 9Aoq'B epmpiY ^ C! i^'a5w^;^f4^'^;2iaJ3^';zi ■ C5 O 4) H 8.2 ;5CfiH^^5d^-25t»f4^;25a2 SffigSaS.- 828828 -828 E:sS='C:;52nSaat:r:2"'C~ ?J? = ?r,gj3 3 g « S ?rg « 3 «w^^^ i-lP-(P-iOi-?P-fM'^<« ei •jaq ■tnnn !(99q8-SBxi y 3 a APPENDIX NN. 1217 t- -a • S5; 77 E 1218 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. The latitude and longitude and altitude of the main astronomical stations will be given in volume II of the quarto reports, now passing through the press. It has not been found necessary to occupy further main astronomical stations for the purpose of checking positions determined by other means in the prosecution of work of 1877 ; but upon the completion of the observatory at Ogden and those contemplated — one at Denver, Col., another on the western slope of the Sierras, a number of points to the north and south of the present line of the Pacific Eailroad, i. e., in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona — may be occupied. GEODETIC AND TOPOGRAPHICAL. The sketches showing the triangulatiou in the Colorado, Utah, and California sections are added to as computations progress, and from time to time, as it covers a number of the regular atlas sheets, will be pub- lished, as well as the geographical positions, obtained by triangulation, of prominent points. The number of triangulation stations of the highest grade increases each year, and especially in areas where more numerous observations b'ecome necessary in order to gather data for delineation on maps of the larger scales. As usual, the areas occupied in the expedi- tions of 1876 and 1877 follow strictly those authorized by the Chief of Engineers and the honorable the Secreta*jy" of War, in pursuance of projects submitted by the officer in charge, and are all laid within that part of the territory of the United States lying west of the one-hundredth meridian, as shown upon the progress map, and over which it is contem- plated that topographical surveys in detail commensurate with the char-' acter and development of the various sections shall be prosecuted to completion. The topographical assistants are now required to add to their notes careful data showing the natural resources of the region traversed, in order to collect information as to the general character and value of the areas still belonging to the Government, and it appears that the relative areas of arable, timber, grazing, mineral, and arid lands may be described and delineated. The noticeable topographical results inaugurated during the year are about Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada, the topography of which, from data now gathered, warrant a projection on a scale of 1 inch to 1 mile, which has been completed at the hands of a special party engaged upon the high jjeaks and along the divides of the water courses of this pecu- liarly interesting lake region. The plane-table sheets covering the entire Comstock mining district are drawn upon a scale of 1 inch to 500 feet, and will, after reduction, serve as a complete and connected contour map of this region so abun- dant in the precious metals. As usual, when practicable, connections have been made with main and minor points of the land survey and monuments built in all cases of due importance. The areas covered by the expedition of 1876 are noted upon the progress map as parts of atlas sheets 47, 48, 56, 61, 62, 70, 77, and 78. Portions of the following basins are embraced, the "Great In- terior Basin," and those of the Arkansas and Rio Grande Rivers, as well as the headwaters of a number of streams lining the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada between the latitudinal limits noted on the progress sheet. The gauge of the success of the expedition is better shown by the number and charact^r of the observations made at the main geo- APPENDIX NN. * 1219 grapbical stations than by the area covered, although the hitter is not inconsiderable for so short a season. A measured and developed base was laid out in the Carson Valley^ and connected with the astronomical station established in 1873 at Vir- ginia City, Nev. A description of the apparatus and method employed, by Dr. Kumpf, being somewhat typical of that adopted for use upon the survey, is herewith given. DESCRIPTION OF MEASURINa-ROD. The rod was decided upon by the officer in charge in the winter of lS7o-'7G, upon consultation with Dr. Kampf, and constructed by Mr. Edward Kahler. It was made of wood, 20 feet in length, strengthened by a vertical cross-piece. Each end of the rod is provided with a scale 8 inches long, subdivided to jl^ of an inch, so that by a magnifier it can be read to thousandths. At a point near the center an arc of a cir- cle of 30° extension is fastened. An arm attached to the center of the circle, and movable by a micrometer-screw, carries a level, so that after determining the zero-point on the face of the circle the inclination of the rod can be easily read to 5 minutes. The rod is placed for measurement on two iron-plates, weighing about 30 pounds each, and provided with three strong iron pins 2 inches long. In the center of the plate, on an elevated silver plane, is drawn a cross-line, which acts in the nature of the zero-point of the line. METHOD OF COIVIPARISON. The rod was compared daily, both before and after its use, with two steel standard rods, constructed by the United States Coast Survey, and of a normal length of 5 feet, at the temperature of Gl^.G F. In place of the rod constructed by Mr. Kahler, a similar one, not quite 20 feet long, politely furnished by Mr. Adolf Sutro, of Sutro, i^ev., consisting of very well seasoned and varnished wood, was used. A very simple apparatus was used, constructed for comparison, the standard steel rods being supported on two wooden blocks, and therefore elevated by the thickness of this support from the plane of me.isurement, two knife- blades were driven in a wooden board, 22 by IJ feet by 4 inches, being as much above the surface of the board as the polished plane at the end of the normal rod. The center of the sharp blade and the plane of the normal rod were brought into the same vertical plane, and by an assist- ant is kept in this position until the second rod is brought in contact with the first. Thus continuing, the fourth rod was found to reach over the knife-blade about IJ inches. A square block of wood was placed at the end, in contact with the normal rod, and by means of a small measure, 3 inches long, and divided to hundredths, the distance from the square block of wood to the blade of the knife was read, the tem- I)erature being always carefully noted and the measurement repeated. The readings were made by Dr. Kampf and his assistant. After determining the distance between two points on the edges of the knife- blades, the measuring-rod was placed on top of the blades with the utmost care, and the scale on both ends read. In this manner the amount of over-lapping of the rod was obtained. Observation made October 11, 1876, between knife-blades, 20 feet 1.537 inches, 55o.8 Fahrenheit ; reading of scales on rod, east end, 0.420 inch; west end, 0.140 inch; therefore the length of the rod was deter- mined to be 20 feet -f 0.997 inch, at o5o.8 Fahrenheit. 1220 REPORT OP THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. DESCRIPTION OF METHOD OF MEASUREMENT. Dr. Kampf was aided in the measurement by Mr. Louis Seckels and two laborers. The work was divided among the party as follows: The line was laid out in advance for one day's work, marked by iron pins 2 feet in length and about 180 feet apart. The base was measured on an old road, laid out about ten years ago, and running in a straight line for a distance of 3f miles. A tine line was tied to one pin and fastened to the next one. Two plates were laid down within the distance of 20 feet 2 inches, approximately, so that they were parallel with the line and tangent to it. One laborer takes the measuring-rod, bringing it near the ])lates, and the assistant being at the rear end, the laborer on the other, both grasp the rod at the same time and put it on top of the plates y|o of an inch distant from the cross on the ridge of the plates. Mr. kSeckels reads the rear end of the scales at the same time that Dr. Kampf reads at the front end by means of a common magnifying-glass. The readings are then at once recorded. After that the level was read by Dr. Kampf and simultaneously with Mr. Seckels, who is now at the front end. He reads the rear end of the scales, and the readings are recorded by both. Then the readings are called out and in case of disagreement repeated. In the meanwhile the other laborer x)uts an auxiliary rod of 20 feet 2 inches in the position, so that the rear end may be in line with the mark on the plate driving the third plate in the ground. When the readings are finished the new plate is found in its proper position, the laborer brings the rods in front of both plates, and the operation is re- peated. The other laborer takes meanwhile the first plate put down and brings it to the front, as No. 4. The thermometer is read from time to time on the shady and snnny side of the rod, to obtain its tempera- ture. After a reasonable practice the rate of measurement may be as- sumed as 20 feet for each interval of one and one-half minutes. CO-EFFICIENT OF EXPANSION. The steel rods of the United States Coast Survey are of normal length at the temperature of Gl^.G F. By means of the co efficient of expansion for one degree, as given in Lee's tables, the distance of 20 feet is reduced by applying the temperature of the time of comparison, and thereby the distance between both knife-blades is obtained. To this is added the readings of the scales of the rod, and the length of the rod for the observed temperature is found. The mean of the observa- tions at low and high temperatures are taken, and from the difference of both lengths the factor of expansion is derived, as shown in the next table. The rod having been heavily saturated in a rain and snow storm on October 11, the observations taken afterward are not used for determination of expansion. The length of the rod was found from the comparisons to be 20" 0'«.9408 for 6I0.6 F. APPENDIX NN. Comparisons at low temiyeraiare. 1221 - a o ^ Ci ^ rt 4.3 . 50 . 3 p p 3 Date. « bC ^z .5 3 -*.s t -S.S "J "S ® u s rt-^S c'*:' ^ rf o :s2 •J3 0 -s."^ o c o H 'S a O < OT o 1876. 0 Inch. Inch. Inch. Inch. Inch. 14 1 1 4950 0 02 '5 1 5165 0 4950 1 0215 24 — G. 6 —1. 4950 —0.0101 —1. 5051 0. 4940 —1.0111 25 —10.3 -1.4!t60 -0.0157 —1.5117 0. 4980 —1. 0137 26 — 7.6 —1. 5150 —0.0116 —1.5266 0. 5050 —1. 0216 27 —10.6 —1. 5000 —0. 0162 —1.5162 0. 5070 —1. 0092 23 .* — 3. 1 — 1.5150 —0. 0047 —1.5197 0. 5170 —1. 0027 29 — 8.8 —1. 51110 —0. 0134 —1. .5234 0. 5270 —0. 9964 30 — 6.6 —1. 5230 —0. 0101 —1. 5331 0. 5320 — l.dOll October 1 — 7.8 —1.5260 —0.0119 — 1. 5379 0 5390 —1. 0079 2 -2.4 —1. 5340 —0. 0037 — 1.5377 0. 5390 —0. 9987 3 — 9.6 — 1. 51ri0 —0.0146 —I. 5326 0. 5350 —0. 9976 4 9 6 1 5350 — 0 0146 — 1 5196 0 5410 I 0086 5 — 9.6 —10. 2 —1. 5330 —1. 5330 —0. 0140 —0.0.' ,56 —1. 5476 —1. 54S6 0. 5390 0. .5410 ] 0086 6 —1. 0076 — 5.6 —1. 5440 —0. 00^5 — 1. 5525 0.5410 —1.0115 8 + 0.4 —13. 0 —1. 5.5>'0 +0. 0006 —1. 5574 0. 5490 1. 0784 10 — 1.5450 —0.0198 —1. 5648 p. 5590 0. 5600 1. 0058 11 — 5.8 —1. 5370 —0. 0088 —1. 5453 —0. 9858 11 — 2.6 — 1. 53T0 —0. 0l!40 —1.5410 0.5410 1. 0000 llean lenfctb of rod at 54^ 5 F. = 20 feet— 1.0062 inch. Comparisons at high ttmpcrature. Bate. 1876, September 23 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 October 1 2 3 4 5 , 6 7 8 10 +51.4 —36.4 --39. 4 --48,4 --23.4 +11.4 +22. 0 +47.9 +11.4 +00. 4 +44. +52. +60. +.56. +18. + 17. +33.4 Inch. -I. 5500 -1. 5450 -1. 5.140 -1. 5320 -1. 5350 -1. 5480 -1. .5390 -1. 5650 -1.5410 -1. 5640 -1. 5750 -1. 5750 -1. 5880 -1. 5740 -1. 57:!0 -1.5740 -1. £750 Inch. +0. 0784 +0. 0555 0. 0601 0. 0739 — 0. 0357 — 0. 0220 0. 0336 +0. 0731 — 0. 0174 — 0. 09:22 I). 0677 0. 0.-00 0. 0922 +0. 0861 -1-0. 0-281 -f 0. 0266 +0. 0509 .i r ^ '^ ,aj . o ^'r-' a(M Is -r t< ■■^■'i g c_, 0 a ^ M Inch. Inch. -1. 4716 0.5110 -1. 4895 0. 5050 -1. 4939 0. 5200 -1. 4,581 0.5180 -1. 4993 0. 5220 -1. 5200 0. ,5280 -1. 5054 0. 5320 -1. 4910 0. 5390 -1. ,5236 0.5410 -1.4718 0. 5540 -1. 5073 0. 5420 -1.4950 0. 54.50 -1. 4958 0. .5510 -1. 4879 0. 5960 -1. 5449 0. 5420 -1. 5476 0. 5510 -1. 5241 0. 5620 Mean length of rod at 993.0 F. =20 feet- 0.90616 incb. Expan.slon of rod for 44=. 5 F. = 0.04004 incb. Expansion of rod for 1°.0 F. =O.UU0U0 inch. 1222 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. REDUCTION OF OBSERVATIONS. The following corrections are applied to the number of rods multiplied by 20 feet : (1) Difference of rod from 20 feet at mean temperature of all observa- tions multiplied by the number of rods measured. (2) Eeadings of both ends of wooden rod when lying on the plates. (3) Correction for inclination. The following table contains the corrections for (1): First incasurement. First measurement, 1,181 rods— 1,155.2558 inches. Date. g a "S a a o a No wood near road. *^ Wood scarce, grass medium, watergood. "Hayandgrain for sale in town. Fair Play Post Office The above road is not the shortest road between Florissant and Fair Play, near the South Platte bridge. The stage-road leaves it APPENDIX NN. From Fair Fldi/, Colo., to South Arkansas Post Office. 1225 -Atlas-sheet Xos. 52 and 61. FairPlay Post Office Four-niilo Creek Kanch on Dry Creek South Fork South Platte Kivor Buffalo Springs Salt- Works Divide between Platte and Arkansas Rivers. Riverside Post Office Springs, Tront Creek Fork of roads up and down Arkansas River. Arkansas Bridge Cbalk Creek Centreville Post Office Brown's Creek Three-mile Creek Sqnan Creek South Arkansas Post Office Distance in miles. 3.77 5. 55 2.65 4.41 4.16 3.47 2.14 2. 18 8.18 3.15 2.16 2.38 1.40 2.29 5.70 5.48 3.77 9. 32 11.97 16. 38 20.54 24. 01 2fi. 15 28. 33 36.51 39. 66 41. 82 44.20 45. 60 47.89 .53. 59 59.07 o o 3 « 59.07 55.30 49. 75 47.10 42. 69 38.53 35.06 32. 92 so! 74 22.56 19.41 17.25 14.87 13.47 11.18 5.48 9,928 9, 670 9, 317 9, 161 8, 952 8,969 9,464 9,144 8,903 7,937 7,741 7, 729 7, 690 7, 828 7, 926 7,279 7,383 Remarks. Camp. Grass nnd water, but no wood. Hill moderate. Good bridge. 1 } Grass and wood .scarce. ) Wood and water good. Poor grass. From South Arkansas Post Office to Mosca Creek, fork of roads. — Atlas-sheet Xo. 61. South Arkansas Post-Office Toll-gate Summit Puncho Pass Round Mountain Ranch PostOfflce Hall's, Kerber Creek Bismarck Post Office Major Creek Wild Cherry Creek Rito Alto Post Office San Irabel Post Office Crestones Creek Willow Creek Cottonwood Creek Deadman Creek Sandhill Creek, (old Star ranch) . . . Spring Creek Mosca Creek Distance in miles. oS 3.42 4.63 2.67 11.81 8.10 2.46 3.24 2.08 3. 74 3.12 2.75 2.00 2.30 9.60 1. 55 1.64 3.42 8.05 10.72 22. 53 30. 63 33.09 36. 33 38.41 42. 15 45. 27 48. 02 50. 02 ««2. 32 61.92 63.47 65.11 6.5. 11 61.69 57.06 54.39 42. 58 34.48 32.02 28.78 26.70 22. 96 19.84 17.09 15. 09 12. 79 3.19 1.64 7,383 8,216 8,945 8, 7.i2 7, 900 7,736 7,686 7.431 7, 45i4 7,537 7,517 '7,' 566' '■7,' 587' 7,560 7,549 Remarks. > Puncho Pass. Gra?s poor and wood scarce near road ; better grass and wood in abundance found in the foot-hills of Sangre de Cristo Range. Road very sandy. Board throngh Puncho Pass is kept in good condition. 1226 EEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. From Mosca Creelc to Eosita, Colo. — Atlas-sheets No. 61 and 6*2. Mosca Creek, fork of roads Kanch, western entrance to Mosca Pass. Sum mit Mosca Pass Fork of roads to Gardner's Intersection, creek and cross-road. . . Muddy River, forks of road Divide between Arkansas and Huer- fano Rivers. "Forks of road to Colfax Forks, U-la road Rosita and U-la road Rosita _ Distance in miles. ^ 1 ^ -g .t. §2 5 (0 C.5 ZS c-r o o •" S3 p "^ o o S> IS ■% s t>» ^ o 43 . « > o "- a and 70A. Fort Lyon Purgatory River. .. West Las Animas. Sizer's Ranch Alkalis Station Vogel's Caiion Bent's Caiion Lockwood's Ranch Hogback Chicoso Creek El More Trinidad, Colo Distance in miles. 3.414 2. O'.IO 6.447 11.981 10. 230 15. 613 13. 482 16, 773 14. 619 10. 246 5.145 .5. 494 IL 941 23. 922 34. 152 49. 705 63. 247 80. 020 94. 639 104. 885 110.030 18. 428 28. 658 44.271 57. 753 74. 526 89. 145 99. 391 104. 536 3,938 4,040 4,040 4, 130 4,696 4, 997 5,423 5,840 Remarks. Government post. Poor grazing. Town ; railroad. Government agency. Deserted; poor water; little wood. Deserted; poor water; poor grazing. Do. Do. No wood; grass. Ranches; grazing generally eaten up. Denver and Rio Grande Rail- road. Town; forage; Government agency. little water and Country generally worthless. River-bottom cultivated ; water else 'v here scarce and alkaline. Bluffs wooded with piiion and cedar. Grazing good, bat usually closely eaten. APPENDIX NX. 1229 From Santa Fe, N. Mex., to Tijeras, X. Mex. — Atlas-shcet Xo. 77 B and D. distance in miles. Santa Fe, ^'■. Mes. Forks of road San Marcos Sprin Galisteo Creek .., Old Placer Fork roads New Placer Fork roads , Sau Pedro San Antonito Canoucito Sau Antonio Tijeras 9.590 8.951 3.003 C. 195 6.339 2.900 1. 553 7.384 3.759 3.028 2.541 2.105 §"3 til f» Ic?. 541 21, 544 27. 739 34. 078 36. 984 38. 537 45. 921 49. 680 52. 708 55. 249 57. 354 57.35 47.75 38.80 35.80 29.60 23.27 20.36 18.81 11.43 7.67 4.64 2.10 6,036 Remarks. Town ; Government post. Good ■water; little wood; good grass. Good water ; •wood plenty ; good grass. Mining town ; little of any- thing. Good grazing and wood; no water. Mining town; wood and water. Good grazing. Desorted. Mexican town. Do. Do. Do. Grazing in general, good; wood, cedar and pirion, abundant; water, scarce. From Socorro, X. Mex., northwest ianlc Eio Grande, to Las Lvnas. Distance in miles. 1 o •SI a; « ffi a » . a; 30 c ♦- o a "o s? d u o o o CO a 3 i a ea p Remarks. 4.96 4. 23 2.25 3.42 7.27 1.61 2.42 3.83 2.14 1.07 2. 32 3.05 3.50 3.69 1.71 3.65 5.76 4.96 9.19 11.44 14.86 22. 13 23. 74 26. 16 29.99 32. 13 33.20 35. 53 38.57 42.07 45.76 47.47 51.12 56.88 56.88 51. 92 47 69 45.44 42. 02 34.75 33.14 30.72 26. 89 24.75 23.08 21. 36 18.31 14.81 11.12 9.41 5.76 4,059 "4,693' "'4,' 757 4,890 ' "4,921 Mexican town, Government agency. Limitar Do. Do. Mexican town. Government agency. Mexican town. San Carlos Eio Piierco Do. Water. Mexican town, Government Pneblito agency. Do. Ran chi t08 Bosque Pueblitos de Belen Do. Do. Mexican town, Government Belen agency. Do'. Mexican town. Do. Mexican town, Government agency. 1230 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. From Valencia, X. Alex., vorilieast ianl- Rio Grande, to Socorro, N. Mex. — Atlas-sheet Ko. 77 D. Valencia Tome Eanchitos de Tome. . Constancia , Casa Colorado , Ve.llita Cliihuahna Las Nuetrias Kancbos La Joya , La Joyita Sabiua Puehlito de la Parida La Parida Socorro Distance iu miles. ^•r 5.28 1.15 .3.57 8.26 4.80 1.81 1.15 7.12 3.15 6.54 7.05 4.99 1.70 4.21 6.43 10.00 18.26 23.06 24.87 26.02 33.14 36.29 42. 83 49.88 54.87 56.57 60.78 60.78 45.50 54.35 50.78 42. 52 37.72 35. 91 34.76 27.04 24.49 17.95 10.90 5.91 4.21 4,659 Remarks. Mexican town. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. DesBFted. Ranch. Town, Mexican. Town. Rio Grande Valley : arable; generally entirely taken np witb ranches. No Government agencies on east bank. From Socorro, X. Mex., to Fort Craig. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 77D and 84A. Distance in miles. Remarks. Socorro San Jo86 San Antonio Sau Marcial From Fort Craig to Bosquecito. Fort Craig Contradero La Mesa Valverde Bosquecito 4,659 5.562 5.937 19. 742 4.098 I.OUO 4.295 2. 3C0 21. 651 11. 499 31. 241 35. 339 36. 339 40. 634 42. 994 64. 645 59.08 53.14 33.40 29.30 28.30 24.01 21.65 4,619 Mexican town, Government agency. Do. Do. Do. Government post. Mexican town. Do. Do. Do. No wood near the river. Graaing fair. Little icihaLited. APPENDIX NN. 1231 From Socorro, N. Jlex., to Ojo de la Quinsa. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 77D and 77 C. bocorro Ojo de la Culebra Caiion del Agna Junction road from Socorro Jnnclion road from Socorro ^lain fork roads Ojo de la Quinsa o Distance in miles. t> 1-3 o H-2 03 . , if g o .° a a i=H o Oa Sg «2 & 3 a a o -t-> fq pM pq <1 11. 198 38.88 27.68 4, 0.59 5,707 8.480 19. 078 19.20 6,833 C. 559 26. 237 12.64 3.309 1. 834 7.494 29.54 31.38 38.88 9.33 7.49 "5," 673' Keiuarks. Mexican town. Spring, ranch, wood, water, and grass. Wood, water, and grass abun- dant. Partially over ; no marked trail. Eanch, spring, no wood, poor grazing. From Ojo de las Casas, N. Mex., to Las Lunas, — Atlas-sheet No. 77 D. Distance in miles. Remarks. Eio de la Casa... Ojuelos Junction road to Caiion Ojito . . Crossing road from Heil Canon Crossing road from Hell Caiion Peralta Valencia Las Lunas 5.610 4.864 .927 2. 309 3.026 2. 082 1. 98« 10. 474 11.401 13. 770 17. 396 19. 478 21.464 21.47 15.86 11.00 10.07 7.09 4.07 1.95 6,243 Spring; wood, and fine graz- ing. Eanch; no wood; grazing. To Las Lnnas. Mexican town. Do. Mexican town, Government agency. From Pedernal Water-hole to Manzano, New Mex. — Atlas-sheet No. 77 D. Distance in miles. Eemarks. Pedernal Water-hole . 1.000 7.806 12. 098 1.775 1. 349 4.644 4.989 5.426 3.343 Ojo de Estancia 3 jgg Junction road to Mesteiiito ■,^' j^^jg Crossing road to Manzano 2' 173 Pnnta del Agua I r' q^^ Manzano j Junction road to Estancia Fork road to Los Pesos Los Caiioncitos Junction road from Los Pesos . Fork to Mesteiiito Lagnna de Sol Fork of roads Junction road from Pedernal . . 8.806 20. 904 22. 679 24. 028 28. 674 33. 603 39. 089 42. 432 45. 553 57. 420 59. 593 64. 664 64.66 03.66 55. 85 43.75 41.98 40.03 35.99 31.00 25.57 22. 23 19.10 7.24 5.07 7,140 6,041 '6,'i77 Spring in spur of peak to south. Water-holes, permanent. Salt lake. Eanch ; forage and grazing good. Mexican town. Do. 1232 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. From Tqique, N. Mex., to Pedernal Water-hole.— AtJas-sheet Ko. 77D. Distance in miles. a o a IS o <« g-s (D H S Tejique •. Qjo de Estanoia (3ross-road from Antelope Spring Iload from Antelope Spring Junction road from Los Posoa . .. Pedernal Water-hole 17. 794 4. .550 6.857 13. 419 1.000 a o 22. 344 29. 901 42. ()20 43. 620 -g 0 -= 6 rt 0 0 » O =^ > ga a h) C—! « 3 (3 ^ a 0 — cj ® O < « l-% g g ■^ O « fc^ fs( -<) 2.45 5.38 9.35 '"'2.' 45' 7.83 103. 27 100. 82 95.44 6,030 17.18 86.09 5,932 12.65 2.56 9.08 4.33 21). 27 8.90 7. 92 11.70 9. 68 29.83 73. 44 32. 39 70. >i8 4L47 62.80 .5, 754 4.5. 88 58.47 CO. 09 38.20 4, 523 74.99 29.30 82.^9 21.38 94.59 9.68 4,035 104.27 3,938 Remarks. Emery's Ranch Toll-gate, Metcalf 8 Boundary (nearly) Chaquaquo Canon Fork roads Pinavete Spring Camp head Plum Cafion Head Smith's Canon Camp Smith's Canon Pnrgatoire Ranch, Nine-mile Bottom Alkali Canon Sizer's Ranch Fort Lyon , 78 E Government agency. Water-holes ; grazing ; wood. little Wood, water, and grass. Water-holes; wood; grazing. Water. Water; littlograssandwood. Ranches. Stage station, deserted. Government agency. Post. 1234 EEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. LIST OF ROAD-DISTANCES BETWEEX PROMINENT POINTS, MEANDERED BY PARTY NO. 1, CALIFORNIA SECTION, 1876. Carson to Reno. Reno to Beckwith's Store. Reno to Milfoid. Reno to Trnckee. Reno to Milton. Truckee to Sierraville. From Carson, Xev., to Reno, Nev. — Atlas-sheet A'o. 47d. Distance in miles. c o .a 3 §.3 i> a o a O a d a a o o Remarks. 10. 080 4.071 5. 501 4. 7CC 6.707 0.000 10. 080 15.051 20. 552 25. 258 31,965 31. 965 21. 885 16.814 11.413 6.707 0.000 Do. Do. Do. Crossing C. P. E. K. From Reno, Xev., to Bechwitli's Store, Cal. Reno Peavine Ranch .. Junction House . Summit Beckwitli's Store Distance in miles. 10.741 14. 043 3.610 14. 222 0.000 10.741 24. 789 28. 399 42. 621 .a o 42. 621 31. 8e0 17. 832 14.222 0.000 Remarks. Post-Office, Sierra Valley. Do. From Reno, Nev., to Milford, Cal. Distance in miles. o « —1 C3 -a B O O 03 a- 0) > o 0 B o C-i a p Remarks. 24. 789 21.619 17. 817 0.000 24. 789 46. 408 64. 225 64. 225 39. 436 17. 817 0.000 Milford APPENDIX NN. From Reno, Xev., to Truckee, Cal. — Atl&s-sheei No. 47 d. 1235 Reno Crystal Peak Forks of Henness Pass Road Virginia Hr.nso Prosser Creek Truckee Distance in miles. ^5 12. 705 5.850 4.580 4.474 4.056 0.000 12. 705 18. 5.55 23. 135 27. 609 31.61)5 31. 665 18. 960 13.110 8. 530 4.056 0.000 Remarks. Village. Stage station. From Beno, Xev., to Milton, Cat. Distance in miles. g .a 6 o « o o §"3 o n-r Eeniark.s- a » S s * O o (^ ^ -a ^■% B a « f^ ^ < Reno 18. 555 18. 626 11. 825 0.000 49. 006 Forks of Henness Pass Road 18. 555 30. 451 Webbei Luke 37. 181 49.006 11. 825 0.000 MiltOH From Truckee, Cal., to Sierraville, CaL Distance in miles. f. .2 B .J3 o §•3 §.s o i g 1 .2| (B O o P -3 ^•i a a o 0 PP fR f=« < 3.70 2.55 0.55 5.05 ""3.' to' 11.85 8.15 6.25 5.60 6.80 5.09 11.85 Kemarks. At the capital. Virginia and Truclfee Rail- toad. At the xwat-oflBce. Carson, Nev., to Steamioat Spi'ings, (via east side Washoe Lake.} Distance in miles. 0 > 0 .3 a 0 0 .a If §.a § §!»■ Eemarka. W 3 (1 .Sa CS M'C a> m § ? 0 P. t3 ^■B a g«2 0 0 n ^ Ph •< 19.91 At the capital. Lake View 4.17 10.15 4.17 14. 32 1.5. 74 5.59 "Waahoe East side of lake from Lake 5.59 View to Washoe. 19.91 Virginia and Trnckee Rail- road. Carson to Warm Springs. Distance in miles. 0 ^ Si . 0 Qt £? ta S'« s a t''^ Bemarks. s» ^ 0 m « 0 0 13 ^■a a a n N ^ < Carson At the capital. State-prison. Warm Springs ■ APPENDIX NN. From McKinney'8, Lake Tahoe, Cal., to Truekee, Cal. 1237 McKinuey 'a Blackwood Creek. Saxton's Saw-Mill Tahoe City Claraville Knoxville Truekee Distance in miles. §5 o o 3.48 3.30 2.29 5.56 4.74 4.93 3.48 6.78 9.07 14.63 19.37 24.30 24.30 20. 82 17.52 15.23 9.67 4.93 Ramarkg, North of Sugar Pine Point At hotel. Deserted mining-camp. Toll-house, Truekee and Ta- hoe turnpike road. Central Pacific Eailroad. From Virginia City, Nev., to Dayton, Nev. — Atlas-sheet No. 47D. Virginia City , Silver City Johntown Gold Canon Toll- House Dayton Distance in miles. 3.74 1.72 1.37 0.68 3.74 5.46 6.83 7.51 7.51 3.77 2.05 0.68 Eemark& At the International HoteL At the flag-staff. At the post-office. From Virginia City, Nev., to Carson, Nev. — Atlas-sheet No. 47Z). Distance in miles. > o ^ ^ ■ -« 10 10 .5 '3 ri Eemarkg. o-S tX) £ a n lA > o 3 ^•S E a o 2 o < 3.74 10.73 "'3.'74' 14.47 14.47 10.73 At the International Hotel. At the capital. 1238 REPOET OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, From Virgmia City, Ker., to Steamboat Springs, Nee. — Atlas-sheet ^ID. IHetance in miles. Kemarks. Virffinia City Toll-House rive-Mile House .. Magnolia House... Steamboat Springs 2.51 3.17 3.22 3.25 2.51 5.68 8.90 11.15 11.15 8.64 5.47 2.25 0.00 At International Hotel. On Geiger grade. Do. Foot of Geiger grade. Virginia and Truckee Rail- road. From Carson City, Nei\, to Eotvland's, Cah — Atlas-sheets Kos. 47 D and b6B. Distance in miles. 0 ,0 a ©^ 0 .2-3 < 5 to ai 11 3 a o i o B o i 1 g Remarks. Carson 9.41 2.55 0.85 2.39 3.32 2.33 4.15 0.90 2.59 '"'9.' 41 11.96 12.81 15.20 18. 52 20.85 25.00 25.90 28.49 28.49 19.08 16.53 15.68 13. 29 9.97 7.64 3.49 2.59 4,665 At the capitol. On King's Canon road. Glenbrook Zephyr Cove Rowland's . . From Bowland's, Cat, to Genoa, Nev., (via Kinsgiury grade.) — Atlas-sheet 56 jB. c a H ft « Rowland's Small's Station Summit Kingsbury grade Haines's Genoa Hot Springs Genoa 3.48 3.22 5.04 1.14 1.88 ance in miles. > -i "d ■2^ (S e« ^ la .« c3 0 0 m a a a a 0 0 pR fH < 14.76 3.48 11.28 6.70 8.06 11.74 3.02 12.88 1.88 14.76 Remarks. APPENDIX NN. 1239 LIST OF ROAD-DISTANCES BETWEEN PROMINENT POINTS, MEANDERED BY PARTV NO. 4, CALIFORNIA SECTION, 1876. Carson, Nev., to Austin, Nev., rontes Nos. 1, 2, and 3. Mound House, V. & T. R. R., to Dead Horse Well. Wadsworth, C. P. R. R., to ^lason Valley. Wadsworth, C. P. R. R., to Dead-Horse Well. Wadsworth, C. P. R. R., to Lodi Mining District. Wadsworth, C. P. R. R., to Elsworth and lone. Austin, Nevada, to Elsworth, Nev., via Lower Reese River Valley. Austin to Elsworth, via lone, Nev. Austin to Schmidtloin's, Kiugstoa Cafion, Dead-Horse Well to Elsworth, via Old Wellington Road. EOUTE No. 1. From Carson City, Nev., to Austin, Nev. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 47D and 48 C tj- D. Carson ... Empire. Mound House , Dayton Cooney'e Carson River . Eagtown Saint Clalr'8. School-honse Hill & (jrimes's . Sand Spring. "West Gate .. Middle Gate. White Rock. Cold Spring . Patterson's.. New Pass . . . Mount Airy . Jacobsville . . Austin Distance in miles. 00 GO 3.66 3.45 5.06 16.50 14.15 10.25 3.87 6.28 6.47 16.51 20.06 3.11 3.39 7.11 10.86 14.00 9.25 10.00 7.25 o 12.17 28.67 4-2. 82 53.07 56.94 63.22 69.69 86.20 106. 26 109. 37 112. 76 119. 87 130. 73 144. 73 153. 98 163. 98 171.23 171. 23 167.57 164. 12 159. 06 142. 56 128. 41 118. 16 114.29 108. 