Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 2, Pt. 4

APPENDIX C.-REPORT ON THE SOILS AND MINERAL WATERS.
most important (lime) is contained in all, and in some of them in large proportion. Magnesia
is wanting only in two cases, while more than one-half contain manganese, which is the least
important.
The soils contain only minute quantities of the acid constituents, as is usually the case.
Chlorine, indicative of common salt, is only wanting in two cases. Sulphuric acid, indicating
sulphate of lime, is contained in thirteen soils, and in sufficient quantity. The most important,
phosphoric acid, is found in only six specimens, and in one of these its presence is doubtful.
But I may remark of this acid, that exceedingly minute quantities are known to produce a fertilizing effect; and yet its detection, in such cases, lies just at the limit of our capacity of testing
its presence.
Judging from the mineral composition of the soils, as above developed by analysis, I would
consider them all either as good soils or capable of a high degree of improvement. Nos. 1, 2,
3, 5, and 13 are light soils, the last one of which is inferior. Nos. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 are
heavier loams, of good quality; but No. 6 appears to have but little depth, and No. 8 is rather
too heavy. Nos. 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are similar in composition and texture, and appearto
contain available organic matter; the first and last of these appear to be superior to the rest.
No. 18 contains all the ingredients requisite to a good soil except the alkalies, which were not
tested for.
Analys8l of Waters.-The quantity of water was, in some cases, too small to make a thorough
analysis of the substances dissolved; a qualitative examination of the constituents was there
fore made, in order to determine the peculiar character of each water. The gallon is here taken
at 60,000 grains.
No. 1. Head of Delaware creek, spring, temperature 60~ Fahrenheit, March 4, 1854. This
water contains 330 grains of solid matter per gallon, and it consists of a large quantity of sulphate and mnuriate of soda, of some sulphate of magnesia, of a small amount of sulphate of lime,
and of a portion of sulphuret of sodium. The annexed Table III exhibits the approximate quantities of the several substances named above in all the waters. (See Table III.)
Nos. 1, 2, 6, and 7 are strong enough to allow of a detailed examination of their constitution, although the table sufficiently expresses their character.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
JAS. C. BOOTH.
Captain JouN POPE,
U.S. Top. Engs., Washington, D). C.
TABLE I.
._
Id
2
01
2
........
41.90
' i'
Description of locality.
. 2
,..
,<
-e
,d
E
98.094
95.59
98.05
99.97
95.36
95.86
9i.07
97.96
99.50
99.58
99.46
99.04
100.06
99.44
99.04
99.36
99.49
97.32
a)
onn
1.56
2.35
2.17
......
3.51
3.21
4.18
1.79
1.83
2.19
2.07
3.70
0.87
1.]9
3.19
1.96
5.19
6,75
'I
o
Bottom land, Delaware Springs...............................
Valley bottom, junction of Pecos river and Delaware creek....
East bank of Pecos, mouth of Delaware creek-high ground..
First camp Delaware creek-high ground........................
High land junction of Delaware creek and Pecos..............
Eighty miles east of Pecos, on Llano Estacado................
Llano Estacado, at camp, night of March 27..................
Valley of Colorado, April 15...................................
Rolling country, at camp, night of April 27....................
At camp, at noon, April 26................................
From a bend in Elm creek, en route, April 20................
C oss rimbers, en route, forenoon of May 9...................
Cross Timbers, en route, May 9..................................5
C(amp in night of May 7......................................
....................9.........................................
Rolling country, en route, May 13..........................9.... 19
At camp, on night of May 11...............................
En route, May 10-rolling country............................
96
,4
'F)
g.
.a,
.c
0
t,.
3.50
2.02
2.42
19.30
2
2.54
3.98
3.60
2.96
2.28
3.38
7.02
1.52
2. 6
5.86
5.10
1 7.94
11.08
6
r.
Is
Im
11
1
2
1
1
1
.. i.
1
.d
11
It
P-i
I
I
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
.. i.
I
1
4
Iz
I
-1
0
1
1
1
..i
I
1
1
1
1;
.2
87.08
83.71
89.13
8.44
79.96
8L.66
74.16
90.05
91.98
91.68
92.32
91.94
98. O:i
95.63
9L.62
92.64
89.85
81.14
z
14
1
0 3
4
.5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
is
3.53
3 88
4.04
0.74
3.58
3.12
4.64
3.90
5.69
5.71
5.07
3.40
1.16
9. 6'-)
4.23
4.76
3.20
9.43
I
0 2
.. i.
1
2
6.07
5.65
2.70
29.59
8.31
7.87
8.09
2.22
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1.25
2
I
I
1
....
1
2
1
..i.
I
1
1
2
1
..i.
..i.
52
1
1
1
1
..i.
I
....
2
1
2
1
..i.
I
I
1
1