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Show The Journal this direction, both to San Diego and the Pueblo de los Angeles. He informs me, however, that in order to reach the Rio Colorado, the Rio de Zuni would have to be diverged from at the falls, within a few miles of its confluence with the Colorado and a valley running southwardly followed down to its junction with the valley of that river. He has further informed me that above the mouth of the Rio de Zufii there is a ford, called El Vado de los Padres (the Ford of the Fathers), to which a route leads from Zuni by way of the pueblos of the Moquis. This route, which he represents as much shorter than the other, is, however, on account of the difficulty of crossing the canon of the river at the ford, only practicable for pack animals. The Colorado, when he crossed it near the mouth of the Rio de Zuiii, was fordable, but he is of the opinion that it might not always be found so. It is proper for me, however, in this connexion, to state that I have conversed with two or three trappers, who represent that the Colorado is so deeply canoned from its mouth upwards as to make a wagon route in the direction proposed impracticable. These persons, however, have at the same time stated that they know nothing personally of the continuous existence of this canon, never having been immediately on the ground. Their representations, then, should not counterbalance the statement of those who have. I have introduced the above representations, to which I might add those of other persons, corroborative of the statements of Messrs. Carravahal and Campbell, in order that the department, being advised of the true state of the information attainable upon the subject, might take such action and give such instructions in the premises as, in its judgment, it might deem expedient. By reference to the map, it will readily be seen that a route from Santa Fe to Pueblo de los Angeles, in the direction suggested, running as it would intermediate between the southern detour of Cooke's route and the northern detour of the "Spanish trail" route, or, in other words, as direct as possible, would not 161 |