01 101.54 85.03 64.97 61.86 58.47 5L36 40.50 26.50 17.25 4,699 4,553 4,376 '4,070 4.002 3,989 3,920 3,944 3.926 4.504 4,703 4,818 5,418 5,213 6,786 6,594 Remarks. Capital of Nevada. On Carson River; number of mill. Station Virginia and Truckee Railroad. On Carson River; town of. Hay Ranch; water; no wood. Log cabin ; wood and water ; little glazing. "Water; little wood; forage purchased. Bridge; little wood; forage purchased. Ranch; no wood; good graz- ing. "Water, wood, and forage all purchased. Good water; no wood; no grazing. Good -water; no wood; little grazing. "Water ; no wood ; little graz- ing. Good water ; no wood ; little grazing. Ranch on Edwards s Creek ; no wood ; grazing. "Water in spring. "Water; little grazing; no wood. Reese River ; no wood ; little grass. City of. Note.— The above is the usually-traveled route, and the best road between Carson and Austin, excep ■■ that from Patterson's to Austin. The rotite;via Smith's Creek (see Route No. 21) should be taken if accommodations are required en route, there being none between Patterson's and Jacobsville 1240 REPORT OP THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. KOTJTE NO. 2. From Carson City, Kev„ to Austin, Nev. — Atlas-sheets Nos. M D and 48 D. Carson Dayton. Old Fort Churchill Biicklands' Old Well Carson Lake Sulphur Spring Sand Spring Patterson's Antuines Birchini's Half-way House . . . Austin Distance in miles. > ^ s _>» ^'H '^ ■£ a ^ > g.2 o .5 c <^ ci p o at » <0 O <1 r3 n a a S M N f^ < 12.17 21. 39 J. 11 174. 16 101.99 4,699 4,376 33.56 140. 60 4,258 34.67 139. 49 4,151 11.19 45. 86 128. 30 11. 50 60.36 113. 80 3,883 13.81 74.17 99.99 3,972 8.00 82.17 91.99 3,926 44.53 120. 70 47.46 5,213 14. 37 141.07 33.09 6,517 23.32 163. 39 10.77 5,743 5.08 5. d9 168. 47 5.69 5,726 174. 16 6,594 Remarks. See Route No. 1. On Carson River, (deserted.) Toll - bridge over Carson. Ranch. Houtons, (deserted,) no grass or wood. Little grass; poor water; no wood. Road station ; wood and for- age purchased. Road station; water, wood and forage purchased. See Route No. 1. Smith Creek, Milk Ranch; forage must be purchased. Reese River; ranch; no tim- ber; forage must be pur- chased. Well ; no wood. Wood and forage purchased. From Buckland's to Sand Spring is a deserted road and without accommodations at present, between Bucklands' and Sulphur Springs, the first telegraph and old stage road. Also, from Buckland's, Route No. 1, can be joined via Gates, on Carson River, (8 miles,) and striking the first route between Coney's and Log Cabin, (10 miles from Gates,) about six miles from Log Cabin. ROUTE NO. 3. From Carson City, Nev., to Austin, Nev. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 47 D aiid 48 D. Distance in miles. o P- o S) oS -a s < o u fe'3 3 i 1 < a o Remarks. Carson 56.94 3.72 ia7i 14.55 0.95 21. 50 64.97 176. 34 119. 40 11.5.68 101. 97 87.42 86.47 64.97 'eo.'ee' 74.37 88.92 89.87 111.37 176. 34 4,699 3,989 3,978 3,954 "'5,' 88a 4,504 6,594 Capital of Nevada. S lint Clair's Station Stillwater County seat of Churchill County, Nev. Poor water ; wood ; no grazing. Wood ; no water or grass. Good water; no wood : forage purchased. See Route No. 1. City of. Mountain Well Summit West Gate Ranch about one-fourth mile beyond "Crossing." Old mining town. La Plata, 3 miles from " Summit," is reached by road that turns to the north at this point. There is a telegraph station at Stillwater, and this road follows the telegraph line to West Gate, thence to Au,?tiu the telegraph is via New Pass and Mount Airy. This was the last route of the Over- land Sitasfe Company. From S5ill water there is a road (little traveled) to Sand Spring, distance 21 miles. APPENDIX NN. 1241 From Mound House to Dead-Horse Well.— Atlas-sheet No. 57 A. Mouud IIouso Dajton Toil-Cxato , Churchill Canon Forks of road Schwartz First Crossing irason's Goiger's Lee's Mill Indian Agency... Double Spring" .. Dead-Horao Well Distance in miles. 5.06 11.0-2 9.84 3. 4fi 6.19 5.12 6.00 1.40 0.60 17.80 9.00 19.00 IP. 08 25.92 29.38 35.57 40.69 46. 69 48.09 48.69 66.49 75.49 94.49 94.49 89.43 78.41 68.57 65.11 58.92 53.80 47.80 46.40 45.80 28.00 19.00 4,376 4,260 4,272 4,345 4,348 4, 352 4, 350 4, 120 4,117 Remarks. Station, Virginia and Tmckee R. R. Town of. Carson River bridge. On Carson River ; ford near. Water and little wood: no First ranch in Mason Valley. Portion \yalkcr River; no timber; grazing. Ranch. Near second ford (main) Walker River. Water-mill. Lower crossing W. R. ford. Water; no wood. Water ; no wood or grazing. From Dayton, a toll-road is being constructed through Mason Valley toward Bellville. Dead-Hor.se Well is called 50 miles from Bellville. This road is now constructed to its junction with the road from Bucklauds to Mason Valley. From Churchill Canon the leftliand road, making a small detour to the east, passes a well and station on the Buckland road, (also) 2 miles from Churchill Cafion. The construction of bridges, as contem- plated, over the Walker River, near Lee'a Mill will materially improve and shorten this toll-road. From Wadsworth, Nei\, to Mason Valley Post-Office. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 48 C ^- 57 A. Wadsworth Bucklanda RoadfromDayton{g-^J-^,^- Schwartz First Crossing W. River Maaou Geiger Mason Valley Post-Office Distance in miles. 27.08 7.25 2.00 6.19 5. 12 6.00 1.40 1.50 34.33 36.33 42.52 47.64 53.64 55.04 56.54 go P CD 56.54 29.46 22.21 20.21 14. 02 8.90 2.90 1.50 4,102 4,151 4,259 4, 272 4,345 4,348 4,352 Kemarka. Station, C. P. R. R. Ranch ; toU-bridge over Car- son. Well of good water; station. First ranch in Mason Valley, Grazing; no timber. Ranch. Near second ford (main) Walker River. Small settlement. Stockton Well, an old stage-station on the overland route, is near this road, and about nineteen miles from Wadsworth; the station is deserted. 1242 EEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. From Wadsworth, Nev., to Dead-Horse Well. — Atlas-sheets Xos. 48 C ^- 57 A. "Wadsworth Desert Well Kagtown Saint Clair Station School-House Hill ifc Grimes Sulphur Spring Salt Well Cox's Station Summit Deep Hollow Dead- Horse Well.. Distance in miles. > ® o a- oS a » o a 1 o a OP a 2 1^ 15.70 6.45 80.68 64.98 4,102 4,031 22.15 58.53 4, 002 3.87 2G.02 54.66 3,989 6.28 6.47 32. 30 48.38 3,920 38.77 41.91 3,944 10.20 3.45 5.84 48.97 31.71 3, 972 52. 42 28. 26 4, 020 58.26 22.42 4,379 5. IG 63. 42 17.26 5,602 3.30 66. 72 13.96 5, 244 13.96 80.68 4,117 Kemarks. Station, C. P. R. K. No wood or grazing. Carson Iliver; little wood; forage purclia.sed. Bridge over Carsou ; little wood; forage purchased. Ranch ; no wood ; good graz- ing. Water ; no wood or grass. Poor water ; no wood or grass. No wood or water; little graz- ing. No wood or water ; little graz- ing. No wood or water ; little graz- ing. Water ; no wood or grazing. The above is the road over which freiaht is now transported from Bcllville, Nev., Dead-Horse Wei being about tifty miles from Bellville. Water for the use of the stations is hauled to Salt Well, Cox's Station, and Summit, from near Sulphur Springs, and to Deep Hollow from Dead- Horse Well. From Wadsworth, Nev., id Lodi, Nev. Wadsworth Desert Well Ragtown Saint Clair Station Hill & Grimes Sand Spring West Gate Muddy Spring Summit Chalk Well Welsh's Lodi Distance in miles. a 3 P » 15.70 6.45 3.87 12.75 16.51 20.06 11.96 7.46 10.25 22.15 26.02 38.77 55.28 75.34 87.30 94.76 105. 01 108. 29 108. 29 92.59 86.14 69.52 53.01 32. 95 20. 99 13.53 3.28 4,102 4,031 4,002 3,989 3,944 3,926 4,504 6,219 5,690 5, 236 5,356 Remarks. Station on Central Pacific Railroad. Water; no wood or grass. Carson River; little wood; forai^e purchased. Bridge over Carson; forage purchased. Ranch ; forage purchased. Forage, wood, and water pur- chased. Good water ; no wood ; forage purchased. Winter spring J mile south; little wood or grazing. AVater; no wood or grazing. Water; no wood; little graz- ing. Mines; no wood; no water; little grazing. APPENDIX NN. 1243 From Wadsioorth, Nev., to Ellsicorth and lone, Nev. — Atlas-sheet Xo. 57 B. Distance in miles. a ts Bemarks. ■W.itlsworth Desert Well Kagtown Saint Clair Station Hill & Grimes Sand Spring West Gate Mnddy Spring Summit. Chalk Well Burnt Cabin Sumuiit ... Forks road to Ellsworth Ellsworth 15.70 6.45 a 87 12. 75 16.51 20.06 11.96 7.46 4.00 0.50 9.50 22.15 26.02 38.77 55.28 75.34 87.30 94.76 98.76 99.26 108. 76 108. 76 98.06 86.61 82.74 69.99 53.48 33.42 21.46 14.00 10.00 9.50 4, 102 4,0al 4,002 3,989 3,944 3,936 4,504 6,219 .5, 690 6,552 6,871 Station on C. P. K. R. Water ; no wood or grass. Carson River; little wood; forage purchased. Bridge over Carson ; little wood ; forage purchased. Ranch ; little wood ; forage purchased. Forage, wood, and water pur- chased. Good water ; no wood ; forage purchased. Winter spring J mile south ; little wood or grazing. Water ; no wood or grazing. Scant timber ; no water. Mining town ; forage, &c., purchased. From "forks of road" lone is distant 14.5 miles. From West Gate a route may be taken to Chalk Well, as follows : To White Rock, 6.500 miles ; water ; no wood or grazing; East Gate, 2.710 miles j water; little wood, (ranch;) Chalk Well, 14.000 miles; water; no wood or grazing ; total, 23.21 miles. From Austin, Nev., to Ellsworth, Nev. — Alias-sheets Nos. 48 D and 57 B. Distance in miles. 0 a < o a o a i=. a 1 .a 1 a s Eh Remarks. 8.69 4.00 11.25 9.56 10.05 11.76 ' "12.19" 23.94 33.50 43.55 55.31 55.21 46. 52 42. 52 31.37 21.81 11.76 6,594 6,014 '6,253 6,137 6,537 6,871 City of. Wei!; forage, etc., purchased. Ranch, Reese River. Crowley's Summit Peterson's Cabin Scant timber ; no water. Ranch; forage, &c., purchased. Spring; nowood;Utt1egrazing EUs worth Mining town ; wood plenty ; forage, &c., purchased. Road but little used. Grade is good. 1244 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. ROUTE No. 1, VIA lONE, NEV. From Austin, Nev., to Ellsworth, Nev. — Atlas-sheets Nos. 48 D and 57 B. Anstln Silver Age . . Abie's Kanch Elkhorn , McMahon's . Summit lone Ellsworth . . . Distance in miles. > ^ M ©-S a o.g ^ S'Z u 3 s a P< p ^ S o •< H rs ^•^ a g a « Eh i=( < 8.69 11.77 60. 54 6,594 51.85 6,014 20.46 40.08 5,990 5.680 17.46 4.690 3.250 26.14 34.40 6,123 43.60 16.94 6. 552 48. 29 12. 25 7, 488 51.54 9.00 6,844 9.00 60.54 6,871 Remarks. City of. Wellj forage, &c., purchased. Reese River; forage, &.C., pur- chased. Do. Do. Ti«ber; no water. Mining town; wood plenty; forage, &.C., purchased. Do. Good wagon-road. Buck-board carries the mail and pas.senger8 from Ellsworth to Austin. Austin is distant 88 miles from Battle Mountain ; Central Paciflo Railroad is connected by stage-line. Ranches are found at short intervals from Ahles to McMahon's, along Reese River. From Austin, Nev., to Schmidtlein's Ranch. — Atlas-sheet Xo. 48 D. Austin Silver Age Mouth Big Creek Cafion Forks of Big Creek Summit, (south fork) Sterling Mill ._. Mouth Kingston Canon, Schmidt- lein's Ranch. o Distance in miles. > -§ -^ ,^3 a -a a &^ to -^3 ^+3 a Si B M Ph Eq <1 8.69 3.80 2.00 3.20 9.60 1.00 28.29 19.60 6,594 6,014 12.49 15.80 14.49 13.80 6, 982 17.69 ID. 60 8,675 27.29 1.00 6,818 28.29 6,220 Remarks. City of. ■Well; forage, ifcc, purchased. "Water; little wood and grass. Water; little wood and grass. Water; littlewood andgrass. Water and grass. Schmidtlein's Ranch is on the west side of Big Smoky Valley. This is the middle pass through the Toyabe range, from Reese River Valley to Big Smoky Valley, The northern one is at Austin and the aoutbern one by Ophir Caiion. ?«?cv t:^^"- INSERT FOLDOUT HERE APPENDIX NN. 1245 From Dead-Horse Well to EUsxvorth, Ker. — Attas-sheets Xos. 57 A avd 57 B. Dead-Horse Well Hot Springs — Old Well Snnimit Ellsworth Distance in miles. tf-;: 10.65 15.32 8.30 3.50 a 25.97 34.i27 37.77 37.77 27.12 11.80 3.50 £■3 4,117 4,212 7,602 6,371 Remarks. Good water ; no wood orgraz- ing. Water; salt grass; no wood. Not used ; no wood and little Rrass. Timber; little grazing. Mining town; wood, water, and forage. Dead-Horse Woll was a station on the Wellington .stage road from Walker River to Reese River; it is al.so on the direct road from Wadswortli to Bellville, and from Maeon Valley to Bellrille, 50 milea from the latter. PROGRESS MAP. The changes noted on this sheet are, in addition to the marking of areas occupied and proposed for the season of 1877, and the stage of prosecution of map results, the positions of the present Indian agencies, the naming of railroads, and an addition of practical data showing the changes in lines of communication, military posts, &c., within the year. The short season rendered it impracticable to add so large an area as usual to that already covered in previous years by the several topo- graphical parties, and my own time was spent principally with the party operating in the Lake Tahoe region and in the Washoe mining district, after concluding the organization of the Colorado section. The immediate vicinity of Lake Tahoe has been so often described, and the later maps will aftord so much that is an improvement to the present idea of its mountain pictnresqueness, that I need only add my regret that the spoliation of the forests along its shores has become 80 rapid, in aid of the mines of the Comstock, that shortly the horizon from lake-level will be bare of the covering that has lent so much to the natural beauty of this peculiarly interesting region. Indeed, could the title of the Government be again made perfect to this part of its domain, one might be justified in recommending its segregation from the "pub- lic lands," that the natural beautj^ of the forest might be permanently reserved as a part of a lake region so unique. PROFILES. The aneroid profiles joining most of the points of importance within and immediatelj' adjacent to the field of survey have been prepared, and have become a matter of office record. A special profile-map of the continental divide from Gray's Peak, Col- orado, to latitude 35° in New Mexico, has been prepared, showing the elevations of the prominent peaks and passes, and upon it is projected the profile of the ridges facing the plains from the head of the Arkan- sas southward to the latitude above mentioned. As the passes leading westward and lying between Gray's Peak and Sherman, the highest point on the Union Pacific Railroad, (8,242 feet,) are known to be each of greater elevation than those necessary to be crossed, as shown by the sketch, in going southward until near latitude 35^, it appears that any through railroad route to the Pacific, south of the Union Pacific Kailroad, will necessarily encounter elevations equal to those given. I24G REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. It does not seem practicable to avail of any new pass for a throagh western line of railroad between latitude 35^ and 40=', except that at the head of Pass Creek, a southern branch of the Huerfano that heads near the source of the Sangre de Cristo Creek, and where, by means of tun- neling, a transit of the summit should be made, at an elevation not exceeding an altitude of approximately 9,100 feet above sea-level. NATURAL RESOURCES. Upon the sheets in colors, showing the natural distinctions of the surface occupied, the following divisions are made: . . , ^, 1 AraMe.—This refers to soil susceptible of cultivation by the use of water, when it is apparent that the supply is adequate, assuming that irrigation is necessary. .... ^i ^• 2. Grazing.— O^ the various grades, often infringing upon the tim- bered area. . , ... , , 3. Timber.— ThQ gradations in amount, size, and quality cannot be ^"^4 Arid and ftarren.— This embraces that part of the surface absolutely valueless for agricultural purposes, and includes desert wastes and rock exposures. ^ , . , The positions of mines in place and placer are at present shown only on the regular topographical sheets. . The topographical sheet upon which these divisions are marked is a reproduction from the original sheets regularly issued. A legend is attached to the case of maps, giving the geographical locality ot each. A description, supplemented now by the maps themselves, ot sheets 61B, GlCc, 6oD, 70A, and TOG, is given in the last annual report. BAROMETRIC ALTITUDES. Work in the meteorological branch has been confined principally to the takino- of observations with a view to their subsequent computation and determination therefrom of differences of altitude between known points and those at which original observations have been taken, trood progress has been made. The altitudes are at once used in the construction of the mountain parts of the map, and upon the atlas-sheet the altitudes of the principal settlements and other marked points are noted, while from time to tiuie the altitudes of prominent peaks and other natural objects will be pab- lished in list form. i. t at The Sio-nal-Office, through the courtesy of General Albert J. 3iyer, Chief SigMial-Officer, has kindly furnished transcripts of observations taken at*a number of stations contiguous to the field of survey. MINING INFORMATION. Fifteen districts have been visited and located by the several parties. The cursorv examination that may be carried out hastily, in a district usually not long discovered, has been made, and the facts gathered made the subject of a report. , .• ^ 4.1 At the Comstock Lode, made famous from its large production of the precious metals, gold and silver, more extensive examination as to the eno-ineering features of its mining industry has been instituted ; added to the oveiWind survey of the contour and superficial improvements, undero-rouud examinations along profile lines separated one hundrea feet are in progress, and the circumstances of the mining openings upon the various levels will be noted, and the marked features discovered will be illustrated graphically. The conditions of ventilation and drainage will be made a matter of special study, as well as the application of INSERT FOLDOUT HERE APPENDIX NN. 1247 machinery to the lifting? of heavy weights from below the surface and the conditions of practice in the reduction of ores. If time and means permit, nothing will be left undone in the full and fair investigation of the present condition of mining industry iu this section, as evidenced by work already prosecuted. The Sutro Tunnel, well known as the most extended work of its kind in American raining, will bo examined in detail, and the rock-specimens gathered during its progress are likely to throw much light on the character of the several volcanic beds or "country rock" that make up the casings of the ore-bearing matter. The next annual report will give tiie progress made up to that date, while the finished results will endeavor to show in shape for permanent reference the present con- dition of this industry, now so well recognized in the western interior. In this duty I have been assisted by Mr. John A. Church, mining engineer, who has taken up the underground work with a commendable energy, and Anton Karl, general service, U. S. Army, who has been engaged in completing plane-table sheets, begun in the year 187G. THE EAGLE AND WASHOE VALLEY MINING DISTRICT, NEVADA. [From notes by A. R. Conkling.] This district was discovered and organized in August, 1875, since which time the North Carson has been worked continuously. Its post office is Carson, Nev. It is distant from railroad communication three miles. The nearest practicable route is a wagon road, direct to the Carson Mine, from the Virginia and Truckee Railway. It is bounded on the north by the divide between Washoe Lake and Carson Plain ; on the south by Carson River; on the east by the Como Mountains; on the west by the Eastern Summit Range. Area, about 25,000 linear feet, now taken up in North Carson Mine. Long and narrow in shape, the trend is generally north- east and southwest. Other ininiug-ledges are found in the vicinity, on the southern slope of the foot hills, with a general trend north and south. The general direction of lodes, deposits, and stratifications is northeast and southwest. The ore is richer, and the vein enlarges in descending. The wall-rock is granite. Its slope is nearly vertical. The clayey wall inclines slightly to the east. In age, the country rock is metamorphic, granite, and hornblendic granite. No fossils are found. Ores are worked by the free process. No water-level has yet been reached. Chloride of silver is the chief ore, with some sulphides. Silver is the principal metal, with a little mala- chite incrustating the wall-rock. The principal mines now worked are the Montreal, Emerald, Clear Creek, Niagara, (described in Whitehill's report,) and the North Carson. The North Carson is situated 3 miles due north of Carson City. It has one double-compartment shaft, 305 feet deep. The walls of shaft are well timbered. Timber can be hauled to the mine from flume at the rate of $12 per 1,000 feet. At every 100 feet in the shaft there is a station. At the foot of the hill there is a tunnel (JIO feet long, not yet (September, 1876) reached by the shaft. Two hundred feet from the mouth of the shaft a little rock has been broken, t. e., sufficient to reach the vein. At 100 feet level there is a drift 320 feet long. The mine has good ventilation. No ore has been sent away from this mine as yet. Vein of ore varies from 4 to 5 feet. Seventy-five thousand dollars has been expended in the mineral development of the North Carson Mine. The average cost of milling labor per day is $4. Cost per foot for sinking a shaft on a main vein is from SCO to $70, Average cost per foot for running a drift on a main vein, 830. Hay is $30 per ton. Oats, 3 cents per pound ; an abun- dant supply of both. Facilities for raising farm-produce are good. 1248 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Timber and wood abundant. "Water at ^North Carson Mine is brongbt from Virginia water-hoisting works. Main tapped If miles from Carson . There is one stage and several freight lines. Five churches, 2 school- houses, many stores, and 2 banking-houses. The Indians are those of the Washoe and Shoshone tribes, and are few in number. The principal silver-mining companies are the Korth Carson, Ayres and Hopkins, Gould and Barnhart, Ida Ayres, All Right, Ayres's Consolidated, Huston, and Montreal and Emerald. These companies are incorporated under the laws of California. NATURAL HISTORY. In geology, Mr. A. E.. Conkling submits a report of his observations made in the iSierra Nevada, in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe and to the southward, and has collected a number of fossils. His report upon the results of an examination of a number of microscopical section of rocks from various localities is herewith. Mr. H. W. Henshaw has made an ornithological report as the result of his season's labor, and, as well, has collected specimens in other departments of zoology. The results from further examinations by Dr. J. T. Eothrock and Prof. F. W. Putnam, the one in botany, the other of the archaeological collections, with their colaborers, will appear in volumes 6 and 7. The following gives a list, as prepared by Mr. Henshaw, of the various lots and specimens forwarded b}' the expedition to the Smithsonian Institution ; all of which have been donated to its museum, their prac- tical importance to the survey having ceased with the examination and reports made thereupon. The list is taken from the records of this office and those of the Smithsonian Institution : List of 7}atural-history collections forwarded to the Smithsonian I'uslittttioii during the years 1871 to 1876, inclusive. Subjecta. Vertebrate fossils j t^t'^'.'^^!'.:: Invertebrate fossils speciroens. „ , C sDeciuieus. Crustacea),'. < j-^g Moiiusca !K^;°^"!:: Mamraals specimens.. Birds and mammals, (alcoholic,) speci- mens. Mammal crania specimens. . Birds specimens.. Bird crania, (sterna, &c.) ..specimens.. Bird-skeletons specimens.. Bird-embryos specimens.. Bird-nests specimens.. Bird-eggs specimens . . Keptiles, (batrachians). .. 5 ^P^^cimens.. T,. , ^^ ( specimens. . ^'S^«s ^j^ts Hymenoptera j^!"!!"!:; T • J . ( specimens.. Lepidoptera | j^^^ specimens. Diptera H^,; Coleoptera {^^'!^^: Ortboptera IZf^.T/. Arachnida j L^t^!"".!"! '. Botanical specimens specimens, lots 126 12 135 27 15 3 1,300 135 1, 42C 522 4 10 20 550 109 275 48 100 5 1,506 600 6ti 135 37 659 31 4 20 193 950 192 850 109 450 43 288 141 50 13 4,500 240 500 48 250 20 250 23 3 ,055 22 6 11 750 140 650 91 4,200 211 1875. 500 1 100 1 1,000 95 43 26 18 793 9 14 750 153 800 116 790 483 162 1,200 18 100 16 200 14 150 15 10 2 150 83 8 350 49 50 3 ,000 34 Total specimens. 500 3,368 300 3,000 270 30 60 3,239 68 4 5 36 250 3,218 2,940 500 771 50 13, 300 500 350 '11,000 ■ Approximate. APPENDIX N N. 1249 PUBLICATIONS. Daring the year the followiug maps have been published : Progress map of 1877. Profile map (coiitiiiental divide from Gray's Peak to latitude ?>rj°.) Topographical atlas-sheets 53 O, 01 D, 05 D, 09 B, 70 A, 70 0, 77 B. The natural resources of five of these sheets, in colors, will be found accompanying the edition of the annual report, printed and placed at the disposal of this otBce. j\[ai)s in color showing the natural advantages of the area delineated in sheet 01 Cc, (San Juan.) and 01; (B,) Upper Arkansas Valley, are also added. The volume numbered four (Paleontology) has passed through the press. Proof of nearly half of volume II has gone to stereotype. The proof of a portion of the " Star Catalogue" mentioned in my last report has been read, and this valuable catalogue will be in the hands of ob- servers during the coming season, should longitude and latitude obser- vations be prosecuted. Two thousand copies of ray annual report (Appendix J J, annual re- port Chief of Engineers for i870,) have been published, with a folio of the regular atlas-sheets issued during the year ending June 30th, 1876. The following atlas-sheets, seventeen in number, are in various stages of completion, viz : 47 B, 47 D, 48 C, 48 D, 52 D, 62 A, 62 C, 09 A, 69 C, 73 A, 73 B, 73 C, 73 D, 77 C, 77 D, 78 A, 84 A. A number of sheets, enumerated below, have been plotted in various scales, and have either been published or are awaiting publication, as fol- lows : Lake Tahoe region, 1 inch to 1 mile ; route of party No. 1, Califor- nia section, 1875, 1 inch to 4 miles; map of Virginia City, Nev., and vicinity, 1 inch to 500 feet ; three plane-table sheets, Virginia, Nev'., and vicinity, 1 inch to 1,000 feet ; preliminary map of portions of northern Utah and southern Idaho, (for field use ;) sketch of cave in Nevada ; sketch, of personal-equation apparatus; plan of Ogden observatory; three sheets giving positions of astronomical monuments; detailed topo- graphical sheet showing results of Colorado Eiver and Grand CaQon exploring party of 1871. CONCLUSION. As regards the progress toward completion of the topographical atlas of the area of territory west of the 100th meridian, the progress-map, herewith, shows the advance made in that direction. The possibility of a more or less minute topographical survey of all of this extended region has not yet been made mandatory by legislative act, but Congress has appropriated money for a number of years. The use of this fund is limited to a fiscal year, and hence, unless an additional appropriation is each year made, which is often unknown until the current year has nearly expired, the project of operations, as a part of which the retention of skilled employes is requisite, cannot be made, until a date often later than the period terminating their office- work which is needed in the reduc- tions of the previous season's field-work ; and this is usually so late that full advantage cannot be taken of the entire summer-season. By an in- crease of assistants enlisted in the general service ;ind the detail of a number of engineer and other officers requisite for the command of the number of field-parties each year engaged, the expenditure for additional service can be limited to the small number of scientists engaged in special 79 E 1250 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. duties, and that of computers and draugbtsineu engaged in the tech- nical labors necessary to the rapid i)roduction of results. Without ad- verting to the advantage to the military service growing out of extended topographical surveys, it seems practical to urge the propriety of placing the item for the continuation of this work upon the "Army bill," which usually becomes a law earlier during the session of Congress than the sundry civil bill, (so called,) that frequently is not approved earlier than the middle of June, while parties for the field should be en route during the early part of May. ESTIMATE. For continuing the geographical survey of the territory of the United States west of the one hundredth meridian, provided the supply- branches of the War Department shall assist as heretofore; being for field and office work, and for the preparation, engraving, and printing of the maps, charts, plates, cuts, photographic-plate and other illustrations for reports ; for temporary office-room at points remote from Washing- ton, D. C, and the purchase at nominal rates of sites for field-observa- tories authorized by the Department ; for the fiscal year ending June 30,1879 1120,000 00 As follows : For expenses of parties in the field $45,000 00 For office-expenses, including salaries 10,500 00 For transportation, including purchase of animals 10,000 00 For material for outfits 6,500 00 For subsistence on expeditions 5,500 00 For forage, winter-herding, fuel, storage, &c 7,500 00 For purchase of instruments 6,000 00 For repair ot instruments 1,000 00 For temporary office-room at points remote from Washington 1, 000 00 For erection of observatories and monuments at astronomical and geo- detic stations 4,500 00 For purchase of sites for observatories 1,000 00 For preparation of maps, charts, &c 6,000 00 For engraving and printing maps, charts, photographic-plate and other illustrations for reports 10, 000 00 JFor contingencies, (field and office) 5,500 00 Total 1-20,000 00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT, Amount expended from appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, and from appropriation made available March 3, 1877 $35,329 87 Amount remaining unexpended July 1, 1877, from appropriation for con- tinuing the geographical survey cf the territory of the United States west of the one hundredth meridian for fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. 