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Show RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. 3 sary, and to clear the district by a certain time. To do this it became requisite to know where the reservation extended. The eastern boundary was the 107° meridian from Greenwich, probably as difficult a line to establish as could have been chosen; orders were then verbally given to ine to prepare a party to determine points on this line, to accompany the expedition while engaged in its unpleasant duty, and to furnish a full descriptive report of the district in question. The organization of the party, the details of field- work, the particular methods used, were entirely my own, and were faithfully carried out during the season. Written orders in detail were furnished to each member of the party, and where any failure has occurred in carrying them out I have noted it. The danger and, at least, difficulty of running an instrumental line in case of trouble with any Indians or miners, was fully appreciated. Fortunately, however, not only on this account but on every other, just before the orders were carried out a new commission was organized to endeaver to secure from the Indians a cession of the disputed territory, and further proceedings were stayed to# await the result. It may be stated here that these efforts were successful, and that later in the season a treaty was made with the Indians by which they relinquished the area desired, being pretty nearly that examined by the party on the first trip. The survey was not stopped by this change of action, the party being furnished with an escort and a schedule of proposed route, which was fully carried out. Upon the return to Fort Garland, it was thought advisable to keep the party in the field long enoagh to examine the various approaches to the Ute country from the Arkansas, and orders were given to that effect. This was fully and satisfactorily accomplished, and there will be found detailed accounts in this report of all practicable routes of reaching the Ute country from the East. It will be advisable to touch upon the various points of the report more in detail. REPORT OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT. Mr. Henry G. Prout, civil engineer, was placed in charge of the survey. My previous acquaintance with him convinced me that he would faithfully carry out his instructions, and his high idea of duty gave the confidence which that alone can give. I can only add that my choice has been one that I could not have regretted. Soon after returning, and while working up his report, he accepted a position as major of engineers in the army of the Khedive of Egypt. Though regretting to leave his work unfinished he felt that it would not be wise to refuse the offer, and I accepted his resignation. The report, as here furnished, is partly his own, and has been completed by assistant, formerly recorder, Donald W. Campbell and myself. Being almost entirely from notes taken by Mr. Proat, he has received the credit of the report itself. REPORT OF THE GEOLOGIST. The position on the survey to be given to geology was a subject of some thought, and I finally decided to attempt nothing more than a sketch showing the facts, and drawing as little on the imagination as possible; to keep confined to the practical, particularly in the mining districts, and to include such considerations as soil and timber. That Professor Hawn has been as faithful to his trust as could be desired is undoubted, and that little has escaped his eye is a natural consequence of his untiring industry. I speak decidedly in giving my testimony to |
