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Show REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 335 From Ehrenberg to Fort Ytima, Camp 19.-There being no wagon-road near the western bauk of the river, I was obliged to cross my wagon and team, and send it down the river on the eastern side via Tyson's Wells and Gila City. The party with the pack-train proceeded down the river, keeping as close to the bank as the conformation of the country would permit. We left Ehrenberg on the Hth day of March, and reached Fort Yuma March 12. Camp 15 was on the river, near an Indian rancheria; Camp 10, at Panchos Ranch, a deserted Mexican hut; Camp 17, at Round Hill, (Ives,) just below Light-house Hock; Camp 18, at Picacho Mill, in the Cane-brake Canon, (Ives.) The route from Camp 14 to Camp 15 is mostly a wood road ; from Camp 15 to Camp 1G a trail impracticable for wagons, but not difficult for pack-animals. Several detours have to be made to avoid deep lagunas, and the trail leads over a long sand-Hat in the river-bottom. From Camp 1G to Camp 17 the trail is mostly in river-bottom, but at times on mesa, where it crosses several deep, dry washes. At time of high water the trail iu the river-bottom cannot bo used at all; travelers then have to take the trail along the mesa and over projecting spurs of the mountains, which is very steep and difficult iu several places. Near Camp 17 was found the only patch of grass along the river. From Camp 17 to Camp IS.-Trail near the river principally on the mesa, crossing frequently deep washes with high, steep sides. Camped at the Mill. This mill, which huts five stamps, was standing idle, and had a sheriff's writ of attachment nailed to the (lour. The ore found at the mill is said to yield £17 per ton. It is friable and easy to crush. The mines are located up a wash near the Chimney Peak. A good wagon-road leads from the mines to the mill. No wood, except uiesquite, in the vicinity. (ami) lrt to *'ort y»Ma, Cal.-At the Mill the trail leaves the river, and follows the road to the mines until the vicinity of Chimney Peak is reached, when it leaves the wash and ascends the mesa. This has a gentle slotte up to an altitude of over 700 feet. Near the summit a number of Mexicans were working placer-diggings. Water being scarce, they used the dry process fur separating the gold. The yield is small, but is enough to pay industrious men well. The descent to the river-bottom on the south side of the divide is through a narrow wash or ciifton, whose walls are almost ]»erpendicul;ir, and sometimes overhanging, and in some places not more than G or ri feet apart, and over 50 feet high. The side washes arc deep, narrow fissures, too narrow for the passage of a pack-mule. The river-bottom is several miles wide, and the soil of the same character as that observed above Khreu-berg. It is covered with mosquito trees and arrow-weeds; nearer the river, however, arc found a number of large cotton wood trees and willows. At Fort Yuma, the commanding officer, Major Mizner, Twelfth Infantry, kindly allowed mo to use a vacant building near the ferry for the shelter of my party, anil during my stay at the post, he and the other officers willingly gave me all the assistance 1 required, as also did Captain Bradley, assistant quartermaster, in charge of Yuma quartermaster depot. During our stay here, current-observations wore mado and soundings taken, to determine the discharge of the river. At this time the river had readied its lowest stage ; no rise from melting suow iu the upper portions of the Colorado or Gila Rivers had yet taken place, hence the discharge shows the minimum amount which the two rivers combined will furnish. Experiments on evaporation were also made here. April 2 the party left Fort Yuma, following the mad along the west bunk of the river to Algodou Station, just below the liouudury-liue. At this place the party was divided. A portion, with the pack-train, went iu a southerly direction to visit the hot springs and mud volcanoes iu the vicinityof Mount Purdy, while the remainder, with the wugon, followed the stage-road. The parties were to meet at New River or Iudian "'ell Station. AUjodon, via Mount Purdy, to Mud Volcanoes.-The road taken by the side party leaves th" main road a short distance below Algodon, when it leaves the river-bottom. Tho direction thence is southwesterly toward Mount Purdy. It crosses several of the channels °f New River, which at this time were entirely dry. Water was found iu three places along route, contained iu natural reservoirs, those being depressions in the dry channel* 'j'ho l^t water occurs about ton miles from Mount Purdy. Hero the kegs were "Hod, and a dry camp made near tho base of this peak. Thence the distance to tho volcanoes is about 5 miles. . The country from Algodon to Mount Purdy is nearly level; the portion near the river 18 thickly covered with uiesquite trees and willows. As the distance from the river »ncreases the vegetation becomes more sparse, until, withiu 5 or 6 miles of Mount Purdy, the plain is entirely destitute of it. The ground here is covered with a crust of salt for many miles in extent. At the base of Mount Purdy there is a stream of running water, which is intensely salt. This flows toward the northwest, or in the direction of New Riv«r Station. Mount Purdy is the crater of an extinct volcano. The crest is about CiOo fe«t above the level of the plain at its ba.no, and tho interior of the crater is nlled up to within about 100 feet below the erest. From the summit a good view in obtained of the surrounding country except toward the west, where the Cocopah range |