43, 492 64 All of which is respectfully submitted. Geo. M. Wheeler, First Lieut. Corps of Engineers, in Charge. Brig. Gen. A. A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers U. 8. A. Appendix A. EXECUTIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE REPORT OP LIEUTENANT ERIC BERGLAND, CORPS OF ENGI- NEERS, ON THE OPERATIONS OF PARTY NO. 1, COLORADO SECTION, FIELD SEASON OF 1876. United Status Engineer Office, Geographical Surveys West of 100th Meridian, Washington, D. C, April 15, 1877. Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of party No. 1, Colorado section, during the last field season : Owing to the late date at which the appropriation for the survey became available, APPENDIX NN. 1251 the party was not organized nntil the latter part of August, 1876, at the Rendezvous Camp ;it Fort Lyon, Colo., and consisted of myself as executive officer and iield as- tronomer; Louis Nell, chief toi)Ograi)her ; Francis Klett, assistant topographer ; Will- iam C. Niblack, nieteorologisti ; A. K. Owen, odometer recoi'der ; two packers, one cook, one teamster, and two enlisted men belonging to Company D, Nineteenth In- fantry. As the field season would be necessarily short, only a limited area could be covered and completed- hence that assifjned to me embraced portions of several atlas-sheets, for the completion of %vhich, sufficient topographical data had not been previously ob- tained. These incomplete sections lie in the southeast corner of atlas-sheet " .5iJ D," southwest corner of " .5:5 C," western portion of " (52 A," northeast portion of "61 D," and northwestern i)ortion of " 62 C." As it was necessary to go as far north as latitude 39° 20' and to the south as far as latitude 37° 40', it seemed advisable to complete the northern section first before the snow would interfere with our movements, and tri- angulatiou and tt)pographical work ; then to proceed southward and accomplish the work required in the San Luis and Wet M(»mtain Valleys. Subsequent events proved this surmise to be correct, as we had barely finished our work in the northern por- tion when we were greeted with a snow-storm on reaching Fairplay, the 13th of Oc- tober. After completing the organization, the party proceeded up the Arkansas Valley from Fort Lyon to Pueblo, Col. At this place several triangulation stations were occupied and monuments erected on prominent points in the vicinity. From Pueblo the main party proceeded to Canon City ; thence along the Fairplay road to the 17-mile ranch on Currant Creek, at which point we left this road and proceeded northeastwardly along the road to High Creek and camped on this latter creek, a short distance above the caiiou. Before reaching Canon City, a side party was detached in charge of the chief topographer which proceeded up Beaver Creek to the vicinity of its source, occu- pying the principal peaks south oi Pike's Peak, and establishing the courses and drain- age of the streams which flow south from this range and empty into the Arkansas River Ibetween Pueblo and Caiion City. The side party having joined the main party at High Creek, we proceeded along the Colorado Springs road to Florissant Post Office. From this point a number of topographical stations were occupied, and the surround- ing countrj' thoroughly surveyed. By your orders Mr. Klett was directed to proceed to Washington on the Ist of Octo- ber, and he left the party at this place ; at the same time I sent one of the enlisted men back to Fort Lyon, since his services in the field were no longer required. From Florissant, after crossing the South Platte River, we proceeded up Tarryall Creek to the junction of Rock Creek, then np this latter creek some 5 miles, where camp was established, and from whence the ascent of the Twin Cones was made. From Rock Creek the party proceeded westwardly across the upper end of South Park to Fairplay, thence south via the Salt Works and Trout Creek Pass into the Upper Arkansas Valley, down this valley to the junction of the South Arkansas River, thence through Puncho Pass into the San Luis Valley, and down the valley to the Mosca Pass. From camps in the latter valley several prominent peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range were occupied, a road to Sagauche meandered, and several mines visited and examined. Passing through the Mosca Pass we entered the Wet Mountain Valley and pro- ceeded to Rosita, where The main camp was established, from which side parties were sent out to occupy the necessary points in the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mouutain Ranges and Cuerno Verde Peak. Here the mines were also examined, and information gained as to their yield and prospects. From Rosita the party moved to Canon City by way of the Oak Creek Road, thence by the road which crosses the head of Little Fountain Creek to Colorado Springs. Here a base-line was measured and connected with our system of triangles, as well as with the astronomical monument, and Pike's Peak was ascended and occupied as a triangulation-station. From Colorado Springs the party proceeded to Pueblo and Fort Lyon, which latter place was reached December 10. The property was then disposed of according to your orders, and the party disbanded. The results obtained during the field season may be briefly enumerated as follows : Ten triangulation stations were occupieil, at which repeated angles were measured by means of an 8-inch transit theodolite by Bntf & Berger, reading to 10 seconds of arc. Fifty-one topographical stations were occ ipied and located by angles to the tri- angulation statious. The route of the party was meandered and measured with the odometer throughout. At Colorado Springs a base-line over 12,000 feet long was care- fully measured. The usual meteorological observations were taken in camp, on the march, on divides, and mountain stations, in accordance with your printed instruc- tions. Tf!e mines on the west slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range, and those at Rosita, were visited and examined. Tarryall Creek was gauged at camp 12, near McLoughlin's Ranch, on October 8, 1252 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. and its volume foiintl to be 27.5 cubic feor. per second, which may be considered as the miuiuiuin amount, as rain had not lalleu for several weeks previously. The geoloi;y, climate, and agricultuial resources of this region have been so ably described in previous annual reports and also by Professor Stevenson in Vo ume III of your quarto reports, that any detailed description by me would be snperfluons, hence I will nierelj' remark that an abundance of water, wood, and grass was found at Dearly all of our camps, except in the San Lu's Valley. The small valleys along the streams which enspty into the South Platte and Arkansas are occupied by se* tiers whose principal pursuit is stock-raising. Cousiderable portions of these valleys have been lei.ccd in and are uiilized for hay-laud and pasturage, as during severe winters, when there is a heavy snow-fall, the cattle mnst be fed on hay until the snow is re- duced in depth. Deer and other game wer-, frequently seen in the mountains after the Ist of November, aud herds ot anteloj)e in the upper portions of the San Luis Valley, and on the plains east of Pueblo. The streaius in this section are generally not well stocked with lish, none being found in some of the larger, as Tarryall Creek. An instance ot the devastating eltect (M violent rain-storms or cloud-bnrsts was observed at Duck Lake on the Tiirryall Creek. In the fall of 1875 a heavy shower of limited area burst over the mouutaius nu the east side of the creek, the water from which brought down so much earth and loos^ material that the stream was choked up, aud the water spread over the valley, converting some huiulreds of acres of hay- land into a miry swamp. The temperature during the day in September and October was moderate aud pleasant, the nights cool and refreshing. But little rain fell during these months, aud the sky was generally free from clouds, which circumstance greatly facilitated our triangulation and topographical work. In November, especially during the latter part of the month, the thermometer ranged during the day from 50° to be- low the freezing-point, while at night and on some mountain stations the mercury "went down to zero and below. Frequent snow-storms also interfered with our work aud movements, and made it extremely unpleasant for all members of the party, as well as necessitating the purchase of forage for the animal^ when the ground was covered with snow. MINES. The first mines visited are situated in the new district, in the vicinity of the head- waters of the North Crestou Creek. This district was (October 27) a'lout to be organ- ized under the name of Creston district. First discoveries were made in May, 1875, aud a number of prospecting shafts had been opened. But little ore had been taken out up to the time of my visit, as there is no mill at the mines and the ore is not rich enough to warrant the cost of shipment to any distance. Some of the quartz which has been milled gave a yield of $12 to |il5 per ton. Three to four thousand dollars have been expended in completing lines of communication to the mines. Timber is convenient and abundant on the slopes and in the gulches where the ore is found, and a sufficient supply of water is also available. The distance to the railroad is about 100 miles at La Veta by the way of Sangre de Cristo Pass. Grain and hay are raised in the valley, and can be furnished at the mines at 2^ cents per pound for oats and $15 per ton for hay. EL DOKADO MINING DISTRICT. This was visited and reported upon by Mr. Niblack. This district lies between South Creston aud Deadman's Creek, and is about 7 miles south of Creston district. It was organized in 1874, and a small town has been built which is called Sangre de Cristo Post Office. Two 5-stamp mills have been erected, but were not in operation when visited, October 29. The character of the ores is about the same as those of the tirst district, but the yield has not beeu sufficient to induce much exi^enditure in the devel- opment of the several prospecting shafts. HARDSCRABBLB DISTRICT, ROSITA. This district has beeu previouslj^ reported upou by Dr. Loew. Siuce his visit the Pocahontas, Humboldt, and Virginia mines have beeu worked continuously or nearly so, aud the yield has been satisfactory, although it has hitherto beeu necessary to transport the greater part of the ore to Denver for milling. A new mill, in which the leaching jnoress is used, was iiuished last December, aud a 20-stamp mill was in pro- cess of erection. The estimated yield of the three mines mentioned was for 1875 $40,000, and for bS76 $200,000 The average yield of ore re the stumps and roots of the fir and pine trees which were long ago cut down. When he gets as much as his donkey can carry, he loads him up and drives him back to the place where he has his wood- pile. It is a picturesque, but not a pleasant, sight to see a dirty Chinaman driving an overloaded donkey, i)ossibly lame and trembling with pain and exhaustion, along some lonely road. In the winter, when the snow is on the ground and the roads are impassa- ble in the country, John loads up his donkey with the smallest amount of wood which will make a respectable showing, and travels about the streets in search of some one who wants his load of wood more than they want a dollar. The Chinamen have never succeeded in making friends of the white men, and I cannot but think that the cause lies in their utter inoft'ensiveuess. They will submit tamely to all kinds of neglect, contempt, and abuse, and this only begets the feeling in the mind of the strong, hearty, world-buffeting American or European that they are unworthy of any consideration. In the land of fighting-men, they are the non-fighters, the cringing class; and as long as they are so, they will be treated in the same manner as at present. All the supplies, machinery, wood, lumber, &c., are brought to the market by the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, which is itself a wonder in that laud of wonders. It was first completed from Virginia to Carson in the winter of 1869 and 1870, and has since been extended to connect with the Central Pacific at Reno. It is an immense auxiliary to the mining interests of Nevada, as we see when we consider the vast amount of freight of all kinds carried and the great use it is in transporting ore to the mills. There are at the present time about fifty mines being worked or prospected on the Comstock and its branches, but of this number there are only five or six which pay ex- penses; all the rest are working on assessments. There are about 400 incorporations fin the Comstock, employing a nominal capital of $3,000,000,000. This would be the actual value of the mines incorporated with the stock at [)ar. Their values, at the ruling prices of June 1, 1S7G, according to the San Francisco Stock and Exchange Board, was $163,580,000. The following table, taken from the report of the State assessor for the quarter end- ing September 30, 1S7(), will give an idea of the condition of the principal mines : Abstract statement from the quarterly assessment-roll of the lyroceeds of the mines of Storey County, Nevada, for the quarter ending September 30, 1376. Name. Belcher* California Consolidated Vir- einia. t Chollar-Potosi*. ., Crown Point * Imperial Justice t Ophirt Overman* Total. O 30,936 $18 53,061 97 15, 660 9" 6,720 4,783 1,515 6,911 27, 358 439 S566, 976. 10 5, 156, 026. 84 1, 533, 308. 64 129. 998. 47 65, 676. 3." 94, 8.57. OC 214, 971. .3(1 969, 096. 7i 11, 393. 40 7, 742, 305. 00 ^216, 552. 00 354, 881. 48 315, 850. 05 142, 167. 83 15, 1.53. 50 62, 203. 50 273, 585. 00 17, 560. 0( _ o O t. CO 1351, 866. 00 742, 643. 70 191, 660. 30 74, 860. GO 18, 180. 00 76, 025. 50 328, 302. 00 5, 278. 44 $568, 418. 00 1, 445, 468. 43 1, 145, 036. 64 217, 027. 83 17(1, 000. .53 33, 333. 50 141, 684. 50 601, 8m. 00 22, 838. 44 4, 3«, 794. e: $113,39.1.22 3, 710, 55H. 41 613, 323. 45 25, 999. 6i' 13. 135. 27 61, 523. 5( 85, 988. 5-1 387. 638. m 2, 278. 69 5,013,841.5; J9, 335. 10 *80 per cent, (ieducted by law and exempt from taxation, too per cent, deducted by law and exempt from taxation. 1262 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. It will be seen from an examination of the table that the only mines which have a paying record are the California, Consolidated Virginia, Imperial, Justice, and Ophir The climate about Virginia City is wonderfully fine for the health and spirits of human beings. Ail through the summer it very seldom rains, and tlie meteorological records show an almost unbroken succession of cloudless, warm days and cool, delight- ful nights. The dryness of the atmosphere makes the heat very easy to bear, as long as the system has enough liquid to evaporate freely. The thermometer had a range ^very often of from 3.5<^ to 50° in the shade in a single day. One day I tested the sand on the plain below Sutro, and found it to be heated by the sun's rays to 135° F. That same night the thermometer went down to 44° F. I wish to expi'ess my thanks to every member of my party for their unceasing and cheerful co-operation, and to the citizens of Virginia and the neighboring towns for their uniform courtesy and kindness, and their readiness to aid us by every means in their power. Very respectfully, Thomas W. Symons, Second Lieutenant of Engineers. Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, in charge. Appendix D. EXECUTIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE REPORT OF LIEUTENANT R. BIRNIE, JR., THIRTEENTH IN- FANTRY, ON THE OPERATIONS OF PARTY NO. 4, CALIFORNIA SECTION, FIELD SEASON OF 1876. United States Engineer Office, Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, Washington, D. C, April 15, 1877. Sir: I have the honor to submit tha following report of the operations of Party No. 4, California Section, of the survey for the field season of 1876. The party was organized at Carson on the 1st of September ; Lieut. R. Birnie, executive officer ; J. C. Spillor, topographer; W. A. Cowles, meteorological recorder; 5. F. Wood, odometer recorder; Benjamin P. French, packer; Joseph Easten, assistant packer ; George Willig, cook ; Private Peter D. Niver, Company D, Twelfth Infantry. We were provided with one 10-inch and one'20-inch triangulation instrument, ( Wiirde- mann's,) two small theodolites, (Young & Sons,) pocket-compasses, two cistern and three aneroid barometers, (Green,) and wet and dry bulb and maximum and minimum ther» mometers; the meterological instruments having all been compared with standards, and a final comparison of the barometers made just before leaving Carson. Rations for twenty-five days were taken here, which, with instruments, bedding, &c., made a little more than 220 pounds per mule for the ten pack-mules. The number of riding- mnles was eight; we had also one extra mule and one bell-mare. I was instructed to complete with the party the surveys of Atlas-sheets 48 C and D, a previous expedition under this survey having passed through the eastern portion of 48 D, and Clarence King's survey of the fortieth parallel having embraced about two- fifths of the area of the sheets, along the north line, thus leaving us a belt of country running east and west about 116 miles, and north and south 36 miles, Austin, Nev., being in the northeast corner of the area. It was found necessary, however, to extend our routes considerably beyond these limits, for the purpose of carrying on the trian- gulation, and in these cases topographical notes were taken as well. Fremont in 1844 and 1845, and more particularly Simpson in 1859, had partially explored this country. DESCRIPTION of THE ROUTE. We left Carson City September 5, and, passing through Empire and Dayton, made our first camp, with the party of Lieutenant Symons, on the north bank of the Carson, a fevi^ miles below Dayton. The following day Mr. S]>iller and myself climbed a peak about 8 miles to the north of this camp, to determine, if possible, something of the mountainous character of the country we were about to enter ; but the point proved too low, and a topographical station was made. It was deemed necessary to occupy Mount Lyon, the highest peak in the vicinity, in order to connect our triangulation with the base being measured and developed by Lieutenant Symons's party. At Camp No. 1 the party was divided. Mr. Cowles, with the pack-train, proceeded down the Carson to Bucklaud's ranch, one day's march, meandering the route close along the north bank of the river, passing ranches at intervals along the river, and the APPENDIX NN. IZbd site of Old Fort Churchill. This was abandoned several years since ; tlie adobe bnildings are still standing in part, but the wood-work has been all removed. The remainder of our party forded the Carson at the camp, and, passing by the west of Mount Kaw, a few miles from the river came upon and followed the still excel- lent road that leads from Dayton to the old mining town of Como. This place, now entirely deserted, is situated at the summit and in the first saddle of the Como range, south of Mount Raw. In 1863 it was a tlonrishiiig tfjwu, and we were told two daily Hues of stages were running between the town and Dayton. The mines proved unre- muuerative, and it was soon abandoned, the renuiins of two or three houses now alone remaining. Wood in small quantities is hauled from the vicinity to Virginia City. There are two springs, one on each side of the divide, and about a mile from the summit. Several more s))ringH were found along the eastern slope of Mount Lyon, being about the head of Churchill Ciiiion, that nins to east from the range, and then turns north into the Carson ; waier flows only in the upper ])art of the canon. Mount Lyon was occupied September 8, and proved a most valuable station. This is the higliest peak in the Como range, and is distinctly visible from Carson City, from which it is about 16 miles distant, and bears nearly due east. Mount Kaw is in the same range, .5 miles to the north. Every prominent point afterward occupied was visible from Lyon. The Toyabe range to the east, 12.5 miles distant, the limit of our area in that direction, formed the horizon. Irregular low broken, and barren hills and desert flats seemed to extend to the great flat of the Humboldt, and Carson sink and lake ; the Carson River, winding eastwardly through these, was marked by a line of Cottonwood trees ; and to the southeast, some 20 miles distant, appeared the north bend of the Walker River, where, according to report, (except in Reese River Valley, away to the eastward,) we would find the only agricultural settlements, or country worth the farmer's toil. The rest was pictured as very barren indeed. Just beyond the great flat appeared the Sand Spring range, running north and south. The range is much depressed about the Sand Spring Pass, and this depression con- tinues to the next range, (although the two are separated by the Fairview Valley;) there it is the wash flowing westwardly, through Middle and West Gate, into Fairview Valley that cuts the range through and leaves no summit to surmount. The Fairview Peaks rise abruptly on the south side of the wash ; while on the north several parallel ridges of low hills rise steadily higher, and converge to Grant's Peak and the well- marked range to its north. The Desatoya range, still farther east, rises abruptly ■across this low vista, and gives the source of the drain through West Gate. Beyond the Desatoya could be seen the tops of the peaks in the Shoshone range, and beyond these the Toyabe, the highest of all, and running north and south with the others. The mountains looked, in the distance, barren enough, the valleys misty, and the whole doubly intf resting to us entering it as almost entirely strange; for it was remarkable how little information could be obtained of it in Carson City. It was seen that our primary triangulatiou must depend almost wholly upon points, without our area, and a scheme was projected by Mr. Spiller which was afterward suc- cessfully carried out. From Mount Lyon to Buckland's, to join the party by a direct route, we passed over a plateau of igneous rock to the east of the divide. This is a good range for cattle, and a number were seen about. In the abrupt descent from this plateau to the Carson we found ourselves in a canon where the intricate mass of bowlders and the steep sides made the passage almost impracticable; finally, coming upon Churchill Canon, which, toward its mouth, is a broad open drain, we followed to its junction with the Carson, just opposite old Fort Churchill, and thence about two miles along the south bank of the river, and crossed the bridge at Buckland's. Mr. Cowles came in late the same evening, having encountered a rough ascent over lava rock in occui>ying a station upon the ridge between the Carson and Walker Rivers. A low peak just north of old Fort Churchill was occupied by Mr. Spiller, and called Churchill Butte. September 11 we left this camp in two parties; the one to proceed by the wagon-road to Wadsworth, to occupy Tu-til Peak, near that place, and to pro- ceed thence to a rendezvous on the Carson at Ragtown ; the other followed the road along the north bank of the river and camped at Gates's ranch. Here Mr. Cowles and myself forded the river and occupied a station in the low range south of it. This is a range of barren hills in a desert ; they have caused the river to turn away sharply to the north to find a passage for itself. Late at night we recrossed the river to camp, with the pack-train at the Log Cabin. The river was too deep for the packs to cross ; they consequently moved along the north bank of the river, and had traveled abour ten miles. The next day we followed the river-bank and arrived at Ragtown. This is a rather dreary-looking place, containing only a couple of houses ; there is no culti- vated ground. It is the first station and the first good water out from Wadsworth, on the freight-road south from that place to Belleville, Ellsworth, and lone. Rugtown was a station on the overland staiie-road, which was running until the Pacific Railroad was finished. It is also the southern terminus of the 40-mile desert of the emigrant- route via the Humboldt River. The desert road extended from Humboldt Lake to 1264 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Ragtown. To be compelled to ahaudou there the exhausted cattle, with tlieir wagons, was no uncommon occuneuce with the emigrants. The road is not traveled now. The water of the Carson is made very muddy by the working of the mills upon its banks in the vicinity of Empire and elsewhere; while the soil of it.s banks is also ex- ceedingly clayey and alkaline. Below old Fort Churchill fording the river is by no means safe. As far as Gates's (Camp No. 3) mtich of the land in the Immediate vicinity of the river is taken u() and fenced in ; a little is cultivated, but it is better adapted for hay-ranches. Hay and Vtntte'r, for sale about the mines, are principally produced. The river is about 150 feet wide, the bottom generally soft and miry, the banks steep. The water is from 3 to 4 feet deep. There is a good bridge at Buckland's, (the first one below Dayton,) a passable ford at low water at Gates's, and another said to be at Davis's ranch, between Buckland's and Gates's. Except these ranches in the river- bottom, the Carson here flows through a very desert. A little above Ragtown we l^assed several deserted houses, in ruins, deserted since the overland stage-route was abandoned. At Ragtown the river is ({uite as muddy as above, aiul looks very treach- erous, with the shifting sandy bottom. Captain Simpson says of the water of Carson Lake, in June, 1859, " The water is of a rather whitisb, milky cast." Soda in quantity is obtained from a couple of small lakes 3 to 4 miles east of Rag- town. The water is simply run into earth vats, allowed to evaporate, and sink into the soil, when the soda remains sufiQciently refined for transportation. jMr. Cowles visited these lakes September 15. I returned the same day from Wadsworth, bringing with the pack-train a lot of barley for our future use. On the 16th we left this place. Mr. Cowles having directions to proceed with the pack-train by way of the Ellsworth freight-road, and await my arrival at West Gate, Mr. Spiller and myself took the old overland road, along which follows the Western Union Telegraph line. We camped at Stillwater, on the slough that connects Carson Lake with the Hnmboldt'aud Carson Sink. Stillwater has a telegraph office and about half a dozen houses. It is the county-seat of Churchill County, Nevada, but at present being remote from travel, is very isolated and dull. There is good land in the vicinity, and artesian wells could undoubtedly be used to advantage. The distribution and flow of the water of Carson River are very remarkable. Three and a half