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Show RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. 63 three miles distant, but of a quality that would require expensive dressing. On leaving Fort Garland the course pursued is nearly due west over San Luis Valley, which has the appearance of the western plains, except in verdure; the ground is occupied mostly by sage ( Artemisia* tridenduta) ccwti and greasewood, with a scanty growth of tuft- grass between. The soil is of a sandy loam, but in some portions the sand predominates to a degree amounting to sterility. In other localities, of considerable areas, the ground is boggy, with rank growth, of course. Here the dry ground and plants areincrusted with an alkaline mineral, much relished by cattle, and serving them in the place of salt. In the vicinity of Sterret's ranch are a number of weak, brackish springs, elevated ten feet above the common level of the surface. The waters discharged are absorbed by the adjacent plain, serving the purpose of irrigation. The springs bring up a silicious mud, and probably in the accuHiular tion of this sediment these elevations were formed. Upon approaching the Eio Grande the surface becomes gravelly. Three miles above Camp 12 we leave San Luis Valley, and continue up the valley of the Eio Grande. When the stream issues out of the mountains it is at this time about 100 feet in width, with an average depth of 5 feet, and a velocity of - miles per hour. I am informed that it is now at its medium height. The channel, so far as my observation extends, is not more than 20 feet below the general surface of its banks and the plains in the vicinity. From the rapid fall, the waters may be led with facility on the adjacent lands and render irrigation comparatively inexpensive. Several small farms, now watered in this manner, produce good crops of wheat, oats, and barley of fine quality, with crude culture 5 and potatoes unsurpassed in yield and quality. The rearing of sheep and neat cattle is now the predominant pursuit, and is conducted in the manner of the patriarchs of old, or nearly left to the providence of nature. The Eio Grande where it issues out of the mountains is flanked on the left by a wall of basalt; this formation occupies the foot- hills of the valley to the close of the day's march. The class of rocks in the valley between Camps 12 and 13 are observed in the slopes above Del Norte, changed somewhat in composition, and sometimes have chalcedonic crystals. The rocks in front of Camp Loma are a reddish- brown trachyte, and weather into angular fragments, while the high peaks in the rear are of trap- porphyry. From the mouth of the valley to Camp Loma the valley contracts, and at the latter point ceases to be of any consideration in agricultural view, except for grazing to a limited extent. Camp Loma is situated on the right bank of the Eio Grande, one mile below the junction of the main stream and South Fork, within a few hundred feet of the foot- hills of the mountain, and about ninety feet above the stream. The camp is abundantly supplied with good water by a ditch oue- halfjinile in length. Good buiiding- timber is found on the military reservation, and a further and abuudant supply of good yellow pine may be had a few miles up the valley of the river. Good building-stone is abundant within four miles. Between Camps 14 and 16, in the mountain slopes, on the left side, are escarpments of reddish- brown granite, large blocks of which have become detached from their ledges and obstruct our way. The rocks that form the west walls of Eifle Caiion extend westward by nearly a right angle, thus facing the river, and are then the wall of a second caiion on the main stream, nearly a mile in length, the upper |