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 A. DIARY OF THF EXPEDITION.
on the Delaware creek. There is much difficulty;n watering animals at this stream, the
greatest care being required to prevent them from iliring The water flows through a deep
basin about six hundred yards from camp, which is deeply strewed over with gypsum.
The day was remarkably warm, sultry, and cloudy, giving some indications of rain. At
night it rained heavily for a short time, with flshes of very vivid lightning, accompanied by
loud thunder, which could be heard reverberat;ng through the mountains we had left behind us.
The grama-grass is good; wood, consisting of mezcquite, cedar, and brush, is plenty. The
animals were brought in from grazing ant fed with corn; then turned out to graze for the
night. Reached camp at 3 o'clock p. m.; general direction, north 38~ east; miles, 1212.
Camp No. 17 Tuesday, Harch 17, 1854.-Left last camp at twenty minutes after 9 o'clock
a. m. At a short distance from camp we met the wagonmaster and party, who reported, "that
by following the creek on its left bank wve would have a good road to the Pecos." Reached the
"crossing of the Delaware creek" at 2 o'clock p. m., where we halted; the animals were
watered and allowed to graze for a shJort time. We did not cross the creek, but continued down
the left bank; in this we did not experience any difficulty. The country is an open and nearly
level prairie, having a slight descelt (nearly the whole way) towards the Pecos. We have now
to make our own road. At aboit ten miles from last camp, the nature of the soil changes; the
gypsum disappears. From tlip point to the river the soil is light sand mixed with gravel,
producing an abundance of excellent gramna-grass. From the crossing of the Delaware to the
Pecos there is no growth of rood of any description whatever; we found, however, along our
line of march, plenty of mnequite root,, dry and good.
About a mile from our Faltipg-place, (the crossing,) and on the opposite or right bank of the
creek, there is a valley 0~ aboir eight hundred acres of good soil, which could be irrigated from
the creek at no very treat ost of labor or money The want of timber, and the difficulty of
the creek at no very~ ~
irrigating the land. will rO doubt prevent this section of country from being cultivated to any
great extent. The last obstacle might be surmounted, but the former appears irremediable.
Along our Toad to-day we discovered several caves. On examination they proved to be highly
interesting. heir lnterior being composed of gypsum, the roofs and sides highly polished, and
of the'urnet write: they well repay the trouble (no easy matter) of entering them. We,echei our camp at half' past three o'clock p. m., situated on the creek. Here there is
an a.undance of good grama-grass The mezquite wood is plenty, and can be obtained without
luch labor. We killed a rattle-snake (the first we have yet seen) on a hill near camp. It was
Jut in spirits and carried along.
The wagonmaster, on his return, (as above mentioned,) reports that at the Pecos he discovered a fire-still burning-at which some Indians had been cooking. From their tracks they
were on foot, and appeared to have crossed the river. This was near the mouth of the Delaware creek, our proposed camp for to-morrow night. There is a plenty of wild ducks and hens
on the creek. On arriving at camp the animals were turned out to graze, hobbled as usual;
brought in at sunset, and fed with corn; then turned out to graze during the night under a
strong guard. No observations made. General direction, north 50~ east; miles, 13-9~.
CHAPTER II.-From thte Valley of the Pecos to the Sulphur Spr'tgh of the R Colorado of Texas.
Camtp No. 18 Falls of t[te Rio Pecos, mouth of Delawvare creek, TWednesday, JIarc7 8, 1854.Left last camp at twenty minutes after 7 o'clock a. m. Our road to-day was through an open
and nearly level prairie, similar to that we travelled yesterday. The soil is good; gravel and
sand. In all directions on our line of march there is an abundance of mezquite root, but, as
before mentioned, no growth of wood. We reached our camp, Falls of the Rio Pecos, mouth
of Delaware creek, at five minutes to 10 o'clock a. m. We were fortunate enough at this point
to discover an excellent crossing, about one hundred yards from the mouth 6f the Delaware
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