miles below Ragtown the river separates into two nearly equal streams ; the left branch, about 2 miles further on, again divides, this mak- ing three streams. The central one is called New River. The country here is a great flat about 4,000 feet above sea-level ; on the south side is the Carson Lake, shallow, but with generally well-defined shores. It is about 9 miles in length by 6^ in width. On the north side where the river enters there is swampy ground. This lake is connected with the Carson and Humboldt Sink by the slough before mentioned, which runs nearly north and south, and is about 22 miles in length. The first branch of the Carson flows into Carson Lake, New River enters the slough, and the third branch turns to the north into the siiik. The sink is of much greater extent than the lake. The alternate tongues of water and land, the little islands and pools which form its southern shore, show from a distance the marshy character of the land, and indicate a shallow body of water, and a surface that would be sensibly af- fected by changes in the water-level. The Humboldt River enters this sink fi'om the north. I was told by persons living along the slough that at times the flow of water in it would be toward Carson Lake and the reverse, depending upon the relative height of the water in the two lakes. At the time of our visit there seemed to be a scarcely perceptible set toward the sink. Captain Simpson, when camped upon this slough, in June, 1859, says: "Carson Lake voids itself raijidly through it to its sink to the north." The freight-road followed by Mr. Cowles crosses the Humboldt branch of the Car- son at Saint Clair's Bridge, and follows on the east of and near the Carson branch. The slough is also crossed by a bridge at Hill and Grimes, 2i miles from Carson Lake. The travel along this road to Belleville, &c., has made a market for farm-products. There is a number of ranches and one school-house. We also find ranches on the Humboldt branch. The Stillwater road crosses this by a bridge about three miles from Saint Clair's. The land in this flat, away from the water, is very sandy and almost desert. Bfith our parties left this valley on the east, and crossed the Sand Spring Range into Fairview Valley, near the east side of which our routes came together at West Gate. Mr. Cowles crossed the range at the Saud Spring Pass, halting there one day to occupy a mountain station. At Sand Spring water costs 25 cents per head for the animals per night, and wood could scarcely be purchased. From Stillwater, by the old road, I entered the foot-hills about 18 miles to the north of Sand Spring. We left the road at the summit, and spent several days in the mount- ains aVtout La Plata and Tarogqua Peak to the north. The range here is called the Silver Hill Range. Tarogqua Peak rises very abruptly from the plain just east of the southern end of APPENDIX NN. 1265 tLe sink. Tho summit is 4,800 feet above the lake, and from it a fine view was ob- tained. About this peak tliere are unmerons8i)rinifs, and there is sumo woodhiud along the eastern slope of the range, bnt toward Sand Spring the range is cai)ped with vol- canic rack, and entirely destitute of wood and water, (Sand Spring being at the edge of a low flat.) By the road thesnmmit is about 18 miles from Stillwater, and Moan'aiu Well, within a half mile of the summit, is tho only water between Stillwater and West Gate; the water is now scarcely tit for use, the well having been standing open for several years. An old wagon-road leads from the summit to La Plata, about 15 miles to the north. Not many years ago this place, like Como, gave promise of being a flourishing mining- town. There still remain a lino stone and brick foundation and chimney of a large mill which was stopped in the building. A second mill U^as erected in Black Rock Canon, near by, about tho same time. Now the place has reverted to a pasture-ground for sheep and cattle. There are two small springs of water, one in an old tunnel near tho mill, and another half a mile to the north. Crossing Fairview Valley we found quantities of bunch-grass. The altitude of tho valley is but 4,000 feet, and it is a good winter range for cattli; in summer there is no water. Tbe drainage is toward the Humboldt salt-deposit, which is in the northern part of this valley. To the south and in the nj^per portion of the valley there is a large barren Hat. At West Gate the-e is a single house where travelers can be accommo- dated. Good water is obtained from a well. The telegraph office, until recently estab- lished here, has been discontinued. We ren)ained at this camp about a week, during which time, trips were made into the adjacent. country. One was by the Ellsworth freight-road as far as Tyler's Station, or Chalk Well, so called from tUe chalky appearance of the water, which does not rise more than a few feet in the well. To retU' n to We.st Gate we followed a road which connects these places, but makes a detour through East and Middle Gates. A station was occupied near Chalk Well, on the west side of which is a small spring. At East Gate there is running water and a small vegetable-farm, the nearest market to which is Ellsworth, 28 miles distant. An old road crosses the Desatoya Range here from Putnam Creek. It was made by Captain Simp.son, in 18.^9, in his outward route. (East Gate was called by him the Gate of Gibraltar, and the Desatoya Range the Se- daye or Lookout Mountains.) Following the water-course toward West Gate, water rises to the surface at White Rock. Here, at the junction of Captain Simpson's two roads, a station was built. The fork to the north, which he followed on bis return route, crosses the Desatoya Range by Edwards Creek Pass, and this one was afterwards used for travel. From White Rock our route was through Middle Gate, where water again was found at the surface, and thence to West Gnte. Very little Avood is to be found in the vicinity, the nearest to the station being about 11 miles distant on the east slope of the Fairview Range. This range is remark- able for the scarcity of water about it; although the peaks rise in even slopes more than 4,0 )0 feet above the Fairview Valley, and some wood and grass abound, yet no running water was found. A dry camp had to be made for the ascent of the highest peak. The formation at its summit is a flaky shale. One large spring is reported on the east. slope of the range and to the south of this peak. A number of cattle range the country and seem to subsist well, though the pasture is undoubtedly scant. It is believed the animals accustom themselves to remain a long time without water. In known cases they come to water at intervals of from thirty-six to forty-eight hours, and as soon as their thirst is satisfied start otf to the hills again. From West Gate the road by Cold Springs, &c., was followed to Patterson Ranch, on Edwards Creek, while a small party made a detour to the north, towards Grant Peak. We ascended along Bench Creek, a small but constant stream running to the foot-hills. Wood was plenty along it. Good pasture-land was found about the summit, there being a plateau of gra-s-land to the south of the peak. We camped one night near the summit to take ob.servations for azimuth from the peak. Thence we followed a trail that descends very abruptly to Cherry Valley, in the range, 3 miles to the north of the peak. In this valley and its surroundings several hundred head of horses .range, in a half-wild state. At Clan Alpine, which is near the mouth of the canon drain from Cherry Valley into Edwards Creek Valley, there is a small agricultural settlement. A njill erected by a mining company which commenced operations here some years since is now used as a barn. We cros.sed the valley to Patterson's, directly opposite. A s, cond observation for azimuth in connection with Grant's Peak was made at Patterson's, the teutin camp having been previously sighted from the peak. From Pattersou two roads lead to Austin ; the one to the north, with the tehgraph line, goes by New Pas", Mount Airy, and Jacobsville, and was the road last used by the stage company; the other is by way of Edwards Creek, Smith Creek, and Emigrant Pass, and thence several roads cross Reese River Valley to Austin. The Desatoya Range being next in order, we proceeded to work up its topography from New Pass south to the drainage of Putnam Creek. In the mountains there is 80 E 1266 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. plenty of water. It is found in nearly all the caiions on the west side, between Gib- raltar Creek at East Gate and Edwards Creek. Cedar Creek, next south of Edward's Creek, was meandered in ascending the highest peak from Patterson's. Edward's Creek, and the road aioug it, and through the pass to Smith's Creek, were meandered by Mr. Cowles. Ou the east side of the range the two important drains are Smith's Creek and Putuam Creek llowiiig into Sinitli's Creek Valley, but both sink soon after leaving the foot-hills. Ou Smith's Creek a quantity of laud is under cultivatitm. We were eucamped upon it for several days, at A. Maestretti's Ranch, who has title to the water- right of the stream. The laud has not yet been sectiouized by the land-burvey. Set- tlers already located have, however, the first right to purchase when the land is opened for sale. The country drained by these two streams affords a range for caitle that in the summer season, I think, can scarcely be surpassed in the State, and generally the winters are not too severe to pass in Smith's Creek Valley. This valley is at an eleva- tion of 6,000 feet above the sea-level. Two years since there was so much suow that it was necessary to feed hay to the cattle. This with a very large herd is impracticahle, and in that winter a number of valuable cattle perished. Fairview Valley, to the west, is 2,000 feet lower, and there cattle can range throughout the winter. Putnam Creek was meandered, and the return trip made by the flat in Smith's Creek Valley. Ou the western side of this flat is a number of hot springs. There are about twelve of these. The openings are ciicular, and descend in a conical shape — some of them apparently 6 feet deep. I had not with me a thermometer reading more than 124°, and could not tell the temperature, which was far above the indication of my thermometer. The water was quite clear; the flow very small. Bubbles rose at intervals to the surface. A piece of buckskin held iu the water was almost at once acted uuon, and when taken out was twisted and stiff and appeared like raw-hide. The circumferences varied from a few inches — mere openings— to one 3 feet across, which was the largest. There is little or no deposit, but some green and black to red fungus. The springs were in one line, extending north and south about 100 yards, on a slight rid^e, and on the slopes of which a little grass was growing. There were a number of cold spriugs, too, inter- mingled with the hot, but none of them had any flow, the water remaining at one level, and the springs trampled by cattle, so that there appeared no opening in the bottom of them, as in the case of the hot sittings. Two springs, the water of which is quite warm, are found about 6 miles to the north of them in this valley ; the cattle drink freely of their water. The barren flat in this valley covers nearly 20,000 acres of land. White sage grows ou the slopes to the hills ; of this the cattle are very foud. At this season of the year (October) there is no water in the valley. Simpsou,'in the spring of 1859, speaks of alake beingthere, and alsj of a considerable stream (Euglemau Creek) flowing between Smith's and Putuam Creeks. This creek was not to be seen. From Smith's Creek Mr. Spiller proceeded along the foot-hills to the north, to make a station in the range south of New Pass; afterward to join the nortliern road aud follow it to Mount Airy, aud thence to an appointed rendezvous at Birchim's ranch, on Reese River. The rest of the party followed the southern road, which led to the same point. This camp was 10.7 miles southwest of Austin. We remained there several days duplicating and arranging the notes of the party. Austin was visited, and Mount Promethens, near there, occupied. We are indebted to Mr. Melville Curtis, engineer of the Manhattan Mining Company, for the bearings and distance to connect this point with an astronomical monument previously established at Austin by this survey. The Reese River Valley presented a good base of operations for completing the su rvey of the eastern portion of our area, the same purpose that the Carson River and old over- land road with its water-stations had served in our route eastward. The valley of the river here lies between the Toyabe Range on the east and the Shoshone ou the west. The Toyabes rise above 11,700 feet aud the Shoshone about J0,000 feet. The two ranges converge at the head of the valley and range south into the desert, while the Toyabes to the north of latitude 39'= 30', and the Shoshone north of 39° 15' decrease in altitude and have little water. The river rises iu the Toyabes, about latitude 38^ 45', aud flows to the north. A second source is from copious springs, in the valley a few miles south of Birchim's, forming a branch that soon unites with the other. The river-bed crosses the Central Pacific Railroad at Battle Mountain Station, near which place it joins the Humboldt River; water nearly flows to its mouth. The ranges are well wooded, and some of the trees are fit for timber, but the growth is generally stunted. None of the cauon-streams of the Shoshone reach the river. The soil of the valley is much impregnated with alkali ; toward the upper part of the valley is a number of'grain-rauches ; barley is priucii^ally raised, the past season being an exceptionally prosperous one. The lower ranches ou the river are adapted to making hay. Mr. Spiller was assigned to work up the topography of the Toyabe Range. He en- tered the range by way of Big Creek, occupied Geneva Peak, aud then worked south- ward to latitude 39°. Once crossing into Big Smoky Valley by Kingston Canon, and then recrqssing the range to Washington, he finally rejoined the party at McMahon'a APPENDIX NN. 1267 Ranch. From this place he made a trip to Poston Peak, at the headwaters of Reese River. In this ranj^e, from Prometheus to Poston, a distance of 48 miles, six proni- iueut peaks were occupied. Severe weather was encountered by that party, with snow-storms and cold. Especially on Poston Peak the party suffered severely ; there Mr. 8pilier had both ears badly frozen. This w^rk occupied twenty days. In the mean tiniH the party moved up R(^ese River Valley. The road from Austin to lone was meandered tliroui^hout. Fr<»m Elkhorn the pack-train went to Washington, in the Toyabe foot-hills, to resnpply Mr. Spillcr's party. Willi Mr. Covvlcs, I made a trip of six days into the Shoshone Mountains. We recro-sed the valley to Washington, and then proceeded to McMahon's, to rendezvous with the other i>arly. In the Sho- shone Range, from Mount Airy south to loue Pass, a distance of 40 miles, seven prom- inent points on the main divide were occupied. The party was now ready to move westward, through the southern portion of our area, with the object in view to complete the survey ot the area in a north and south direction as wo moved. At our cain|> at McMahon's we separated as usual, the next rendezvous being appointed at Ellsworth. Mr. Spiller, Private Niver, and myself formed one party. Our route led us a second time to lone. This is a mining-towu ou the western slope of the Shoshone Mountains, a little ^outh of latitude .TJ^ :iO'. The mines have betru opened for some y- ars, and promised well when first opened. For several years back little work has been done in them. New capital at this time was awakening the place to a good deal of activity. The same may be said of the town of Ellsworth, across the valley to the west; here, however, new discoveries were also being made. From lone we crossed the lone Valley in a southwesterly direction, to Antelope Springs, in the Mammoth Mouutyins. This valley is but au extension south of the Suiith's Creek Valley, the divide betweeu them being very low. The Mammoth Range, here so called, is but an extension of the Desatoya Range. Paradise and P.ak Peaks, south of Ellsworth, were occupied. The range is not high, but there is an abundance of wood and a number of springs. lone Valley, east of it, is without water ; but it drains well to the south, and gives some pasturage instead of barren fl:its. To the west the range falls abruptly to barren foot-hills aud the Hot Springs Valley with its f^nge to Petersen's Ranch, in Smith's Creek Valley, aud thence proceeded south through lone Valley to Ellsworth. Ellsworth is several miles from the summit of the range, and on the eastern slope. The 'first mines were worked about the site of the town. Tie impetus now at work is derived from mines on the western or exposed slojie of the range. A new town, called Summit City, is being built at the summit, and near these mines. At prt sent water must be hauled there, but it can be brought in pipes from a spring at no great distance. From Ellsworth, Chalk Well was revisited, to complete the survey of the freight- road from West Gate. Our next camp after Ellsworth was at Welsh's Spring, near the mouth of Marble Falls Canon, aud at the base of the bluffs on the west side of the range. It is but 5| miles from Ellsworth. About 3| miles across the small valley, west of tins spring, is the Illinois mine, the principal one of the new mining district of Lodi. At Ellsworth, I engaged an Indian guide to take a small party through the very dry country lying between West Gate aud Hot Springs Valley. Mr. Spiller, the guide, one packer, and myself composed the party. The rest of the party moved southwest- erly to Hot Springs Vallej', aud camped there at some cold-water springs, wh. re they also fjund some grass for the animals^ but were badly off for wood. Our small i^arty was our four days. The first day, after having occupied the highest point in the hills just west of the Illinois mine, we marched northwest about 9 miles, and camped high up on the rocky slopes of a low peak that was occupied as a station the following day. At this camp the water was in a hole, under aud inclosed iu the solid rock, and besides being scarce was ve;y difficult to obtain. The guide gave us to understand, however, that in the spring we would liud there plenty ot water. The wood there was very scant sage-brush. Our .second camp was at a spring 7 miles west of this; this spring is hidden in a Hat 1268 KEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. body of rock; the water was plenty forns, though not abundant. It did not flow, bnt stood in tliesand of one of the rocky ravines. Here we were a few miles east of tlie F lir- view Mountains. Onr next camp was at an old arrastra on the west slope of a peak we called Slate Peak. This peak is in the southern extension of the Fairview Range, and there Avas noticeable another drain cutting through this range t.) the north of Slate Peak, with sides much more precijiitons, however, than those of the West G ite wash that cuts it to the north. Noticing also that Fairview Range is a ditterent formation from tluise in its vicinity, we can readily conclude that it is much ol )er. At the arrastra leferred to was worked the first ore from a mine supposed to be rich iu gold ; the loca- tion is at the head of Fairview Valley. A small mill (.'j-stamp) was afterward erected in Hot Springs Valley, where water was obtained by sinking a well. Want of capital is assigned as the cause for quitting the work. The mill is still standing and nearly complete. At the arrastra we managed to obtain a little muddy wattr by cleaning out the bottom of ati excavation previously m ule for that j)urpose; there were indications of a spring during part of the year. From this ])lace we crossed the divide at the head of Fairview Valley to Hot Springs Valley, following a road but seldom nsed since the mine ceased to be worked. The roa 1 led to the mill. The whole party then crossed the valley to Dead Horse Well, on the west side of the val ey. There is a copious flow of water from the Hot Springs, in the eastern part of the valley ; the water is too hot to bear the hand in it. Tbe deposit is like that of the springs in Smith's Creek Valley. The alkali flat in this valley contains about 14,000 acres. It is rich in borax, and has been worked to some extent. At Dead Horse Well observations for azimuth were taken, in connection with Basalt Peak near by,, which was occupied as a primarj^ trian- gulation-station. Belleville is south of Dead Horse Well, about 50 miles di-.tant. There are several wells at this place and an abundantsupply of tolerably good water. Our route thence was north, along the Belleville and Wadsworth freight-road, to Sulphur Spring, , in the Sand Spring flat, 31.7 miles. The road is along the west slope ot the S.iud Spring Range, and there is no water. At one of the stations (D.ep Hollow) water is scdd for $1.50 per barrel ; it is hauled a distance of 14 miles, from Dead Horse Well. Salt Well is a station three miles short of Sulphur Spring, but the water of the well is not lit fur drink- ing purposes. The Sand Spring flat covers an area of 20,000 acres ; it opens on the northwest to the Carson Slough; the divide is scarcely perceptible. The soil is wet, and water stands in the lowest part. The water at Sulphur Spring is not very good. Drinking-water is brought from the slough, 10 miles distant. There is a stat on at the spring. The wood used is brought about 50 miles, by the return freight-teams from Bellevilie. In the Sand Spring Range, nine pDiuts were occupied, from Tarogqua south to Basalb, 44 miles. We next moved by the southeast of Carson Lake to Allen's Springs. These are the calcareous springs spoken of by Simpson iu 1859. At the southwest of Carson Lake therd is a large area of porous alkaline ground, that is hut little raised above the surface of the lake, and comparatively recent beach-marks indicate the more modern overflows of the water. Our next rendezvous was appointed in Mason Valley. Mr. Spiller, with the train, proceeded south to Walker River, crossed it at the old Indian agency, and th.-nce moved along the road to Lee's Mill. With Mr. Cowles and one packer I returned to Carson Lake and camped on its southwest shore, near the ruins of an old station. The tnles said to be here formerly are entirely- g>ne. We had to carry an old telegraph- pole about lialf a mile to camp to make our tire ; there was no drift-wood. The tele- graph line formerly here now passes through R igtown, &.c. The mules would not driuk the water of the lake, even after they had been without water for more than 24 hours. The lake was swarming with water-fowl. From here we followed the old road west, past Houton Well, (now deserted,) to Buckland's, where had been our second camp out from Carson ; thence we proceeied, by the good wagoa-road, to M ison Val- ley. The Hot Springs iu the northern part of this valley have been long known. I here observe that there is an east and west water-shed extending across onr whole area from the Toyabe Range, and extending to the Sierras. Stirtiug around the head of Reese River, it joins the Shoshone, then divides Smith Creek and lone Valleys, and so contuuies to the west, about the latitude 39° 15'. It finally forms the divide between the Carson and Walker 'Rivers. It is most marked south of the West Gate Wash, the Farview Valley, and Carson Lakn to Buckland's. To follow from the mouth of Churchill Canon the broad open drain, one will be sur- prised to find that it separates from the canon about 4i miles fron the Carson, and continues with a very slight rise to the divide between the Carson and Walker Rivers, and from this divide to the valley of Walker River. The drain continues the same; indeed the summit cannot be perceived in traveling. Our barometric observations show a constant risa from the mouth of Churchill Canon sontli thtough this drain to Walker River. It would seem to indicate that there had been a connection at one APPENDIX NN. 12G9 time between the waters of the two rivers. It certainly presents a very easy pass from one river to the other. From Lee's Mill we marche(^ in two days to Carson City, following a new road re- cently established between Dayton and Mason Valley. We arrived at Carson on the evening of the 2Cth November, when I reported to Lientenant Tillman. Mr. Spiller made a trip from Carsou to Mount liosa and return before going East. MINING DISTRICTS. Four mining districts in operation were visited. Austin, next to Virginia City, is the center of the most prosperous mining district in Nevada. The Manhattan Silver Mining Comp;iny, owning several find miaes and a good mill, is now doing the princi- pal work, and is in active operation. A full report of this district has been made by Clarence King. UNION MINING DISTRICT. This district has been established about thirteen years. The first discoveries were made by A. J. McGee. It was at first worked actively about eighteen months, and iu May, l."^76, active operations again commenced. The present recorder is James F. Diiekett. The i)ost oHice is lone City, Nye County, Nevada ; George W. Veatch, post- mast(;r. A buekboard runs weekly fr(mi Austin, Nov. ; the distance is 51i miles. The nearest railroad communication is Wadsworth, on the Central Pacitic Kiilroad, rer a lack of means. These camps were staited at a time when mining was a rage in Ne- vada ; now it has sobered down very much. The success of Austin, and the undoubted fact that a large quantity of mineral does exist in these mountains, must lead us to hope that, with proper care aud management, a future day will see this a prosperous mining region. WORK DONE BY THE PARTY. The party was in the field 83 days, and including Mr. Spiller's trip to Mount Rosa, after our return to Carson, the following will indicate the work done, viz: Number of main camps 29 Number of side can)i)s 47 Number of miles meandered 1, 073. 89 Number of miles traveled and not meandered 633. 42 Number of mountain stations occupied with a 10-iuch or 20-inch instru- ment 22 Number of topographical stations occupied, being either iocluded in the triangulation or three point stations, with 30-inch instrument 70 Number of additional three-point stations 244 Number of aneroid-barometer stations 501 Number of cistern barometer stations 104 Number of variations determined by observations on Polaris 27 Number of azimuths determined 3 Number of latitudes determined by sextant 30 A great number of points were fixed by cross-bearings, care being taken in this re- spect with regard to every topographical feature of importance distinguishable from two or more stations. For this purpose twu methods were introduced by Mr. Spiller and used. In the first, all the sights to points, taken at an occupied station, were numl)ered consecutively around the horizon from one upward ; then, on sighting any one of these points from a second station, a convenient note was made, citing the number or designation of the previous station and the number of the sight from it to the point to be fixed by the cross-sight. In the second, on a sketch made from a prr.vious station, was record'^d in brackets, at the sketch of the point cross-sighted, the sight taken from a second station. Both these methods obviate the necessity of makiug more than one complete sketch of a view having nearly the same aspect from two dif- ferent stations. Thej'^ tend to cause stations to be occupied in pairs with reference to a number of prominent topographical features, aud this I believe to be an excellent practice. The altitude of points fixed by cross-sights was determined by angles of elevation or depression from barometric stations. 