Identifier: reportsofexplora03unit_0 (find matches)
Title: Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: United States. War Dept Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Subjects: Pacific railroads Discoveries in geography Natural history Indians of North America
Publisher: Washington : A.O.P. Nicholson, printer (etc.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant

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of the barometer, we are now four hundred feet above the bivouac at Picachospring. January 15—Camp 99.—Turning our faces towards the southeast, we descended the broadsloping prairie to Picacho spring, where we found the main party with the train. They hadbeen here two days, and the mules were literally rolling with satiety in the luxuriant grassof the valley. New species of pouched rats, an owl, and magnificent antlers of a mountainsheep, had been secured, and many fossils, also a specimen of what appears to be silver ore,collected. January 16.—As camp near the pools was exposed to the full sweep of the wind, it wasmoved about a mile to a more sheltered spot in Val de China. We then reformed the recon-noitring party and travelled south 20° west, traversing the valley ten miles, to a dry arroyoupon a slope of the hills, where we stopped for the night. During the march we were obliged toface a bitter storm of sleet. Our bivouac is somewhat sheltered from it by a cluster of cedar
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TURKEY CREEK. PUEBLO CREEK. AZTEC RANGE. 91 trees. The soil of the valley where crossed to-day proved no less fertile than it appeared fromPicacho. It may he denominated a rich meadow hottom, although the surface and severalwater-worn channels were dry. January 17.—Continuing our march, we passed a spur of granitic hills, and in two milessouthwest struck a clear and rapid stream flowing southeast. Its hanks were lined with rushes,and a hasin-like valley was covered with a thick growth of timher—cotton-wood, walnut, andash. A large flock of turkeys was hunted in the grove, and one killed. This suggestedthe name which was given to the stream, Turkey creek. Here were huts and trails, andstone ovens where mezcal had heen recently haked; seeming to indicate a near approach to thewinter homes of Indians. As we proceeded, ahout three miles from south to southwest weencountered another stream, somewhat larger than the last, also flowing through a fine valleytowards the southeast. We ascen

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