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. 5, Pt. 2

VALLEY OF THE COLORADO-GILA RIVER.
tains. The road crosses the hill in the foreground, and follows the curvature of the river to
Camp Yuma.
VALLEY OF THE COLORADO, FROM PILOT KNOB.
We remained at the foot of Pilot Knob over night, intending to reach Fort Yuma early the
next morning. Our camp-ground was very dusty, the soil being light and dry, like ashes, and
a high breeze from the north kept the dust in constant motion, filling every open vessel, and
covering garments and blankets with a thick layer. The temperature of the air through the
night was very agreeable, being about 700, and the water of the river in the afternoon was
found to be 58~.
We reached Fort Yuma early the next morning, (December 8,) and were most hospitably
received and entertained by the officers of the post.
JUNCTION OF THE GILA AND COLORADO RIVERS-FORT YUMA.
Fort, or Camp Yuma, is situated upon an isolated butte or knob of porphyritic granite, not
over one hundred feet in height above the river, and of small extent. The waters of the Gila
river, coming from the east, flow into the Colorado just at the eastern base of the elevation. It
is the only eminence within a circuit of eight miles, and thus commands an extensive panoramic
view of the Desert and mountains by which it is surrounded on all sides. The Colorado may
be traced both north and south, bordered on each side by wide, desert )plains. On the south,
towards the head of the Gulf, these extend as far as the eye can reach, unbroken by a single
mountain ridge On the east, the narrow stream of the Gila winds down from the mountains,
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