1272 EEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. TRIANGULATION. Theraain poinf.s on which onr triangnlation depends are: MonntRose, 10,820 feet; Mount Lyon, 8,815 feet; Tutib Peak, 7,002 feet; Basalt Peak, 0,599 feet; Faiiview Peak, 8,412 feet; Tarogqna Peak, 8,771 feet; Grant Peak, 9,905 feet; Desatoya Peak, 9,921 feet; Paradise Peak, 8,002 feet; and Bunker Hill, 11,405 feet, and Poston or DaVies Peak, 11,756 feet, in the Toyabe Range. From each of these stations repeated angles were taken to Cory's Peak, the highest point in the Wassnck Range, and situ- ated just west of Walker Lake ; and from Mount Rose, Basalt, Paradise, and Davies Peaks angles were taken to White Mountain Peak, which is to the east of Benton, Cal. The triai'gle — Davies, MonntRose, and White Mountain Peaks — which will be completed when the angle at White Mountain Peak is measured, is a very large one. The lengths of its sides are- Mile a. From Davies to Rose 142.45 From Rose to White Mountain 134.25 From White Mountain to Davies 88.00 The instruments were returned in good condition, except that the wet bulb of psy- chrometer No. 8 was broken, being blown from the top of a peak by the wind. Mr. Spiller was untiring iu his efforts to do the work thoroughly and well. Mr. Cowles, in addition to his designated duties as meteorological observer, constantly performed those of a topographer as well, and in both instances with credit to himself. The twenty-five days' rations taken at Carson lasted the party as far as West Gate The dny after we reached that ]>lace, the team iu charge of Corporal O'Neil arrived fiom Carson, with provisions for the party for the remainder of the season. Taking out sufficient to last us as far as Dead Horse Well, I instructed the corporal to return to R.igtown for grain left there bj' me, and, returning through West Gat«s to proceed to Ellsworth, leaving there some grain ; thence to ])roceed by the old Wellington road to Dead Horse Well, and leave there a supply of rations for fifteen days and the re- mainder of the graiu. These orders he faithfully carried out, and proceeded to Reno, where he reported to Lieutenw,nt Tillman. On our arrival at Dead Horse Well, the rations there were taken up, and lasted through the field-season. Although much of this country is well adapted to grazing loose animals, there is little luxuriant growth of grass. A't "the time of the year in which we traveled through it the pasturage was very dry and short, where there was any at all. In every instance we were compelled to pitch our camp either on ground already taken np by rauchinen, or, more often, in places where the pasturage was much too scanty to subsist the ani- mals by feeding loose overnight. We were thus compelled to carry or purchase grain at all times, and hay was fed whenever it could be obtained. The animals came in in excellent condition, having been" fed during the season a daily average of 6^ i)Ounds of barley and 0.3 pounds of hay. The price of barley varied from 4^ cents per pound at West Gate to 3 cents in Reese River Valley and 2^^ cents iu Mason Valley. Hay was 2J- cents per pound at West Gate and 1 cent in the valleys. A list of road-distances, with remarks as to wood, watec, &c., is transmitted here- with. After the disbandraent of the parties at Carson, and in accordance with instructions, I proceeded to Camp Indei)endence, California, with the animals, &c., used by the par- ties in the iield. I left Carson December 4 ; two non-commissioned officers and three privates of Company D, Twelfth Infantry, and four civilian employes, being of the p.arty. We had in charge two six-mule teams and one light wagon, with eighty-five anim:ils in all. We arrived at Camp Independence, without accident, December 13. I at once turned over the pro^ierty to Lieutenant Wotherspoou, Twelfth Infantry. This completed niy duties in the field. Respectfully submitted, R. BiRNiE, Jr., First Lieutenant Thiritenth Lifantry. Lieut. Georgk M. Wheeler, Corjjs of Engineers, in charge. APPENDIX NN. 1273 Appendix E. EXECCTIVK AND DESCRIPTIVB RKPOKT OV LIEUTENANT CHAULKS C. MORRISON. SIXTH CAVALRY, ON THE OPERATIONS OE PARTY NO. 2, COLORADO SECTION, FIELD-SEA- SON OE 1876. Office of United States Geographical Surveys, West of the IOOth Meridian, IVashiiigfon, D. C, April 1, 1877. Sir : I liave the houor to rciuler tho following executive report of operations of party No. 2, Colorado Divisi' n of the survey, (luring the liehl-seasou of 1876, together with a brief descriptiou of the country traversed and its resources : executive REJ'ORT. The Colorado Section, consisting of Party No. 1, which was taken charge of by Lieu- tenant Bergland, Corps of Engineers, shortly after its leaving the rendezvous-camp, aud my own party. No. 2, was orgnnized at Fort Lyon, Colorado, late in August. The'parties took the field on the 29tb and 3Uth of Aujiust, respecMvely. The pe'sonncl of the t. The point was very important in the system of triangles. Over three hundred angular readings were made on this one point by Mr. Maxson, aud an astronomical azimuth was deter- miLcd Jiy myself. He afterward occupied Garcia Peak, in the same range, while I examined the minnal deposits in these mountains. From tho Magdaleua Mouutaius we proceeded via the Quinza drain to the Ladrones 1274 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Mountains, then, after occupyinp; these for Iriangnlation and topography, to Sabinal ; here the party was divided, Mr. Maxson, Mr. George Diiuu, and one packer proce ding up tho Puerco Creek, whiie the main party proceeded to Los Liinas, where the side party was to rejoin them. Again we were reminded of the approacliing wi ter season. The mountains inclosing the va!ley wern covered with snow. From Los Lnnas we moved to Ojo de la Casa, on the western slope of the Manzauos. thence southward to Abo Pass, running along the base with traverse-lines up the drains and occuj yingSouth Manzauos Peak, wiirki-g up thus the western draining and topographical forms of these mountains. In the low range to the south several subordinate points were occu- pied for tojioiiraphy as three-point stations, from which accnr.te sketches, iustru- mentally checked, were made. The belt extending to the river was thus traversed. From Sdcorros we proceeded to Fort Craig, at which point we were to obtain rati<>n:». Arriving there Noveni: er 10, we were detnined by a snow-storm for thret days. Froni Fort Crais we worked up the belt east of the river between th" Chnpadero plateau and the Rio Grande up to Abo; thence we proceeded to Mestefiito Spring ; here we were overtaken by another snow-storm, coveiing the grass entirely. To save our animals we proceeded to a ranch, at Antelope Spring, where forage couH be obtained, marching all day in a blinding snow-storm, unable to see a hundred yards ahe.ul of us. The trail had to be followed by occasionally noticing little depressions in the snow. "We arrived late in the afternoon. That night the thermometer fell to WV-^ below zero. Fortunately none of the animals were froze ■, although at other ranches we afterward heard of fou'teen being frozen to death in one h rd and twenty-nine in another, and doubtless if we had not been able to obtain the shelter of a stockade ours also would have been lost. This extreme cold determined us to start on the return trip. Moving to Los Posos del Puis, we there reached the point farthest southeast covered by our work during the season. Moving northward over the main route from Fort Stanton to Anton Chico, we passed through there November 30. The w. ather having moder- ated somewhat, we iccupi d Mesa Chupaines for triangulations ; thence, c^os^ing the Gallmas Creek at the La Liendre, we went up Canon del Agua, and from there to Fort Union by way of Las Vegas. At this point we received the ujosr c rdial treatment at the hands of the othcers. P>om Union our i oute led to the Vado de la Piedra, or Rock Ranch ford of the Canadian ; thence, by the Dry Cimarron route to the Chaquaqua Canon. Leaving the old Dodge cut-otia short distance be\ond this, we went by the u w rou'e, which cresses the Purgatoire at Nine-Mile Bottom and makes junction with the Trini- dad rofad a short distance south of A kaline Station. Th's route we followed to Fort Lyon, at wh ch post the party arrived December 14. The topographical instruments used during the season were first Bulfand Berger 8-inch transit, graduated to lOte^ ends horizontal limb, capable of btingread by a practiced eye to 5 seconds. This instrument was A-ery good, and worked to entire satisfaction during the teasou ; it was used on all mean-tr;angnlation stations. One of Stackpole'o 7-inch transits, one Young, and one Cassella meandering transit were also used. Horizontal distances were measured by odometer, checked by numerous three-point stations, the whole depending upon the primary and secondary triangulatiou-points of the system developed from the base near Santa Fe, the co-ordinates of the extremities of which were astronomically de- termined in 1873. Th« meteorological instruments used were two cistern barometers, three aneroids with the complement of hygrometers, maximum and minimum, and pocket thermom- eters. One of the cistern barometers used had Lieutenant Marshall's improvement, consisting of a closely-fitting inner tube filled with plaster of Paris, completely envelop- ing the barometer tube, excepting opposite the ^cale, where a slit was made' to permit reading. This barometer was used for mountain work, and was very much stronger, supported as it was, than the ordinary tube. It was dropped fiom the shonkler of the meteorologist once, falling on end; it then fell over to its side on a board floor and did not break. Later in the season it was broken by a kick from a mule; even then it was not shattered, but cracked throughout the length of the tube opposite the scale where unsupported. Although a little heavier, it is certainly much be; ter able to stand a season's work than the present form, which does well enough for the standard for camp. The field astronomical instruments used were one sextant and aititicial horizon. The season's work was very satisfactory; earh of the assistants, Mr. Maxson, Geoigr) M. Dunn, and Lanier Dunn, bending every effort to secure such results as deserved tho highest commendation. Working in the ni< st untiring manner, Mr. Maxson's labors were rewarded by his triangles closing very finely. The meteorological woik also attested the care of Mr. Dunn. Each member of the party endeavored to contiibute to a harmonious wh^de, and succeeded. Between seven and eight thousand square niiles of country were completed, in accomplishing which the party traveled between eighteen and nineteen hundred miles, occupied fifteen triangulation stations, one hun- dred and ninety-one three-point stations, and about fifteen hundred nai'or stations, the altitudes of all which were determined and entered into the veitical representation of the country. The transportation returned in fair condition, considering that nearly all the time they had no corn and much of the time but scanty grass, and at many camps were without water. APPENDIX NN. 1275 GEXERAL DESCniPTIOX OF THE COUNTRY. The country traveled by the party was entirely south of the Arkansas, and may be divided into three V>elts: Firirt, that extending from that stream to the south to the Kiiton spur of the Rockv ranjif- ; second, the heads of the Canadian and its branches in the main ranije; third, the valley of the Rio Grande and the plateau between it and the Pecos. Tliis first belt, constitutes avast rollins, it is still a mining town of some little prosperity. From Elizabethtown to the entrance of Taos Pass extends a beautiful park, piesenting no difficulty to a railroad route; the pass is a good one, aud will doubtless be eventually utilized ; the wagon road is fair, but in need of work. Taos Valley is one of the finest grain-growing districts in New Mexico, extending from 1276 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. the base of the tnonntain nearly to the Caiion of the Rio Grande, from the nionlh of the United States Mountain Caiion to the Canon of Pueblo Creek. On it are Fernandez do Taos, the old Mexican town, near which is the Pueblo de Taos, the old Indian town, former capital of the Pueblo Nation, Ranchode Taos, formerly snb rdinate to the Fer- nandez Plaza, but now nearly equal in population, and Los Cordovas, at the junction of the streams watering the other towns. The RioGrarde opposite this valley is boxed in a great canon about 800 feet deep, extending GO miles to the north, on both sides capped with basalt. The Arroyo de Cieneguilla runs just east and south of the basalt, and from the little town on the other river-bank of the same name the stream divides the two formations; on the west is the purplish black of the basalt, on the east the vaiiegated, tinted, illy formed granite from the neaily fused quartz and feldspar, ■with its white, pink, and red shades, to the dark gray of the more micaceous, triable rock. On the west the direct result of the internal heat is vomited forth upon the earth. On the east is found the metamorphosed sandstone, burnt cri^p by the more in- direct action. Farther down, the river again cuts asunder the basalt plateau, but to open out at La Joya iuto a wide valley, nteding but American enterprise to re; laim it from a sandy plain and render it rich in croi>s of cereals. Even the simp e efforts of the Mexican have been rewarded with rich vineyards and fair orchards. The native fruit, excepting the grape, is not of tine flavor, but where the trees brought from the East have been cultivated the result has been very encouraging indeed. La Joya, Los Luceros. Plaza del Alcalde, San Juan, and San Ildefonso a e found on the river, and Santa Cruz, P( joague, Cnyamungue, and Tezuqneon the tributary streams, where crossed by the main road leading ro SnntaF6. Betwetm Santa F6 and the Rio Grande is a low range of hills. South of Santa Fe the main range dies out. The mountains fieyond these, east of the Rio Grande, in prolongationof tl'e main axial line, are more broken up; they lose their continuous ridge-like form. North of the Galisteo are the Cerillos, which are but low hills, azoic in f'rmatiou, broken by many basaltic dikes. They would be of li' tie im- portance but for the mines of argentiferous galena and copper. Several thin mines of turquoise have been rudely worked by Indians, Spaniards, and Mexicans. There are throughout the whole region evidences of old mines, worked probably Ijy the Spaniards ■with Indian labor, before the latter drove their former conquerors from the country. South of the Galisteo are the old Placers, the Puerto or New Placer Mountains, the Sandia, San Pedro, and San Isidro Mountains, in all of which are mineral deposits. The formation in these ranges is mainly azoic ; toward the west there are carbonifer- ous croppings. The Sandias are capped with fossiliferous limestone. The Placers have auriferous copper-ores, also iron and coal. The Puerto or New Placers are full of metal- liferous ores and deposits, copper, lead, iron, gold, and silver ores. The Sandias have many traces of copper and lead. The ores of the whole region require careful handling, ■with more skill than has yet been given them. There is no doubt as to their existenes in paying forms if properly t:eated. About both the new and old Placers gold-diggings that would give very large returns with hydraulic washing extend nrarly around the entire bases. The water-supply is very limited, but with the advent of qppital means v/iU be found to bring water there, to reclaim its cost twenty-fold. Real de Dolores, Real de San Francisco, Alamocito, San Antonito, San Antonio, and Tijeras all are found in the basins between these mountains. We.-^l of the Sandias is the Kio Grande Valley. South of the Sandias are the Manzanos, the northern portion of which range consists of a low plateau broken up by numerous canons, the branches of the Tijeras Canon, Coyote Canon, Canon del Norte, Canon Infieruo, Cauon de los Ejes and Moyas. The western slope is abrupt, indeed clitf-iike ; the dip of the rock to the e;ist renders it gently rolling country in tlnit direction. Just south of Canon Moyas the I'ange shoots up into the Mosca Peaks, which run above timber-line. The limestone is again here found. From Mosca southward to Manzano Peak the elevation of the higher poiufcs is about 10,000 feet. The formation is similar to that of the Sandias. The canons o\ the ■west are short and bounded by high, clitf-like walls; those on the east and southeast are longer and more tortuous. The range can be crossed by Hell Canon, also just north of Mosca, following up Tejique Creek, or by Comanche Canon, south of Mosca. That by Hell Canon is a rough wagon-road, the otheis but horseback-trails. The main drain- age is to the east; Chilili Tejique; Torrr.on Manzano, Osha, and Abo Creeks being the principal waters. On the wist there are no running streams, but along the base are found Ojo de la Casa, Ojo del Trigo, El Hedioi.dillo, Canon de Salas, Ojo del Canon de Monte Largo, Cristoo, and Justameute Springs. Farrher out on the plains are Ojo de la Cabra, the Ojuelos, and Ojo de los Casos. At the Ojutlos is a line sheep-ranch. From the base of the mountain the rounti y slopes gently to the river in nearly uniform grade. The river valley projier, or that which can be placed under irrigation with but little trouble, is in jdaces from 3 to 5 miles wide. The soil, -^N^hile sandy, is rich in salts uourishing to plants, and, with water, produces the most inviting fields. Hardly a tenth of the present arable land is now utilized. Many little towns extend along the river from Albu- querque to Fort Craig; on the we-t bank are Atrisco, Padillas, Piijarito, Isleta, LosLunas, LosCharez, RanchitosdeBelen, Belen.Pueblitosde Belen, Los Jarales,Puntodel Bosque, Bosque, Rauchitos de Sabiual, Sabiual, Pueblito de Sabinal, Picacho de Sabiual, Sau APPENDIX NN. 1277 Carlos, San Geroninio, Alamillo, Polvaclera, Limitar, Escondido, Socorro, Siin Jos6, Sau Autotiio, San Antonito, and San Marcial. On tbo cast bank are Rancliitos e Islcta, Lo.s Piuos, Pfrolta, Valencia, Tome, IJanchitos de Tome, Constancia, Casa Colorada, Valleta, Cinlinahna, Las Nutrias, Kanclias, San Francisco La Joja, La Joyita, Sa- bina, Paeblito de la Parida, La Parida, Bosquecito, Valverde, La Mesa, and Contradora. These touns vary in popnlation from a lew families to perliajis l,H)0. The principal towns are IsUta, LosLunas, Helen, and Socorro on the west bank, Valencia, Coustancia, and La Joyaou the east bank. Socorro is marked by nuich more American euter[)rise than the majority of New Mexican towns, arisiuf;- largely from the mines in the Majj- daleiia Monurains brinj^ing money into the section. The apj)roach of a railroad will brighten up the prospects of the country, which needs but enterprise su|)ported by capital to make it rich in its own resources. The grai>es will be probably the main source of income of those living in the valley proper. West from Socorro are the So- corro Mountains, a short ridge vt' azoic rock. Copi)er is found here. Wist of this range are the Magdalena Range, running north and south, which have throughout their ■whole extent mineral ledgtis and deposits. A few tissure-veius with (juartzite wall- rocks are found, but generally the one is in indertnite deposits. The nt)rtliern end of the range has, for surface rock, carboniferous limestone resting on azoic (juartzite. It is here that argentiferous galena, carbonate, and yellow oxide of lead are found. At jireseut the mines i.re not extensively worked. The ores exist in suilicient abundance to well pay for working with experienced management, but with haphazard work, of men ignorant of proper treatment of the ores, they are apt to obtain a repntatioa which will keep capital away. Just west of these mountains is a low range of hills, near the Corona del Pueblo Spring, in which are found argentiferous C(ii)per-oies. Sinking prospect shat s and mining with little or no system has been done here with the poor results almost sure to follow such treatment of the deposits. North of these are the Laiirones, a sharp uplift broken into a serrated edge difticult of approach, and so nearly destitute of water as to discourage the prospector; traces of copper are found throughout the range. The southwest spurs are caj)ped with limestone. The eastern rocky slope is quartzite. Mule Spring, in a drain of this (southern spur, is one of the few water-croppings in the range proper. The northern slope is very precipitous. The range has little to support life; grazing is not as good as usually found in inonut- ains ; heu-.:e less game and very few cattle are seen. The point as a triangulation-sta- tiou is very important, connecting the surveys from the north and west witli the system south and east. The peculiarity of this range, as of nearly all mountains in Southern New Mexico, is the suddenness of their npliit. With bun few foot-hills of much im- l)ortance, they rise directly from the plains extending about their bases; hence, the ■water-sheds being small, few streams are found. The ])laius, with their porous soil and nearly level surface, quickly drink up the rains and give them out only by the rock- croiipiugs at the springs which run but a shoit distance. From Abo Pass, extending to the south, is a much broken plateau of sandstoae country, west from which is a narrow plateau of drirt; very little water is found in this belt. The few springs are the Ojo Sepnlto, Ojo Parida, Ojo del Cibolo, and Ojo de las Canas ; and the tanks are Aguejes de hts Torres, de los Tomasceuos, and del Cauoucito on the wes', and the Llano anil Coyote Springs on the east. The water supply at the Parida is very good ; that at Llano Sprmg has been developed by digging; that at the other points is very limited. On the eastern portion of this belt is a sharp ba.'altic batte, standing in ihe center of a limited volcanic overflow of the sandstones. Abo Pass, which separates this belt fro^n the main range, is a low divide, well calcu- lated for a railroad-pass; indeed, the best in connection with the canon Piedra Pintada to be found any place along the range this far north. At Abo and Quara are old ruins, presumably Spanish, built at the lirsr. occupation of the country, before Europeans were expelled by the Pueblo Indians. The two main buildings, in each case from their form Catholic churches, are about 100 feet long, built of stone — a laminated sandsrone. The walls vary from 3 to 7 feet thick, the former being the usual thickness; the latter that of the abutments. Their European architecture is prol)able from being built in that form of a cross usually' adopted by the descendants of the Spaniards in their churches. Arches are aLso found, in which respect they ditfer entirely from the ruins found in the San Juan country, which are ascribed to the Aztecs. lu both ruins the altars were at the north end of the building. East from the mouutaius extends the immensa plain, broken by the mesa-edge on the south knowu as the Jumanes. Farther east are three hills known as Las Animas, one of which we called Rattlesnake Hill, from the number of those snakes we saw there, probably from three to live hundred. In sixty-five minutes three of us killed seventy- nine snakes, varying in size, all of the same species. The largest had thirteen rattles. Thfy had been out to the south ot the hill, and toward sunset came iu for their night- shelter in the rocks. Southeast of these hills about IS miles are more alkaline lak"S. Wells have been dug near them, giving fair water. The station is known as Posos del Pino. From here northward to Pederiial the country is greatly rolling, with fair graz- ing. B-youd Pedernal it is more or less broken by drains leadiiug into Canou Piedra 1278 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS Pintacla and Canon Blanco. From Canon Blanco the route was tliroun, some of the bi'auches of which river rise in the little valleys of Hope, Faith, and Charity just east of Carson Pass. Tlie western snmmio slopes graduidly to the west, all its waters from Cirson Pass to Summit Station on the Central I'aciiic Railroad (some 4'.i miles) being collected into the American Kiver by its south, uiiddle, and north forks and their various branches, by which, as might be expected, numerous valleys and deep canons are formed. It was not until the 14th of September that the party moved into the area assigned to it, when camp was made at Glenbrook, on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. Tiie route followed from Carson was over the King's Canon road, which, winding up the slojje of the eastern summit until it attains an altitude of some '2,.500 feet above oar camp in Eagle Valley, descends to the lake, giving grades practicable for heavy teams. Another route between Carson and Glenbrook, known as the Clear Creek route, and nsed by the Lake Tahoe stage-line, joins the lirst mentioned at the summit. A steep grade ou this road not far from the tunimit causes the King's Canon route to be i)referred for heavy teaming. The stage-ionte is about a mile and three-quarters shoiter than the other, by which the distance is about fifteen and a quarter miles. Travelers by either route pay toll at the summit. Glenbrook is very prettily situated on a small bay about the middle of the east shore of the lake. A brook flowing through a deep and shady glen empties into this bay and gives the place its name. Settled in I860, it was the first place of any per- manence ou the liike, and is nf)w the princi])al village, claiming some i'our hunrired in- habitants. It is the center of the Lake Tahoe lumber-trade and possesses four saw- mills and a planing-mill. The saw-logs are floated here from lumber-camps on the north, west, and south shores of tbe lake, and I was informed that about 25,000,0t.'0 feet of sawed lumber are annually turned out. The principal markets are Virgijiia and Gold Hill, tbe great muiing center of Nevada. The lumber is now carried to the top of the eastern summit by means of a narrow-gauge railroad built in 1875. As the grade of the wagon-road from Glenbrook to the summit is about 290 feet to the mile, the railroail avoids this by running some three miles north of Glenbrook, then ascends the slope by a zigzag, the general plan of which would be a flattened and distorted Z. Tiie angles of the Z are arranged as the ordinary railroad Y, and thus a considerable diflerence of level is oveixome by moderate grades. From the summit a flun)e between •J and 10 miles in length runs down the Clear Creek Canon, and by this fire-wood or lumber can be delivered within a mile of Carson. Received here by the cars of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, it can be carried to the points where it is wanted. One of the first objects to strike the eye after rtaohing GUnbroek is a jik niiuent mass of baalt just to the south, which bears the interesting name of Shakespeare's Cliff. A m(mieiit's careful inspection will show on an aluiost vertical escarjuiieut not far from the summit a mass of greenish-gray lichens standing out plainly against the dark surface of the rock. A glance at this will without any stretch of the imagiua tion transform it iuto a truly striking resemblance to tbe head and bust of tbe great poet as seen in profile; the high fon-head, massive brows, and pointed beard being wondeifnlly reproduced. This was plainly visible from our camp in the neighborhood of a mile to the north. Situated about the middle of the eastern shore, and not half a mile from it, with an altitude of some 800 feet above the lake, the cliff aftbrds a fine I)anorama of the entire western and the greater part of tbe northern and southern shores. Of the lake itself I attempt no descrii)tion, as that will be found in full in the report of the geologist, but the following facts in connection with it may be of interest: The geographical position of the lake is well fixed by the one hunlred and twen- tieth meridian of west longitude transversing its length, and the tliirty-ninth parallel of north latitude crossing its southern end. Its developed shore-line may be set down in round numbers at 70 miles, and its superficial area at about 188 square miles, of which two-fhirds lies in California, the remainder in Nevada. Five counties border upon it: Washoe, Orrasby, and Douglas in Nevad i ; Eldorado and Placer in California. Thep'incipal settlemsnts are Glenbrook, ou the east shore, Rowland's, o» the south, and Tahoe City on the west. The others are McKinuey's, on the west, near Sugar-pine Point, Yank's on the south, and Hot Si)rings on the north shore, and State-line Point. At all these points accommodations may be found for tourists. During the summer and fall Tahoe Citj' is connected with Truckee on the Central Pacific Railroafl by a daily line of stages carrying passengers and mails, while Glenbrook is similarly con- nected with Carson. A small steamer makes a daily tour of the lake, toucoing at all the places mentioned. A stage is also sometimes run between Hot Springs and Truckee. A good road connects Glenbrook and Rowland's, whence a moderately good one runs to Yank's. Thence to McKinuey's there is a trail, very bad, near Euier,ild Bay, and from McKinuey's to Tahoe City there is a road. A rough trail, passable for riding or pack 1280 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. animals, connects Tahoe City, Hot Springs, and Glenbrook. Find ng at Glenbrook an excellent campiug-ground and good feed for the animals, it was decided to make a main camp here and stndy the features of the eastern snnimit by detours to the south and north. Accordingly, on the arrival of the topographer at this camp, a trip was made to the soutb, and a main station est.al)lished on a well-defined point, showing well from the stations in the neighborhood of the base, near Virgin a City. Altont this time, a'so, a second small party, in charge of the geologist, was ordered to make a trip around the lake, putting up signals on points along its borders, which miglit be of as- sistance in establishing the shore line, and at the same time obtaining reliable infor- niat'ou concerning the trails and roads about the lake. The work along the range to the south having been completed as far as thought necessary from this camp, a detour was made to the north. During this trip the narrow- gauge railroad already referred to was surveyed and the lake shore meandered far enough to the north to be cout 4^ miles. Following this some lU miles, Osgood's toll-honse is reached. Here the road leaves the Trnckee Kiver and winds up the slopes of the west- ern snmniit, which it crosses, desceuding the western slop(* through the canon of tho South Fork of the American, whicii is here a rapid mountain stream. The road crosses it by a bridge at Slijipery Ford, and soon after passes a lofty and a'most per[)endicnlar cliff bearing the haikneyed name of "' Lover's Leap." At Strawbeiry Station, a mile farther on, there is another toll-house. Following the main ro.id some 4 miles farther, ■we left it at the Georgetown jumUion and passed up into the mountains, camping at Sawyer's Rauche, within easy striking distance of our objective point — Pyramid Peak, lu the western snmniit. Clouds aad mists hanging about tho peak iuti-rrupted our work greatly, and kept us two days at this point. There is a tine stock range here, affording jiasiurage for several hundred head of catt'e. I wis informed by tiie propri- etor that in the season he produced as much as 125 pounds of butter a day, thouo-h at present he was not making more than (10. The stock is generally iu4 the mode of lumbering generally iu vogue on the lake. Th^^ trees are sawed instead of cut down aud converted into saw-logs as they lie. These lo^^s vary from 20 to 60 inches in diameter, the length varying to suit purchasers, generally between 20 and 30 feet. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the great w igons on which tbe logs are hauled to the lake. These are made imniensely strong, the wheels being con- structed of a section cut from a saw-log, and are from 3 to 3^ feet iu diameter, l)eing about G inches broad at the tire, and bulging out at the center. The heavy cross-beams on tho wagon-body are furuished with iron stirrups of peculiar construction, iu which rest 81 E 1282 EEPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. the ends of heavy planks used in loading. The wagons are drawn by six or eight yoke of oxen. To pjive an idea of what can he done by tliese wagons it is a matter of record that 14,900 odd feet of luinber in the shape of saw-logis has been placed upon one of item. This was popularly known as the "' boss load," and photographs of it can be obtained at Trnckee. We took advantage of the lumber-camp smithy to have our mules shod, many oi them being badly in need of it, and while waiting occupied several topographical sta- tions in the western summit. x A good trail, opened some years ago by Mr. McKinney, runs from here to George- town, crossing a branch of the Middle Fork of the American some eighr. miles from McKiuuey's, and called by him the Rubicon. From here we moved up the valley of Blackwood Creek, containing abundance of fine feed, and camped near Twin Peaks. The weather being excellent, a day sufficed for our work fere. To the north we saw several fine points, (among them the Needle and Granite Chief, ) which we intended to occupy, Though our hopes of ibis were somewhat dashed l)y Mr. McKinney's statement that he looked for snow every day, and that the probabilities were that in a short time the hitrber peaks would be impassalde. Meandering the lake-shore as far as Tahoe City, we moved thence down the Truckeo and eucami)ed Octoher 2(» at the head of Squaw Valley, which drains into that stream. This valley is well watered, and i)roduces abundance of tine hay. A cattle-ranch is located here, and we found the ranchmen busily engaged in collecting their stock pre- vious to driving them out for the winter. They informed us that a trail led out of the valley to the west, passing near the peaks we M'ished to occupy, wbile a se^'ond trail constructed by them during the sununer permitted egress to the north. Wishing to ascertain the proximity of the peaks, I ascended a higher i)oint at the summit of the pass, called Fort Sumter from its iieculiar outline, but a heavy mist completely shut out the view. The 27th was stormy and rainy, and during the night about 4 inches of snow fell, which continued all the next day. The stock was driven out just in the nick of time, as the meadows were now covered with about 8 inches of snow. Several bales of hay left by the ranchmen afforded feed for the mules, so that I was not oblig.-d To move out at once, which I was unwilling to do, as this would be our last chance to work up the topography of this portion of the range. The 30th, breaking bright and clear, afforded an opportunity of making a final attempt at the "Needle," or, should this prove impracticable, at least of making a topographical station on the high point near the summit of the pass. We found the snow deeper than we expected, but liua'ly made the point only to find, however, that the mists, which had been gathering during the ascent, completely enveloped the higher peaks, and in a few moments our own, giving us just time to catch a tireting glimpse of the Needle, about a mile and a half to the northwest, "pointing its lean finger to the sky" as if in mockery at our eftbrts. On this trip I obtained for the first time occular evidence that there are deer in these mountains by a well-markearty under orders received fron you early iu the season. We thea passed up the Carson Valley as far as Geaoa Hot 8pritiifs, connecting with work previously done. Upon the completion of this we proceeded to occupy a peak iu the range of mountains east of Carson Valley, .and known to us as Mount Com'>. This is a high point almost due south of the peak, in the same range occupied by Lieutenant Biruie's party early iu the season undej; the name of Mount Lyons, On the way to our peak a meander was obtained of Eldorado Canon, the general course of which isnearly north and south, its mouth being near Dayton on the Carsou River. Soft gray limestone occurs near the entrance quite plentifully, and is burned in a lime-kiln at this point. A good toll-road runs up this canon, and a small stream meanders its way through it, crossing the road at frequent intervals. The slopes on either side are bare of vegetation, except now and thcL a litthi sage or a scrubby pine. The lack of vegetation allows one to see easily the fantastic shapes into which the ele- ments have carved the rock.y sieriod of greatest activity aud greatest change the Comstock lode has ever witnessed. The mines have beeu opened a thousanfl feet deeper than in 1869, and have changed from a vertical to an inclined system of work- ing, in correspondence with the change in the dip of the vein. To meet this altered condition of things the mines have all established a separate system of hoisting for the incline; these are being raised to the head of the incline by a "giraffe" aud then dumped to a car which is run upon the cage and hoisted as formerly through the ver- tical shaft. None of them attempt to raise the ore by one continuous hoist througii both the inclined and vertical shafts. Preparations are now completed in one shaft and going on in two others for resuuung the extraction through vertical shafts by sinking in the east country-rock of distances in two cases of more than half a mile from the outcrop of the vein. Changes quite as important have been etfected in machinery. The geared pumping- engines, wnich were formerly used by all the miues, have been replaced in nnjst of them by very elaborate and expensive direct-acting compound eagim s, controlled by the Davey valve gear, which has beeu somewhat modified in this region. The pumps are all of the Cornish pattern and are now raising water from depths of 2,000 and 2,300 feet. Direct-acting hoisting-engines have also been introdt ced at one shaft, and the speed of hoisting increased in those mines which are extracting great quau'ities of ore. Self-dumping skeets have taken or will take the place of the ordinary cage aud car in two of the deep shafts. These alterations in the method of working are all im- portant in view of the great depths to which these miues will probiibly be carried. The machinery now on the ground is sufficient for depths of 3,000 feet, and the method of working the incline and vertical shafts separately adapts it to much deeper sinking. Underground engines are used in considerable numbers for pumping, hoisting, aud Ventilation, and as these are all worked by compressed air, the mines along this lode ofier probably the most extensive series of air-compressing engines to be found iu any district. Ihey are mainly of two types, the Burleigh and a modified Waring. All these changes have produced great efiects upon the mining of the district and the financial fortunes of the owners. As now instituted, the mining industry of Washoe l)resenfs important opportunities for studying the effect and economy of modern miu- lug-machineiy. Ventilation and pumping have beaome questions of especial importauce. The heat APPENDIX NN. 1285 of the vein, and also of the country-rock, has on the whole increased, or, at all events, hiffh temperatures have become more common as the workings gained in de itli. Ob- servations on ttiis jjoint have bcuMi collected, and a system will soon be instituted wliich, it is hoped, will alibrd valuable information upon the best moans of overcoming the heat of the mines. The deep adit called the Sntro Tnnnel has penetrated about 17,500 feet, and is now about 2,750 feet from the lode. It is advancing at a rate of speed which should take it to the vein about JLirch, 1878. It will, however, reach tlie line of the deep shafts sunk in the east country rock some time next uionth. Its completion cannot fail to have importunt results upon the drainage of a vein that is liable to sudden outbursts of waer in great quantities, as the Comstock is. The milling of the ores has undergone some alterations, but nothing so extensive as those above indicated in the mining. The latest-built mills are models of convenient arrangement and economy. On the whole, the ore which is now extracted is rielier than any which has been obtaineil since the earliest period of mining on the Comstock vein, and the problem of milling these ores with as high, or a higher, return as was formerly obtained from less-rich ores has been successfully gra))pled with. I have thus sketched, in a very general way, the condition of the field to which I am assigned. Jly wosits are found within the area explored in l-<7t>, but onlj' one of them possesses sufficient importance to deserve more than a passing notice. Two ridges, running north and south, traverse this section of country. They are termed the eastern and western snujinit-". Lake Tahoe separates the one from the other. The latter range is more broken up by precipitous canons and minor ridges than the former. Both the summits are sparingly wooded, from the base to the crest-line, and may be regarded as parallel lines of elevation. Having given an account of the general features of the area explored in 1876, I now propose to take up the geology in the following order : 1. Dpseription of the Carson Valley and vicinity. '2. Sketch of Lake Tahoe. 8. The eastern summit. 4. The western summit. THE CARSON VALLEY. There are several therri^al springs in the Carson Valley within a radius of about fifteen miles of the capital of Nevada. The most important spring rises in yellowish sandstone about a mile ea-^t of Caison. The temperature of the water is 111 degii es F. A bath-honse has been erected at the springs adjoining the State prison. Another hot si)riug occurs in mica slate 2i miles northeast of Carson. The water is clear and has a temperature of 120 degrees F. There are several wells about 10 inches deep iu 1286 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. the ground filled with this thermal water. Both these springs contain snlphereted hydrogen, a gas generally evolved in the fissures of rock in a volcanic region. At Genoa, 14 milts south of Carson, and near Frauktown, 10 miles north of the same place, warm springs occur. Both houses and hotels have been built at both these localities. I was unable to learn the (emperature of either of these thermal waters. I colh^cted quart bottles full of water from the above springs for analysis, but upon reaching Washington it was found that either the cold weather or careless treatment in transportation had resulted in the breakage of the bottles and consequent loss of contents. The greater part of the Catson Valley belongs to the Quaternary, and there is very little rock in situ, excepting on the eastern side of the valley, where a few minor ridges and buttes of basalt occur. The line of upheaval in these ridges is north and south. Beginning on the north, we have a low range of gray granite, which contains iininerons crystals of black hornblende, and separates Washoe Valley from the Car- son Valley. Rocky tors of granite outcrop in various places on this divide. The North Carson Mine occurs in this ridge, but for a description of it see chapter on mines. At Swift's Spring, -2^ miles northeast of Carson, a ledge of gray mica slate out- crops. This is the only locality in tlie valley where a metamorphic rock is found. J did not find the continuation of the mica-slate beds. Olivine incrusts a low ridge of diorite about 50 feet high and a quarter of a mile long in the eastern part of the Car- son Valley. A mass of granular yellow sandstone about 30 feet thick outcrops at a point a mile east of Carson. This sandfetone is underlaid by clay, and apparently does not cover more than an acre. Invertebrate fossils are common in the rock, particularly the genus Uuio, which is oftentimes stained by the oxide of iron. Vertebrate remains have also been found, but I was unable to obtain any. Black mica is sparingly dissem- inated through the sandstone. The rock is extensively quarried by the inmates of the State prison, and is much used for building purposes. The State-house and railway shops of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad are constructed of this sandstone. Buttes of gray basalt, with a porphyritic texture, are found a short distance east and south- east of the State prison. The Como Mountains form the eastern boundary of the Car- s(m Valley. They are composed of trlchyte-porphyry. The height of this range is about 8,500 feet. A bed of soft gray limestone, having a compact texture, occurs near Dayton, and a bed of blue limestone is found near the stage- road about half-way between Carson City acd Clear Creek. This rock is burned in kilns at both localities, but I was unable to examine either of the deposits of limestone, and hence cannot state the thickness or dip of the strata. A bed of lignite occurs about 8 miles due east of the Carson Valley. It lies in the El Dorado Canon, on the line of Ormsby and Lyon Counties. The locality is known as the Virginia City Company's Coal-mine. A good wagon-road from Dayton renders the mine easy of access. This lignite was discovered by English miners soon after the finding of the Comstock Lode. Prior to 1865, 9,800 tons of brown coal were exported from the mine, and under the incorporation of 1872, 21,600 tons were taken out, making a total of 31,400 tons since the formal opening of the mine. After 1863 the Virginia City Company suspended work for about eight years. Out of the 31,400 tons which the mine has yielded, 13,800 tons have been burned in Storey County,-and the balance at the company's hoisting- works. The amount of money expended since the re-incorporation of 1872 is ^110,000, and previous to that time about the same sum, making in round numbers the total cost of Avorking the mine !J220,000. 1 visited this deposit of lignite in the El Dorado Cafion on November yO, 1876, in company with Prof. W. F. Stewart and Mr. R. M. Daggett, the superintendent of the company. The object of our visit was to select a spot for the sinking of a new shaft. After some consultation a locality was decided upon about 1,200 feet southwest of the present hoisting-works. Professor Stewart has described the lignite beds in detail, and I condense from his report the following : " Tlie coal in- dications in Western Nevada generally appear in the Tertiary. There is reason to believe that the El Dorado lignite belongs to this age. Tne mine lies near the head of the c^uon. There are two shafts, called respectively the Virginia and Newcastle. The former shaft is 420 feet deep, and is the one most used, as the hoisting- works are at the mouth of it, while the latter one is but 85 feet deep and is now full of water. For about 300 feet from the surface the formation consists of alternating layers of marl, soft, gray sandstones, shales, tire-clay, carbonized vegetable matter, and beds of weath- ered lignite. Below this is pudding-stone or bowhler clay. There are three veins of lignite, which are, counting from the surface, respectively 16 feet, 15 feet, and 6 to 8 feet in thickness. Bowlders and volcanic ashes occnr between the veins. Pyrite is found with the lignite in the form of cubes. In making a'secfion a^'ross the lignite beds from southeast to northwest we have fir^t granite, then the miscellaneous forma- tion containing the veins of lignite, then a dike of basalt, next sedimentary strata re- ferred to the Tertiary, and liually an extensive mas.^ of trachyte, which covers the country for several miles," APPENDIX NN. 1287 SKKTCII OF LAKE TAIIOE. Lake Tahoe lies iu tlieheiirtof the Siona Nevada, at an elevation of 6,202 f-^et above tlio sea-level. It is one of the largest fresh-water hikes in the West, and, uidike many other sheets of water, contains no islands. Lake Tahoe is inelosed by twopaiallel ranges of grayish granite, called respectively the Eastern and Western Snminits. Lake Tahoe is 21 miles long and 12 miles in the widest part. The lireadtli, however, varies greatly, the southern portion being mncli narrower than the northern. The shore-line is very diversified. Tbe numerous l>ays, rocky promontories, bold luiadlands, estuaries, and beaches, oftentimes covered with pebbles, remind one of a miniature ocean. Hot springs are found on the north side of Lake Tahoe, near Campbell's hotel. They rise in granite. Stan feet in cross-section ru: s out of Mar- lette Lake. It will be 4,.'')00 feet long when finished and has a southeasterly direction. The waters will be conducted from the east end of the tunnel to the Carson Valley by a flume. The water in the streams of the Eastern Summit is cold and clear. The creeks running down the eastern slope flow through the Caison Plain and empty into the Carson River, while those on the western side of the summit empty into Lake Tahoe. There are no irrigatiug-ditches in the Eastern Summit, but the waters of several streams are diverted from their natural course and conducted through flumes for the transp< rtation of lumber. The princijjal flumes in this range are the Clear Creek Canon, the Fiauktown, and the VVa-hoe City. The streams in the Eastern Summit are rapiil, narrow, and easily fordablo. The soil of the range is largely composed of disintegrated granite. Numerous sj>urs diverge from the eastern slo[)e of this i-ange, and extend in some cases far out into the jjlain, appearing like buttresses. There are no spurs on the western slope, unless the head- APPENDIX NN. 1289 lauds and points pro.joctinp: into Lake Talioe are considered as sncli. A general account of the topofiiaphical features alonjr the eastern border of Lake Tahoe may be appropriately givon in connection with the Eastern Snniinit. l)ej:inniiinetic santl occurs on the shore. For the next 0 miles the banks of the lake bre steep, and several low promontories extend from the shore. .Just north of Glenbrook a bold rocky headhind projects far out. frcnn the jjoneral shore-line, and forms a very cons])icuous jxiint in the norlhera half of the lake. Gh^nbrook, the most important settlement on Lak • Talme, and the lu'ad(iuarters of the hnuber tradt^ lies in a small l)ay. Tliere is considerable, arable- land in this vicinity. Astrij) of productive land extends back from the lak(i tor a dis- tance of 2 miles, where it is called Si)ooner's Meadow. Proceeding south the coast- line is quite uniform until Cave Kock is reached. This is a very conspicuous point. The name is derived from the fact that a cave about 20 feet long and 10 feet high occurs on the south side of this i)roJi'cting rock, which consists of porphyriric trachyte. There are three low, densely wooded tongue.s of land on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe south of Cave Kock. The shore-line is regular, and sandy for the remaining jtoition of this ('oast of the lake. A good wagon-road follows the eastiMii border of this sheet of water from Glenbrook to Lake Valley. There are no outlying ridges belonging to the Eastern Summit that ruu parallel to it. The Eastern Summit is bounded on the east by the alluvial valleys of Carson and Washoe. The low ridge of granite that separates these vnlleys may l)e regarded as a spur of this main range. There is no other place between Washoe City and Carson City where rock occurs in situ. The Eastern Sunnnit consists chiefly of granite and syenitie granite. A few erup- tions of igneous rock have taken ])lace throughout the range. Beginning at the north- ernmost part of the range explored by me, the lirst upheaval is Mount Rose, where a conical mass of basalt has broken through the granite. Many bowlders of this rock are scattered over the country for seveial mih-s to the east and south. The color of the rock is blue, and on the summit of Mcuint Rose the basalt is laminated and ferru- ginous. There are no trees within 300 feet of the top of the peak, the only vegeta- tion being moss and occasional tufrs of grass. There are many anticlinal ridges ruu- iiing in every direction on the west of Mount Rose. The rock formiug the summit is much disiutegrateuutain, above Avhich is still aufdher tunnel 150 teet in length. The ore occurs in gray gianite and quartz rock. The granite is frt-quently i)oor iu mica. Dark-blue sandstone-veins traverse the country-rock. There is but little water in the uunes. The ore is argen- tifenuis ; some of it is said to assay as much as .|l,700 per ton. The main rock form- ing the slope of the mountain iu which the Montreal mine lies is syenitie granite. A small stamping-mill was iu course of erection iu September, 1876, and eighteen men were working at that time. 2. The Emerald mine adjoins the preceding. This mine was discovered in 1874, and has been worked at intervals since then. A tunnel 400 feet long has been driven iu the granite. The rock is darker within the tunnel than at the surface, where it is soft; and crumbling. The ore assays $90 to the ton. 1290 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 3. The Clear Creek Canon mine known as the William's Lorle. This mine was opened in the antunin of 1875, and has been worked at intervals from that time. The wall-rock is granite, overlaid by jfrayish clay. The vein rnns north 71"^ east, and is about 3 feet wide. The dip is 37°. There is a tunnel 300 feet lonj;, and a shaft 75 feet deep has been sunk. The minerals found are malachite, azurite, pyrite, and crystal- line-quartz. Abouc ,fGO,000 has been expended on this mine, and but two men were workinf>- in September, 1870. Half a mile northward is the Woodstock Lode. The vein-matter runs northeast and southwest, and is exposed in a suuiU prosi)ect-hn]e. Both the Williams and Woodstock Lodes are argentiferous. There are several other prospect-holes on the ridge between Clear Creelc and Carsou City, but no develop- ments of any account have been made thus far. 4. The Niagara mine. I did not visit this mine, but the following description is con- densed from the report of Mr. H. R. Whitehill for 1873-'74 : " The Niagara mine is situated north of King's Canon, and west of Carson. The vein is inoassd in slate and gneiss, and is 30 feet wide on the 100-foot level. Besides two cross-cuts on the surface, thei'e is a shaft 5 by 6 feet sunk to the depth of 100 feet. A drift about 70 feet, run- ning in a westerly direction, (the dip of the vein being almost 45" to the west, pitch- ing into the hill,) cuts the vein at about 40 feBt, and thrfuoe runs 35 feot through the lode toward the west wall. The rock contains from 5 to 30 per cent, of copper, which gives it a g-eeu color. The copper schist lies east of t lo gneiss, in which free gold is found. Tnis mine has good clay walls, and is, doubtless, a true tissure-veln. Assays of ore from this mine have reached info the hiinireds. It is incorporated, and is divided into 30,000 shares. The extent of this claim is 1,500 feet along the lode." THE WESTERN SUMMIT. This term has been given to the range bordering Lake Tahoe on the west. The portions of it explored in 1876 lie between Pyramid Peak and the town of Truckee, a distance of about 35 miles. The range rises abruptly from the level of the lake to a com))aratively narrow serrated ridge-line, and passes gradually into a series of broad plateau-lilve foot-hills, which extend^westward to the Sacramento Valley. The Western Summit is composed of several ridges running parallel or nearly paral- lel to each other. Beginning at the southern end, there is the Pyramid Peak Range ou the extreme west; then come twominor irregular ridges between icand the Tallac Range. The latter is of a very picturesque outline. The canons of the .Western Summit are winding and greatly diversified. This range is not densely wooded, except along the foot of the slopes, and the peaks are rocky and barren. Quaking-aspens grow on the eastern s-lope and in Blackwood aud Truckee Canons. There is scarcely any vegeta- tion in the upper parts of the range. Some of the peaks are remarkable f »r the great variety of lichens growing on their rocky summits. Black, yellow, gray, brown, and red lichens are found on Twin Peaks. White thorn and manzanita bash abound on the easterly side of the Western Summit, and a few ferns are scatte#ed hither aud thither. The principal trees are pine, spruce, and fir. In the southern part pines attain the height of 150 feet. The trunks of these trees are oftentimes covered with bright-green moss for a distance of 30 feet from the ground. There is but little arable land in this range ; Scjuaw Valley, Blackwood Cauoh, and Tahoe City being the only places where it may be found to any extent. There are numerous lakes on the Western Summit ; the most important of which are Fallen L^af, Cascade, and Echo Lakes. The one first named is situate:! in the western side of Lake Valley, about 1^ miles from Lake Tahor, which is 118 feet lower. Fallen Leaf Lake is about I mile wide and 3.V miles long. The temperature of the water was 54° F. in 0 ;tober. On the northeast shi>rc) of this lalie are found pebbles of a great variety of rock, such as slate, basalt, granite, diorite, Sea., all of which have been brought from the lofty Western Summit. Cascade Laki is about li miles from Lake Tahoe, and lies directly in front of Tallac Peak ; but, unlike Fallen Leaf Lake, its discharge-creek has considerable fall, and the surface of Cascade Lake is 3.50 feet above Tahoe. A lumber-road leads from the former to the latter. Echo Lake lies between two rocky ridges on top of the Western Summit, about 1 mile from the Placerville road. It is about 1^ miles long and oue-fourth mile broad. The southern bank of the lake is lined with conifers and a few alder bushes. Else- where the shores are very barren aud rocky. Beside these just-described lakes there are at least twenty others of minor importance throughout the Western Summit. These mountain lakelets usually lie in cup-shaped depressions in the granite. The principal streams in the Western Summit are the south fork oi' the American River and the Truckee River. The former risas near the "Devil's Basin," flows south, then southwest, and empties into the Sacramento River. The latter rises at the head of Lake Valley, flows northward through Lake Tahoe, just as the Rhone flows through the Lake of Geneva, then turns westward, and finally, after running northerly for several miles, takes a northeastern direction and empties into Pyramid Lake. Most of the brooks iu this range rise ou the ridge-liue, flow eastward, aud empty iato APPENDIX N N. 1291 Lake Tahoe, the more prominent of wLicli are Blackwood and McKiunoy's Creeks. The ■v\-att'i- of all these streams is cold and clear. There are two pasi-es in the Western Snniinit that are traversable with vehicles: The Placerville stage-road, called the "jjrade," on the eastern slope, several nules south of Mount Tallac, which was constructed in 1860, soou after the discovery of the Corn- stock Lode; the other pass that is traversed by a wagon-road is the canon of the Trnekee River, from the town of the same name to Tahoe City. The road runs along the south side of the river for 7 miles from Truckee, when it crosses the stream and coutiunes ou the northern shore to ihe lake. A wagon-road traverses a si)ur of the "Western Summit on the north side of Lake Tahoe, from Warm Springs to Truckee. A road runs up to the head of IMackwood Canon, which might be continued across the range. A wagon route follows the lake shore from Warm Springs to Tahoe Ciry, and thence to McKinney's. 'J'heve are no irrigating ditches in this range. The topography of the western shore of Lake Tahoe may be aptly described in the following manner: The s(nithwesteru shore of the lake presents bold and rocky headlands. Emerald ]5ay is an indentation of the coa.'-t, extending 2} miles inward. The opening of the bay is about half a mile broad. Going northward, the shore is tolerably regular, but rises abrujitly from the levLd of the lake. At Rubicon Point a steep rocky promontory juts into the" lake. From this jdace to Tahoe City there is very little rock in sUt(, the shore being a comparatively level strip of alluvium, with a sandy beach, and bordered with a VL-ry thick growth of manzanita as far as Sugar Pine Point. The coast-line runs iiortii, without, any marked features until Meigs's Bay is reached. This is a picturesque bight, about half a mile in breadth, which is bounded ou the north by Sugar Pine Point. This tongue of laud is the longest in Lake Tahoe, and covers at least ;5 miles in width, including its sinuosities. On the northern side of this point the shore-line trends nearly due west for a niile, and then northward again, without appreciable curves, to Tahoe City, forming the broad Upson's Bay. At this locality the land bears noitheast to Observatory Point, a V-shaped cape jutting far out into the lake. The coast-line then runs uort'herly and curves gradually until it has an eastward bearing, forming the semi-circular Cornelian Bay. The northern shore of the lake tends gently to the southeast until the western bounVlary of Todman's Bay is reached, thus forming the rocky promontory known as State-line Point., which divides California from Ne- vada. This poiut stretches far out into Lake Tahoe, and diminishes gradually in width till the apex consists simply of a row of detached masses of rock, decreasing in size until the water-level is reached. There has been much more erosion and denudation in the Western than in the East- ern Suuinit. In the former range the gorges have precipitous \vall8. The slopes of many ridges are covered with debris. The scenery throughout the Western Summit is exceedingly picturesque. The variety in the landscape seen from any of the high peaks is unique. The rugged mountains azure lakes, and winding cafions present a scene of surpassing grandeur. There is a striking contrast berween the eastern and western slopes of this range in reference to the timber; the former being for the most part bare and rocky, while the latter is densely wooded. , There is abundant evidence of the former existence of glaciers in the Western Sum- mit. I have condensed the following extract from Prof. Joseph Le Conte's paper ou " Ancient Glaciers of the Sierra,*" as he has studied the glacial phenomena thor- oughly : ''Between the Eastern and Western Summits lies a trough fifty miles long, twenty miles wide, and 3,000 to 3,.500 feet deep. This trough is Lake Valley. It was formerly occupied by a great glacier rising near Pyramid Peak, tilling Lake Tahoe, and escaping northeast toward the plains. Some of the ice escaped by Truckee Canon, for I have found glacial markings on the rocks in this canon. During glacial times the trough of Lake Valley, the lower half of which is now filled with the waters of Lake Tahoe, was a great nler de (//flce, receiving tributaries from all directions except the north. The tracks of the smaller glaciers are more easily traced than those of the principal cue. Of the two summits, the western is the higher. It bears the most snow now, and in former times yave origin to the grandest glaciers. Again, the peaks on both these summits rise higher and higher as we go toward the upper or southern end of the lake. Hence, the largest glaciers ran into the lake at its sonthwestern side. Be- tween this point and Sugar Pine Poiut, a distance of about nine miles, I saw the path- ways of five or six glaciers. North of Sugar Pine Point there are also several. They are' all marked by moraine ridges running down from the summits and projecting as points into the lake. Inasmuch as the highest mountains are on the southwesterly end of the lake, the greatest glaciers have been there as well as the profoundest glacial sculpturings. I need only name Mount Tallac, Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake and Emerald Bay. These three fine little lakes, (for Emerald Bay is also almost a lake,) ntstled closely against the loftiest peaks on the western summit, are all per- * Am. Journal, Ser. Ill, vol. v, p. 125; Proo. Cal. Acad. Sciences, vol. iv, part 5, p. 259. 1292 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF EKGINEERS. feet examples of glacial lakes. South of Lake Talioe extends Lake Valley for fifteen miles as a plain f^ently risino- southward. Its lower eud is but a few feet above the lake-surface, and covered with {rlacial drift modified by water and diversified, particu- larly on the western side, by clehris ridges, the moraines of glaciers -which continue to flow into the valley or into the lake long after the main glacier had dried up. ''FalUn Leaf Lake ///«eier.— This lake is bordered on either side by an admirably- marked dahns ridge (ino-aines) 300 feet high, 4 miles long, and \\ to 2 miles apart. These nioraines may be traced back to the termination of the rocky ridges tliat bound the c.n in. On the one side the moraine lies wholly on the plain, on the other side its upper part lies against the slope of Mount Tallac. Near the lower end of the lake a some- what obscure branch ridge comes off from each main ridge, and, curving round, they form an imperfect terminal uioraine, through which the outlet of the lake breaks its way. On ascending the canon, the glaciatioa is very conspicuous, and becomes more and more beautiful at every step. From Soda Springs upward it is the most splendid I have ever seen. In some places the whole rocky bottom of the canon is smooth, pol- ished, and gently undulating, like the surface of a glassy but billowy sea. The glaci- ation is distinct .ilso op the sides of the canon 1,000 feet above its floor. There can be 130 doubt, therefore, that a glacier once came down this canon, filling it 1,000 feet, scooped out Fallen Leaf Lake just where it struck the plain, and changed its angle of slope, and pushed its snout 4 mles ont on the level plain nearly to the present shores of Lake Tahoe, dropping its debris on either side, and thus forming a bed for itstlf. In its subsequent retreat it seems to have rested its snout some time at the lower end of Fallen Leaf Lake, and accumulated there an imperfect terminal moraine. "Cascade Lake olacier. — On either side of the creek, running out of this lake from the very border of Lake Tahoe, runs a moraine ridge up to the lake, and thence along each side of it up to the rocky points, which terminate the true mountain canon above the head of Cascade Lake. I have never anywhere seen more perfectly-defined moraines. I climbed over the larger west-rn moraine and found that it is partly merged into the eastern moraine of Emerald Bay, to form a medial at least.300 feet high and of great breadth. From the surface of the little lake, the curving branches of the main moraine, meeting below the lake to form a terminal moraine, are very dis- tinct. _ At the head of the lake there is a perpendicular clitf, over which the head of the river precipitates itself, forming a very pretty cascade of 100 feet or more., On ascending the canon above the head of the lake for several miles I found every- where above the lip of the precipice, over the whole floor of the canon, and np the sides 1,000 feet or more, the most perfect giaciation. There cannot be, therefore, the slightest doubt that this is also the pathway of a glacier which once ran into Lake Tahoe. After coming down its steep, rocky bed it precipitated itself over the cliff, scooped out the lake at its foot, and ran on till it bathed its snout in the waters of Lake Tahoe, and probably formed icebergs there. In its subsequent retreat it seems to have dropped more debris in its path, and formed a more perfect terminal moraine than did Fallen Leaf Lake glacier. ''Emerald Bay fflacitr. — All that I have said of Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake applies almoist word for word to Emerald Bay. This beautiful bay, almost a lake, has been formed by a glacier. It is .also hounded on eitter side by moraines, which run down to and even project into Lake Tahoe, and nny be traced up to the rocky points that form the mouth of the canon at the head of the bay. Its eastern moraine, as already stated, is partly merged into the western moraine of Cascade Lake to form a huge medi'^1 moraine. Its western moraine lies partly against a rocky ridge running down to Lake Tahoe to form Rubicon Point. At the head of the bay, as at the head of Cas- cade Lake, there is a cliff about 100 feet high, over which the river precipitates itself and forms a fine cascade. Over the lip of this cliff and in the bed of the cafnin above, and up the sides of the clift'-like walls, 1,000 feet or more, the most perfect giaciation is found. The onljr difference between this glacier and the two preceding is that it ran more deeply into the main lake, and the deposits dropped in its retreat did not rise high enough to cut off its little rock basin from that lake, but exists now only .as a shallow bar at the mouth of the bay. This bar consists of true moraine matter, i. e., intermingled bowlders and sand, which may be examined thi'ough the exquisitely trans- parent water almost as perf-'ctly as if no water were present. Some of the bowlders are of large size. One sees from the top of Tallac Peak the whole course of these three glaciers, their fountain amphitheaters, their canon beds, and their lakes inclosed between their moraine arms." Professor Le Conte has found abundant evidence of the former existence of a great glacier in Lake Valley. Bowlders and pebbles of slate on the north shore of Fallen Leaf Lake can easily be traced to their parent rock in the canon above the lake. These pebbles have also been traced aloyg the western shores of the great lake beyond Sugar Pine Point 'o the extreme northwestern shore, nearly thirty miles from their source. The Fallen Leaf Lake glacier was once a tributary to a much greater glacier that filled Lake Tahoe. Again, Le Conte finds additional evidence of a Lake Tahoe mer de fflace in the contrasted character of the northern and sDuthera shores of the lake. The same APPENDIX NN. 1293 observer states tliat, all the other sierra lakes he has seen certaiuly owe their origin to glacial agency. Lake Talme has been partly shajjed by the same operation, and traces of glacial deltas arc found along the western shore. Le Conte thinks careful examination would discover the pathways of glaciers run- ning iuto the lake from tlie- eastern suuiinit, but ho failed to di^te<'t any evideuces of them. In my own examination of this range I found no traces of glaciers, particularly no glacial scratches. There are some bowlders scattered over the eastern side of the Piinge tiiat may have been transported by glaci rs. 'Jlie j)redomiuatiiig rock in the western sninmit is granite. But igneous rocks such as basalt, diorite, and phonolite have broken tluougli the granite in f-everal places. Tliis lauge may be iitly divided iuto the Pyramid IVak ridge, the Tallac I'eak ridge, the Twin Peak ridge, and the ridge north ot Tiuckee Canon. Beginning on the south, the Pyramid Peak ridge consists chiefly of granite. This is the w. sternmost ridge of the western summit, and its southern boundary is the Amer- ican Fork Canon, a narrow, windy valley with pi-ecii)itous sides comjxj^ed of gray gianite. The peak itself is a niat^s of coaise-grained, yellowish granite, in the form of a ]iyiandd, lising about liOt) feet above the ri e of ihem Lave a little soil and a few trees. The rock bordering Echo Lake is g ay syenitic gran- ite, which is much t aversed by joints. On the northeast s'de of this lake a wall of granite r;ses abrujitly to a he ght of several hundred fcft, ard forms the boutheru end of a mass ot the same rock exti ndiug north to Gilmore's Canon. • i\llhougli not strictly belonging to the western summit, a brief description of Lake Valley n)ay be given here. The greater )>art of this valley is Quater: ary. There is no rock in sila for 4 or 5 miles fiom Lake Tahoe. A morass coTered with coniferous tfees extends back from the l,>ke about half a mile, and east and west for a mile and a half. Lake-weed and eel grass abound in this nnirsh, where the water va ies froiii 6 inches to 3 feet in depth. Mallaid ducks and grebes are common. The sandy bench « n the northern side of Lake Valley is lined with alder bushes. About five miles from Row- land's, near Barion's ranch, two buttes of gray granite occur. Black micM, limpid quartz, and grayish-white feldspar are the (onstituents of the rock. Tin- buttes are several hundred feet in height, and may be considered as outliers ot eith* r the w stern or eastern summits. The country bet\veen these buttes is strew=-d with large granitic bowlders. At the head of Lake Valley, near Hawley's ranch, dark grayish graphite occurs with quartz. A wagon-road runs from Rowland's along the eastern side of Fallen Leaf Lake to Soda Siiriigs, two miles f om Gilmore's ram h, on the lake. Ac- cordirg to the aneroid, the sjirings are 325 feetaboveit. The t^mpeiature of the water is 46.J'^ F. The spring-water contains carboirc acid, sef^quioxide of iron, and snlphur- eted liydrogeu. It is bottled and sold a: Rowland's and other hotel-t o.j Lnke ThIioc. The Tallac Peak ridge runsfnun Gilmore's CaRon to Blackwood Canon. Between this ridge and that of Pyramid Peak are two minor ridges without any name, composed of many dome-shaped ))enksand rocky tors alternating with V-shaped ravines. A vast am- phitheater bounds Tallac Peak on the south. The rock is gray graiiite as far as the springs, where it passes into basalt, having a slaty structure. The creek which flows into Fallen Leaf Lake has cut asmall chatinel in the bottom of this basin, in whicji are a few cascades. Tnere are several lateral canons on the south side of Gilmore's Canon, which rise in rocky terraces one behind another. The western and southern jiortionsof Gil- more's C: Fion aflbrd tine examples of loaches Moatonnies. The rock is granite on these S'des of the canon and basalt on the northern. A small number t)f conifers are scattered over the canon. Mount Tallac is a mass of bluish basalt upheaved through granite. The roi k shows nearly every variety of structure known to the inembeis of the basaltic groups. There are both granular and conjpact species. Some specimens Mre porpiiy- ritic with compact matrix. Incrustations of olivine occur in ])laces. Nearly all the northeast side of Tallac Peak is composed of compact basalt. The wall of rock form- ing this hide rises perpendicularly 700 feet or more from the plateau to the east of it. Three detached masses of rock that have undergone much disintegration project from the face of the main peak. The jointed structure of the basalt has been favorable to 1294 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. denndation on account of the many fissures in wbicli the water and melted snow freeze, thus expanding the cracks till the rock splits and falls. The dififerenceof hardness in the hasalt is well shown in the northeastern side of Mount Tallac. Isolated crags and jyiunacles stand out boldly from the mountain, while the rock that formerly connected them with it has been worn away by the influence of the elements. A vast amount of talus lies at the foot of the eastern slope of Tallac. Seeds of the white-thorn and man- zanita bush hav'e been scattered over this debris and taken root in the rocky soii, tlius forming a dense thicket impassable for pack-aninuils. The southwestern declivity of Tal- lac Peak slants gradually to Lake Gihnore, and is covered with nutritions grass, to- gether with occasional clusters of trees except for a distance of about 300 feet from the summit. Ledges of blue basalt outcrop in many localities on the southern and western slopes. The height of Tallac Peak is 9,732 feet. Lake Gilmore occupies the bottom of a basin with lofty walls, and is 1,333 feet below the summit of Tallac according to the mer- curial barometer. The temperature of the water in this lake is r)0° F. The eastern slope of jMonnt Tallac has been gro >ved and polished by glaciers. I f jund line examples of glai ial scratches about half a mile from the summit. In some places the face of the cliff is as smooth as if cut by a chisel. The southern side of this mouutaiu is exceed- ingly steep, and nearly all of it is covered wit.h rocky debris, while a solitary conifer- ous tree here and there breaks the monotony of the scene. Granite surrounds Tallac Peak on all sides except on the northeast, where Lake Tahoe forms the boundary-line. A description of this mountain would be incomplete without a brief reference to the iiiagniticeut view seen from the top. The view is as varied as it is interesting. On the one side the entire range of the western summit is visible, while on the other there is the broad expanse of Tahoe with the eastern summit beyond. Twenty moun- tain-lakes are in sight. Their mirror-like surfaces, reflecting the blue sky form a pleas- ant contrast with the somber hues of the densely timbered ridges. The prominent features of the country lying in front of Tallac Peak, as fir as Emerald Bay, have al- ready been mentioned. Near the head of this bay is a knob of granite called the Em- erald Isle, which is 150 feet high and 300 fet t long, and has the shape of a pear. There U a waterfall about 50 feet in height, a quarter of a mile from Mr. Holl-iday's hou.se. The canon iu which the inlet of Emerald Bay runs is very pictures(iue. It is narrow, windy, and the walls are very steep. Climbmg up the canon for half a mile from the bay I could catch a glimpse through the clusters of trees of several small cascades. At Emerald Bay and from this point northward the rock is gray granite to Sugar Pine Point. Near Rubicon Point the rock contains red feldspar. There are four more peaks belonging to the Tallac Peak Ridge, the northeruiost of which is capped by a sharp granite turret. This feature of pea.ks culminating in rocky tors occurs elsewhere iu the western summit. The ridge becomes very narrow at the head of the creek emptying into Meigs's Bay. From this point to I5lackwood Canoa there is no ro3k in situ within from a half to one mile of the lake-shore. The mouutaiu behind MoKin- uey's Station is basalt, and the slopes are covered with a dense growth of white thorn and manzanita. Some mineral indications have been found iu the ridge about l^ miles from McKinuey's and 1,000 feet above Lake Tahoe according to the aneroid. The ledge was discovered in July, lfi76, and work was beguu in September. It is claimed by Mes3rs. Niles, Bellinger, Sims, and Casey. The vein runs northwest and southeast. Iu September, 1876, two men were working at an opening in the ledge 7 feet long and 4 feet wide. No aualysis has yet been made of the ore, but it is said to contain nickel. On the northea.st side of this mountain is Quail Lake, a body of water having an area of about an acre, and 400 feet above Lake Tahoe. Going northward, the rock is chiefly basalt as far as Blackwood Canon. Blue basalt occurs at the head of this canon. The Twin Peak ridge runs from this point north to Truckee Canon. Twin Peaks are just north of Blackwood Canon, and coasi'reci- ]»'ce with roncded bases. Thb rock is ])or]>iiyritic diorite. The sontherii side of Sqnaw Valley is steeper than tlie northern. A little farther down the Trnckee Canon is Clara- ville, the site of an abandoned niininhat fenuginous and much decou^ posed. It crumbles in the lingers. Near Tahoe City porphyritic {irauite, containing numerous crystals of white feldspar, is found. Compact blui.sh granite occurs at Observatory Point, which is a sjiur of the ridge jirojecting far into the lake. Beyond this point gr;iy phouolite extends along the lake-shore for 'i miles or muie. The lemainder of the ruige consists of bluish basalt as far north as Boca, and stretching back from the lake for several miles. Various spurs diverge innu this ridge. The crest lines are often dotted with turrets of basalt, and a vast amount of debris is strewed over their slopes. Near Wallace's ranch, 5 miles southeast of Trnckee, I observed basalt similar to that on Lake Tahoe. A fea- ture worth mentioning in connection with the geology of the Western summit is the absence of sedimentary rocks. No fossils are Cound by which one can determine the position of these archiean and igneous rocks in the geological series. In closing a report on the geology of Lake Tahoe and vicinity, a hrief reference nuiy be made to the lake as a resort for tourists and pleasure-seekers. Since the com- jdetion of the Central Pacilic and Virginia and Trnckee Railroads, Lake Tahoe has become very accessible. A small steamer, carrying the mail, makes a daily tour of the lake. Theie is sufficient hotel accommodation for a large number of travelers. Hote Is have heen erected at the iollo\\ing points on the lake: Hot Springs, Gleubrook, Kear- ney's, Kowlaud's, Yanks, McKiuney's, and Tahoe City. The tinest scenery is i'ound in the southwestern corner of Lake Tahoe, near Tallac Peak. There is no ]iart of the United Stati s that surpasses this region in sceneiy. In n)y extensive travels on the continent of Europe 1 have seen hut one lake moie pictuiesque than Tahoe, viz, the lake of Luzerne, in Switzerland. Grace Greenwood, writing from California, says: "Tahoe is the mo;-t beautiful lake I have ever beheld. * * * I think Lake Tahoe must yet become a great pleasure resort. I have seen no more charming spot in all my tours tor a summer's rest and rambling." Respectfully submitted. Alfred R. Conmcling. Lieut. G. M. Wheeler, Corjyn of Engineers, in charge. Appendix H 1. REPORT ON THE LITIIOLOOY OF PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO, AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, BY A. R. CONKLING. New York City, May 10 , 1677. Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the lithology of the portions of Southern Colorado, and Northern New Mexico, explored by me in tlie tield-seas on of 1875 : The majority of the rocks occurring in this region are of igneous origin. They cover large areas on both sides of tlie Spanish Range. The most common rocks are dolerite, basalt, granite, trachyte, diorite, granulite, sandstone and limestotie. Dolerite occurs more frtquently than any other species ; vesicular doleiife covers large tracts of coun- try, as in the ])]ateau bounding the San Luis Valley on tlie west. Com])act bluish dolerite is found in the buttes near Costilla post othce, New Mexico, and in the mesa northeast of Fort Garland. Olivine is found in the dolerite at several localities. The basalt is usually of a blue color, and varies in texture from compact to scoriaccous. 1296 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. In some places this rock is incrnstecl with calcite ; and in the amyor<^aloi(lal varietiea the cavities are occasionally filled with zeolites. Near the head of Uraca Creek, New- Mexico, a dark-brown species of scoriaceons basalt occurs havinresents great irregularity in the size of the crystals imbedded in the compact matrix. Tlie color of tliis rock is commonly gray, occasionally inclining to white. Tbe granu'ife is in general of a reddish color, and granular in texture. Grannlite and granite consti- tute the predominating rocks, in the several mountain ranges from L:i Veta Pass to Santa Fe. The trachyte presents a compact texture as a rule, and a C'dor varying from light gray to pink. The sandstone is generally of a yellowish color, and has a fine-grained strncture. In several localities the rock is ferruginons when the color becomes biight red. Near Costilla peak the sandstouH passtss imo a coufjiomerate. The fossilifercms sandstones have been described in the geological report. The lime- stone is usually light blue in color, atd of a compact texture. Thi - rock covers a large tract of country in the eastern portion of the area explored in 1875. Besides these rocks may he. mentioned clay-slate, and hornblende por])hyry, both of which occur in several localities. The paucity of crystaMine schists is remarkable, the only localities being near Uraca Mountain, ' n Elizabeth Baldy, and on the eastern side of Antelope Creek, in the Wet Mountain Valley. A haul siliceous variety of conglomerate occurs near the toi> of the sandstone mesa bounding the Vermejo Valley on the west. The matrix of this rock is dark brown, and contains Idack and white fragments of quartz. In order to determine with accnracy those rocks having a texture so compact that the constituent minerals could not be recognized with the naked eye, I h-ive made sections of snch rocks that were deemed desirable to prepare for microscopic examina- tion. On account of the heterogeneous texture and opacity of some of the specimens of rock, much time and labor have been expended in preparing them. In some cases the biittlecess of the rock rendered it impossible to make a section sulliciently hin for microscopic aiuilysis. Such was Wie case with some specimens- of trachyte that were interru[)ted by tissures. The rock conld be ground on the wheel to a certain de- gree of tliinnes-*, after which it invariably crumbled, tlius destroyiusj the section. Fifty sections of rock have been prepared by me, and monnted on glass with Canada balsam. The results of my microscox)ical iuvestigitions may be condensed iu the fol- lowing description : No. 1:59. Uiorite, from Rio Hondo, N. Mex., consisting of white plagioclase, and a few crystals of hornblende. Much olivine, and s[)ecks of nnignetite occur as accessories. No. 144. Basalt, from Rio Colorado, N. Mex., containing mnch disseminated greenish nepheline, pyroxene, and specks of magnetite. The rock is slightly anygdaloidal. No. 171. Dolerite from Huerlano Butte, Colo., consisting of plagiocl tse, augite, and much olivine. No. 173. Nei)heline-doleritefrom west side of Hnerfano Butte, Colo., containing augite, nepheline, and particles of magnetite. The textnre of the rock is very compact. No. 174. Diorite from Cucharas River, Colorado, composed of hornblende and pla- gioclase. Olivine and magnetite occur as accessories. No. 190. .Syenitic granite from Ute Creek, New Mexico, contaiuii>g quartz, triclinic felflspar, and a few crystals of mica; black hornblende is abundantly disseminated. No. '20.'). Basalt, from uearLanghliu's Peak, N. Mex., consisting of nepheline, augite, and some olivine. No. 20(J. Dolerite from East Spanish Peak, Colo., made up of iilagioclase and py- roxene. No. '207. Granite from head of Cimarron Creek, New Mexico, composed of reddish orthoclase, gr;iins of quartz, ninscovite, and specks of magnetite. A few crystals of a black mineral occur which may be melanite. No. "208. Syenite, from Cieneguilla Valley, N. Mex., containing plagioclase, bora- blende and many grains of quartz. No. '210, Dolerite, from Rider's Canon, Colo., composed of plagioclase, many crystals of augite, and specks of magnetite. No. '211. Diorite, from near Taos Peak, N. Mex., consisting of hornblende, plagioclase, and a few grains of quartz. No. '216. Dolerite, from San Luis Valley, CaL, containing plagioclas3, brownish pyrox- ene, and a few particUs of mica. No. '217. Dolerite, from Colorado Canon, N. Mex., consisting of crystals of augite, plagioclase, aud specks of magnetite. The rock has a porphyritic strncture. APPENDIX NN. 1297 No. 225. Trachyte, from Eosita, Colo., composed chiefly of plagiodase and a little sanidiiio. A few grains of ang'te and majjnetite also occvir. No. 227. Trachyte, from Taos Rano;(>, N. Mex., consisting of sanidine and plagioclass, Tvith streaks of angite and a few spccls on the north side of the Raton Mountain. The coal is underlaid by a bed of yellow sandstone. A layer of limonite about 2 feet thick overlies the coal at the jdace -where it is mined. The coal is said to be free from pyrites. iiiinnM APPENDIX NN. 1301 According to Mr. James, there are nine good workable veins of coal in tbe vicinity of Trinidad, all of which have the same general direction. The coal is mined with the ordinary pick, and carried out in a hand-oar running on a tramway. A tunnel about 5 feet wide, and not l)igh enough to allow a man to walk uprightly, has been driven iu the mountain to work the coal. This tunnel is about 150 feet long. Tbe coal is sold for Al.fjO per ton at the mine. Goke is made and sold for $(.! per ton at the mine. The coke is transported iu ox-teams to Denver, where it is sold for .$19 per ton. At the time of my visit (June, 18/.')) but three mineis were working at tbe mine. This min- eral property is said to be owned by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company. The vein of ccal outcroi>ping on tbePurgatoire River, 4 miles west of Trinidad, is about 4 feet thick, and underlaid by shaly sandstone destitute of fossils. The coal is some 25 feet above tbe level of the river. The strata ersion over all portions of the west in fall and winter appears to be general. APPENDIX NN. 1315 PODICIPID^. 9G. Podiceps {^Txmophorus) occidentalia Lawr. — Western Grebe. Breeds abuudantly in Washoe Lake. The young still in the down were taken Angnst 31. One of the main subgeneric characters of this bird is the absence of colored raffs or other nnptial ornaments about the head during the breeding season, it thus formiuo- a striking exception to the general rule obtaining in the family. The young, the G.Tat I believe ever taken, are now before me, from the above locality. They scarcely need description, more than that conveyed in the general statement that in the distribution of colors they almost exactly resemble the old birds. In this respect they seem to carry out the peculiarities of their parents, inasmuch as the young of the other trrebes are all, so far as I am aware, curiously streaked or mottled in their first or downy plumage. LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED ON THK EASTERN SLOPE OF THE SIERRAS, NEAR CARSON CITY NEVADA, Fl{OM SEPT. 16 tO NOV. 7 ; WITH NOTES. TURDID.E. 1. Titrdus inigraiorius L., var. propinqaus Eidgw. — Nevada Robin. During the mouth of September the Robins began to be rather numerous along the mountain sides, the number of those resident here during the summer having doubt- less been increased by the arrival of birds reared farther to the north, while they were rendered more conspicuous from' the fact of their having flocked. lu early November they were seen in great flocks at difterent localities, where were found various kinds of wild berries. The majority of these birds, if not all, pass farther south to winter. 2. Tardus ncevius Gm. — Varied Thrush. A male of this species which I saw confined in a cage in a store in Carson City was said by the owner to have been captured during the previous spring in the adjoining mountains. For this statement I cannot vouch, but give it for what it is worth. This thrush has never been recorded from any locality east of the Sierras ; yet there seems to be no reason why during the migrations, as in the case of other birds possessing a similar summer habitat, the species may not occur along the eastern slope. That it actually does so, however, remains to be proven. SAXICOLID.E. 3. Sialia mexicana Sw. — Mexican Bluebird. During the mouth of September and early October this species was rather numerous among the pines at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. After this fewer were seen, a par- tial emigration having perhaps taken place, or, as is more likely, the species having re- tired from the high altitudes to the valleys, where they winter in considerable numbers. 4. Sialia arctica Sw. — Arctic Bluebird. At the time the preceding species bagai to diminish iu numbers the present bird attracted attention by a corresponding increase, and it soon almost wholly represented the other in the mountain region. They winter among the pines and in the brushy ravines, forming a close association with the Titmice, Nuthatches, etc. SYLVIIDJE. 5. liegitlas calendula (L.). — Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Abundant during the fall months among the pines, sometimes in small companies of their own species, but more often distributing themselves by twos and threes among the flocks of winter birds. PARID.E. 6. Lophoplianes inornatus (Gamb.). — Plain Titmouse. A resident, but not very numerous. Inclined to favor with its presence the cedar and piuon hills rather than the pine region proper, from which, however, it is not entirely absent. 1316 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 7. Parus montanus (Gamb.)- — Mountain Chickadee. Appears to be the only other representative of the family in this region. A con stant resident of the pineries. SITTID.E. 8. Sitta carolinensia Gm.; var. aculeata, Cass. — Slender-billed Nuthatch. An abundant resident of the pine timber. 9. Sitta pygmceaY'ig. — Pygmy Nuthatch. The most abundant of the tribe, keeping exclusively in the pines, among which they ■wander in large flocks. CERTHIID^. 10. Certhia famiUaris L., var. americana, Bon. — American Creeper. Only a few seen, and these among the pines. « SYLVICOLID^. 11. Helminthox^liaga celata Say, var. lutescens Ridgw. — Western Orange-crowned War- bler. This variety was found rather common during September about Lake Tahoe, fre- quenting chiefly the brushy thickets on the mountain sides. It probably breeds all along the eastern slope. 12. Dendroica audulonii (Towns.). — Audubon's Warblet. The only numerously represented species of the family. Not, I think, nearly as abundant as in the Rocky Mountains at the corresponding season. Keeping generally in the pines, but also seizing much of its food from the ground. TANAGRID^. 13. Pyranga hidoviciana (Wils.). — Louisiana Tanager. A very much belated individual of this species was seen September 18. The species had passed south long before. AMPELID.E. 14. Myiadestes townsendii (And.).— Townsend's Solitaire. None seen till the first days of October ; after this, small companies were occasionally noted in various localities through the mountains. Probably more or less pass the summer on the higher summits. FRINGILLID^. 15. Carpodacus casdni Bd. — Cassin's Purple Finch. In September this Fincb was not uncommon about Lake Tahoe. After which none ■were seen, the species having migrated. It is a summer resident in this region. 16. Melospiza me?odia var. lieermannii (Bd.). — Heermann's Song Sparrow. Quite rare among the mountains. Occasionally one seen in October in the thickets along the streams. All examples of the Song Sparrow I have seen from this region, while referable to the above variety, yet mark quite a decided step in the advance towards the central region form, the M. xar. fallax. They are not so dark colored as specimens from the California coast, and the bills appear to be somewhat slenderer, approximating in these particulars to fallax. 17. Juneo oregonus (Towns.). — Oregon Snowbird. Very abundant everywhere. I presume this hardy species winters in the mountains ; at least many remain till the snow falls to a considerable depth. 18. Zonoiricliia leucoprys (Forst.), var. intermedia Ridgw. — Western White-crowned Sparrow. This bird was found by Mr. Ridgway breeding abundantly on the eastern slope. It APPENDIX NN. lol7 is fonnd all over the mountains, and in fall crosses the range, and is found but little less abundantly in Southern California. Note. — The Zonotrkhia leucoplirys, though not noted by us, doubtless occurs mingled with flocks of the above bird, esiiecially as it was found by us in Southern California. 19. Zonoiriclna coronata (Pall.). — Golden-crowned Sparrow. The great mass of these sparrows, in their journey southward, keeps on the western slope of the Sierras. It occurs, too, along the eastern spurs in fall, but, comparatively speaking, in very small numbers. 20. FassereUa iliaca (Merr), var. meganjncha Bd. — Thick-hilled Sparrow. This appears to be the only Passerella occurring along the eastern slope, where it is numerous in summer and fall, and where I believe it is resident. In a recent report (187C) I was led to combine the present bird with P. schislaeea, separating them from the P. townsendi and iUaca mainly on the strength of the differ- ent proportions. Subsequent examination, however, has convinced mo that the genus is represented by but one species, and that tlie three western forms, townsendi, schistacea, and megaryncha are but varieties of one and the same species. These under dilterent con- ditions of climate have become more or less differentiated from the original type till they represent well-marked geographical races, the iutergradation of which with each other and with iliaca it is perfectly possible to show. As noticed in an earlier part of this re- port, all specimens of the variety megaryncha tTom the eastern slope of the Sierras show very decided intermediate characters between the extreme condition this form assumes in the Coast Range and the P. schistacea from the interior, a fact to be expected from the half-way position of the region. A series connecting the two may very readily be formed. An examination of the material in the Smithsonian, much of which was col- lected by the expedition, enables us to speak with equal confidence of the close rela- tionship existing between sc/iistocea and /ownsewf/i. Specimens connecting the two in a very complete chain may easily be selected. Hitherto no specimens intermediate between iliaca and townsendi have been met with, and though the differences separat- ing them have been chietiy modifications of color only, differences of degree of intensity and not of pattern, this has been deemed sufficient to keep them apart. It will be remembered that the habitats of the two are, in the northwest, in close juxtaposition to each other, iliaca being one of quite a number of eastern birds that in the north find their way across the continent and reach Alaska. Townsendi, with its summer home in the northern jiortiou of the Pacific province, also reaches Alaska, and it is probable that here the two forms come together. At all events, a series of sixteen specimens collected by the expedition in California, in 1875, presents unquestionable evidence of the iutergradation of the two. Of these I do not find one which compares exactly with the usual style of townsendi, as it appears in specimens from Kodiak, Sitka, etc. The one extreme of this series exhibits quite a close approach to the dark olive-brown of townsendi, with its uustreaked dorsum ; the other in its light condition quite suggests the ferruginous style of coloration of iliaca ; such specimens have the back obsoletely streaked. One other specimen from California in the Institution so closely approaches iliaca that it was so labeled, and supposed in the absence of others showing its true relation to be a straggler of this species. In connection with the above suite its position as one of the series showing the intergradatiou of the two forms is readily seen. The following measurements illustrate the relations, in size, the four forms bear to each other: P. iliaca: Wing, 3.40; tail, 3.07; bill, .32; tarsus, .93; (average often specimens.) P. townsendi: Wing, 3.20 ; tail, 3.15 ; bill, .49; tarsus, .9-1 ; (average of twenty-three specimens.) P. schistacea : Wing, 3.13; tail, 3.37; bill, .44; tarsus, .91 ; (average of nine speci- mens.) P. megaryncha : Wing, 3.21; tail, 3.58; bill, .51 ; tarsus, .93; (average of eight speci- mens.) As will be seen from the above measurements, schistacea and megaryncha agree in having the tail considerably in excess of the wing; while in i/(rtcaand townsendi the wing exceeds the tail. In townsendi, however, this discrepancy in favor of the wing is very slight, and, indeed, in some few specimens the two are equal, or the tail may even be slightly in excess of the wing. It would appear, therefore, that iu respect to the relative size of these parts, townsendi indicates the first step in the variation, which is seen to be more marked in schistacea, and to find the limit in megaryncha. One unexpected fact shown by these measurements is, that not only does an increase in length of tail take place in the three western varieties, a variation shown in other species, whose habitat extends from the eastern into the western province, but a de- crease in size of wing. The difiereut proportions which ensue come, then, from two 1318 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. causes : first, actual increase in the length of the tail ; second, actual decrease in the length of the wing. By the above arrangement the four forms will stand as follows : PassereUa iliaca (Merr.).— Habitat : Eastern province of North America ; breeds from British America northward, across to mouth of Youkon. In migrations to eastern edge of great plains ; occasional in spring in Colorado (Maxwell) fide Ridgway. PassereUa iliaca, var. schistacea Bd. — Habitat : Middle province ; restricted by western edge of plains and eastern slope of Sierras ; an occasional straggler in Kansas and Cali- fornia in fall. PassereUa iUaca, var, iownsendi (Aud.). — Habitat : Pacific province ; breeds in north- ern Sierras ; Southern California in winter ; confined to western slope of Sierras. PassereUa iUaca, var. megarynclia Bd. — Habitat : Southern Sierras, eastern as well as western slope ; probably a resident species. 21. Pipilo macidatus (Sw.), var. megalonyx Bell. — Long-spurred Towhee. I saw but few Pipilos, and these on the brushy foot-hills, or in the chaparral of the mountain sides. They were extremely shy, so much so that I failed to secure speci- mens. They were doubtless of the above variety, as the variety oregonus is a more northern form. 22. PtpiJo chlorurus (Towns.). — Green-tailed Finch. Not uncommon in October ; probably rather numerous in summer. ICTERID^. 23. ScoJecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.). — Brewer's Blackbird. Rather numerous during the fall months on the borders of Lake Tahoe. CORVID^. 24. Corvus corax L. — Raven. Not nearly so common in the mountains as in the valleys below. 25. Picicorvus colunibianus (Wils.). — Clarke's Crow. A very abundant resident throughout the pine-region, appearing to live exclusively upon the pine-seeds. 26. Pica melanoleuca L., var. hudsonica (Sab.). — American Magpie. As noticed in the previous list, scarcely reaching into the mountains, and but few were seen on the immedia?te borders of Lake Tahoe. 27. Cyanura steUeri Gm., var. frontaUs Ridg. — Blue-fronted Jay. Very abundant on the eastern slope, here replacing the var. maerolopha of the Rocky Mountains. A permanent resident. TYRANNID^, 28. Empidonax hammondi (Xantus). — Hammond's Fly-catcher. This was the sole representative of the family noted by us in the mountains. It probably is not uncommon as a summer resident. CAPRIMULGID^. 29. Antrostomus nnttaUi (And.). — Nuttall's Poorwill. Not uncommon in fall in the shrubbery of the open mountain sides, but avoids the pine-woods. TROCHILIDiE. 30. Selasphorus riifus (Gm.). — Rufous-backed Humming-bird. The only humming-bird seen by us in the mountains. Very numei'ous in September and the first of October. An unaccountable fact to us in connection with the present bird is the apparent ab- sence of all adult males in the fall from localities and regions where the young and fe- APPENDIX NN. 1319 males abound. In the fall of 1875, while in Southern California, vre failed to find a single adult male in the valleys, although the species was very numerously represented by adults of the other sex and by the young. The absence of the males was attributed to the fact of their having found their way into the mountains, though this seemed a hardly adequate explanation. The experience of the past season was but a repetition of that of the previous year, except that our ground of observation was exchanged for the mountains. Where ftAiales and young were to be seou by scores, a most careful search failed to discover a single adult male. Mr. Eidgway, we learn, had a similar experience in fall along the eastern slope, and was equally at a loss to understand whither the males had betaken themselves. ALCEDINID.^. 31. Ceryle alcyon (L.). — Belted Kingfisher. Present on the shores of Lake Tahoe in small numbers, as on the small streams. PICID.. 107, No. 3. From Abiquiu, N. Mex., September, Dr. H. C. Yarrow. Subfamily ACANTHASPIDINA. CONORHINUS, Lap. C. rubrofasciatus. Cimex rubrofasciatus, DeGeer : M6tn. iii, p. 349, pi. 35, flg. 12. Conorhinus rubrofanciatus, Amyot & Serv., Hemipt., p. 384, Xo. 1, pi. 8, fig. 2. From Camp Lowell, Ariz., Mr. Rutter, August 23 ; and from near the Colorado River, California, July 20, by Mr. Somers ; also from the Mojave Desert, by G. Thompson. Family STENOPODID^. Stenopoda, Lap. /S. ciiUciformis. Cimex culiciformis, Fab ; Ent. Syst., p. 728. No. 162. fiteno2)oda cinerea. Lap, Essai, v. 26, pi. .52, fig. 2. atenopada cuUci/ormis, Stal; Hemipt. Fabr., i, p. 129, No. 1. A nympha of this species was collected at Abiquiu, N. Mex., by Dr. H. C. Yarrow. Family SALDID.^. Salpa, Fab. (S. interslUialis. Acanthia interstitialis, Say ; .Toiirn. Acad. Pbilada., vol. iv, p. 321, No. 1. From Northern Now Mexico, July, Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Family HEBRID.^. Hebhus, Curtis. // 89fcr(«!(.t, new sp. Rolinst, biunneo-fuscous, benoaMi chietly bliick-piceons, with the sternum, coxaj, and logs te.stact'ous. Head stout, not so long nor so tapering anteriorly as in II. jytisUliiH Fallen, the vertex and face very convex, the Ud thickly hairy ; antennae dull testaceous. APPENDIX NN, 1661 pubescent, the basal joint thickest, narrowed at base, longer than the second, the third longest, slender like the succeeding ones; under side of head and the bucculiv dull testaceous; the rostrum slender, reaching upon the venter, dull testaceous; eyes, dark brown, with coarse and few facets. Prouotuiu broader than long, flattened, the humeri well defined by a brown sulcue ; impressed line between the lobes distinct, as also the three fovear on the centre, those of each side less distinct; the surface very minutely punctured ; pleural pieces darker, with a few very remote, largo punctures. Veuter smooth, blackish-piceous, densely sericeous pubescent, margined with dull fulvous. Hemelytra pale brownish, minutely pubescent, the uervures darker, the membrauo scarcely reaching to the tip of tlie abdomen. Length scarcely 2 millimeters. Width of pronotum J millimeter. Habitat. — New Mexico, Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Saa Ildefonso, N. Mox., in July, Dr. H. C. Yarrow. Family HYGROTEECHID.E. HYGROTREcnrs, Stal. H. remigis. Gerris remigis, Say ; Hetoropt. New Harmony, p. 35, Ko. 1. From water on the plains of Southern Colorado and Northern Now Mes.ico, June, July, and October, bj' Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Family GALGULID.E. Galgulus, Latr. 1. (1. oculatus. Kaucoris ocnlata, Fab; Syst. Kliyng., p. Ill, No. .'i. Oalijuhis oculatus, Li^tr ; Hist. Nat. lu.s., xii, p. aSli, pi. 'Jo, fi;;-. 9. Oalyidus bujo, H. Sclil'; Wauz. lus., v, p. 88, tig. 5:J(). Collected at San Ildefonso, N. Mex., August 17, by W. G. Shedd ; Cave Spring, Ariz., Mr. Henshaw. 2. G. variegatus. Galgulus viriegatus. Guprin ; Icon. Regne Animal, p. 352. Galgulus pulcker, Stal ; OlV. Veteusk. Akad. Forhuudl. 1854, p. 239, No. 1. Santa Barbara, Cal., Mr. Henshaw and Dr. O. Loew; also at Al)i(iuin, X. Mex., Dr. H. C. Yarrow, iu September. Family NAUCORIDxE. Ambrysus. A. Sig)wreti, Ambrys%is Signoreti, St&l ; Hetnipt. Mex. Stettin. Ent. Zeit., xsiii, p. 460, No. 33G. Naucons Pocgi, Amyot & Serv ; Heiuipt., p. 434, pi. 8, fig. 5. Taken at San Ildefonso, N. Mex., July, by Dr. H. C. Yarrow ; in New Mexico, July, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter; and iu the Mojave River, Cal., in July, by Dr 0. Loew. Family BELOSTOMID.E. Belostom.x, Auctor. B. annurn)es. Belostoma rtnnulipes, H. Schf ; "Wanz. Ins., viii, p. 28, figs. iO'i, 804. A nympha was taken near San Ildefonso, iu July, and an imago at Pagosa, Colo., September 5, by Dr. 11. C. Yarrow. Pedixoc(^)RIS, Mayr. 1. F. macroiiyx. Pedinocoris tnacronyx, Mayr; VerliautU. Wien. Zool.-Botan. Gesel!, l?C3, \i. 350, tub. 11, iigs. 1-4 Obtained in the Gila River, Arizona, hy Dr. C. G. Newberry. 2. P.indentata. Zaitha indentata, Hald., Proc. Acad. Philada., vi, p. 364. Pedinocoris hrachonyx, SJayr; Vtibandl. Wien. Zool.-15otan. Gesell, 1503, p. 351, tab. 11, fig. 5. From the Mojave River, California, July, Dr. 0. Loew, and from Keruville, Cal., by Mr. Henshaw, September 2. 1332 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Abedus, S(;'il. A. brericej)s. Abedtts breviceps, Stal ; Stettiner Ent. Zeit., xxiii, p. 462. Collected at San Ildefonso, N. Mex., August 17, by Mr. Shedd ; Camp Lowell, Ari- zona, August, Mr. Heushaw, and in Arizona, July, by Mr. Rutter. Family NOTONEOTID^. NoTOXKCTA, Linn. 1. X. undulata. Kotonecta undulata, Say; Heteropt. Xew Harmony, p. 39, No. 1. From Abiquiu, N. Mex., September, by Dr. Yarrow, and San Ildefonso, N. Mex., August 17, Mr. Sbedd. 2. N. insulata. Kotonecta insulata. Kirby ; Fauna Bor. Anifr., iv, p. 285, No. 399. Notonecla rugosa, Fieber j Rhynchotographien, p. 52, Ifo. 7. Collected at Camp Lowell, Ariz., in August, by Mr. Henshaw, and elsewhere in Ari- zona, in July, by Mr. Rutter. Family CORISIDAE. CoRiSA, Geoff. 1. C. inierrupla. Gorixa interrupta, Say; Jonrn. Acad. Philada., iv, p. 328, Jfo. 1. From New Mexico, in October, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, and from San Ildefonso , N. Mex., by Dr. H. C. Yarrow. 2. C. dlternala. Corixa alternata, Say ; Joiirn. Acad. Philada., iv, p. 329, No. 2. From San Juan River in New Mexico, by Mr. Browne. 3. C. sntilis. Corixa sntilis, Uhler; Bulletin F. S. Geogr. Sarv. of the Territ., vol. ii, No. 5, p. 73. From the plains of Northern New Mexico, in October, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. IIOMOPTKRA. Family STRIDULANTIA. Cicada, Fab. 1. C. sijnodica. Cicada synodica. Say ; Joiirn. Acad. Philada., vol. iv, p. 334, No. 6. From Southern Colorado, June-July, by Lieut. W. L, Carpenter. 2. C. rimosa. Cicada rimosa, Say ; Joarn. Acad. Philada., vol. vi, p. 235, No. 2. Collected in Southern Colorado, Juue-July, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. ^Family MEMBRACID.E. Cere.sa, lairm. 0 C. buhalus. CMcmhracis huhalus. Fab., Ent. Syst . -vol. iv. p. 14. No. 23. /< ' resa bubalus. Fitch ; Catalogue of lus. N. Y. State Cabinet, p. 50, No. 082. From San Ildefonso, N, Mex., and near Pueblo, Colo., by Dr. H. C. Yarrow ; also from San Ildefonso, by Mr. Shedd. .APPENDIX NX. 1333 0 ^Smilia, Geruiar. S. rau. 0 Meinbraeis vau, Say : Journ. Acail. Philada., vol. vi, p. 2!)3, No. — . ■/ Sinilia vau, Fitcb ; Cat. o£ lus. of X. Y. State Cabinet, p. 48, No. 658. Collected in Northern New Mexico, June-July, and also in October, hy Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Q 0 Campylkxciii.v, Stal. C. curvata. C\Mcmbracis curvata. Fab., Syst. Rhyng., p. lH, No. 34. O Membracis laiipeti. Say ; Long'.s E.\ped., ii, p. 30'J, No. 5. /^Enchenopa Antonina. SValk ; Brit. Miis. List. Hoiuopt. ii, pp. 488-401, Nos. 32, 33, 35, 36, 37. qE. venom, Walk ; IJrit. ]ilus. List. Homopt. ii, pp. 4H8-4!»1, No3. 32, 33, 35, 36, 37. r)E. denm. Walk ; Biit. Mas List. Homopt. ii, pp. 488-491, Nos. Wi, 33, 35, 36, 37. C>E fiigkla. Walk ; Brit. Mua. List. Homopt. ii, pp, 488-491, Nos. ii, 3), 3.5, 36, 37. oE.'bimaculata, Walk; Brit. Mas. List. Homopt. ii, pp. 488-491, Nos. 32, 33, 35, 30, 37. Collected in New Mexico, by Mr. Eutter. O PUBLILIA, Still. r. modes la. o _y^Publilia inodesta, Uliler ; Bulletin U. S. Geolog. Survey of the Ten-it., vol. ii. No. 5, p. 78, No. 2. Collected at San Ildefoiiso, N. Mex., by Dr. H. C. Yarrow, and at Cave Spring, Ariz.> by Mr. Honshaw. "^Darius, Fab. 0 An immature specimen of species allied to D. lateraU-s, Fab., was in the collection of Dr. p. Loew, from the Mojave Desert, California. 0 Q Telamoxa, Fitch. T.pyramidata, new sp. Similar in form to^. querci, Fh., but not qnite so broad, the base of the dorsal prominence more compressed. Color (of the alcoholic specimen) yellowish, clouded with brown, particularly on the sides aud tip of the prominence; also at the end of the scutellum, and ou the base aud more largely on the tip of the hemelytra. Head uneven, yellowish, remotely, finely and irregularly punctured with brown ; cheeks and rostrum hairy. Pronotum with brown, coarse, sunken punctures, the punctures finer anteriorly and placed less closely, and so, also, a little way from the apex ; cen- tral cariuate line interruptedly brown, smooth ; humeri prominent, laminar, almost rectangular. Dorsal prominence subpyraiuidal, compressed above, the tip rounded, edged with piceous, with a few coarse, deep, dragged punctures, which are bounded by tumid, almost linear, oblique interstices ; the cariuate line continued to the tip of pronotum, aud paler both below and behind the summit ; the apex, with four irregu- lar, longitudinal rows of punctures, with raised linear interstices ; lateral edge smooth pale, somewhat interrupted with browu. Hemelytra obscured hyaline, with a large oval spot at tip ; their extreme base, the two upper nervures on the middle, and the punctures bounding the nervures each side throua;hout their length brown. Legs yel- lowish, tinged with piceous, the tibi;e spotted witli brown on their outer sides ; bristles pale yellowish, the base and extreme tip of tarsi, and the nails piceous. Venter black- ish, with the incisures yellowish. The hemelytra extend considerably beyond the jironotum and are obliquely nar- rowed at tip. Length to tip of pronotum, S millimeters ; to tip of hemelytra, 9 millimeters. Width between the humeral angles, 4 millimeters. Altitude to summit of dorsal pro.ninence, scant 4 millimeters. Collected in Southern Colorado, in .luly, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Family FULGORID^. ^ ' ^ SCOLOI'S, Germ a r. ^ S. sulcipes. "^ Xi Fuljnra sidcipes, S.iy ; Journ. Philada. Acad., vol. iv., p. 335. Obtained in Southern Colorado, June-July, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. 1334 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. Ofamtlt TETTIGONID.E. f^Pp.ocoxiA, Amyot & Serv. . r. costalis. CTetUgonia costalis, Fab., Ent. Syst., Suppl., p. 510, Noe. 22, 23. Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. Franco, 3d ser., ii, p. 359, pi. 12, lig. 8. CCercopig marginella, Fab., Syst. Ehyng., p. 96, No. 44. OCercopis lateralis, Fab., Ent. Syst., Suppl., p. 524, No. 24. Coqnebert, Illustr., vol. , . 35, tab 9. tig. 3. QTettigonia lugevs, Valker : Brit. Mns. List, Homopt., iii, p. 775, No. 108. O Tettigonia pyrrhotelus, "Walk., 1. c. iii, p. 775, No. 109. Widely tlistribnted iu North America, occuring on both sides of the coutinent, and as frequent iu the cold north of British America as iu the warm regions of the sub- tropics. Captured near Abiquiu, N. Mex., by Dr. O. Loew. Tettigoxia, Sign. (Geoff.) ''^'. Mo'oglypMca. '■■ Tettigonia Meroglyphica, Say ; Jour. Acad. Philada., vol. vi., p. 313, No. 6. Taken in Northern New Mexico, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, and in the Mojave Desert, in July, by Dr. O. Loevr. QIelochara, Fitch. 0 n. communis. \/Helochara communis. Fitch ; Heteropt., New York State Cabinet, p. 56., Nos. 753, 754. Taken in Northern New Mexico, in July, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Bythoscopus. B. siccifolius. Bythoscopus siccifolius, Ubler ; Bulletin U. S. Geolog. Survey of the Temtories, vol. ii, p. 93, No. 2. Taken in New Mexico, September, by Lieut. W. L. Carpenter. Many specimens of Aphid^, obtained from various kinds of plants, are included in several of the bottles, but they are changed too much by their alcoholic bath to admit of correct determination. INDEX INDEX TO NAJrES OF PERSONS. Berf;lai)