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Show 12 RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. great Sierra Madre, the divide of the Atlantic and Pacific waters, for a long way holds a pretty uniform southwardly course to about latitude 38° and longitude 106° 30'. At this point it turns westward abruptly, and continues nearly due west to a point about latitude 37° 45' and longitude 107° 28', where it turns sharply southward, and then eastward, returning upon itself, and in latitude 37° 30' and longitude 106° 45' resumes its southerly course. Iu all this strange detour the range is definitely marked as a bold, ragged, unbroken chain, but only at its western limit, about the bottom of the loop, does it rise to its greatest heights. Here, high above timber- line, among snowy peaks, magnificent in their lines, sublime in their masses, are the fountains of the Rio Grande del Norte. Our course up the river lay between the foot- hills, which, on either hand, slope from^ the summit of the main range nearly to the water. At the mouth of the cul- de- sac the foot- hills are about half a mile apart; they seem to be basaltic, present sharp crests and precipitous sides. They are from 200 to 500 feet high here, rise rapidly as they recede toward the main range, and are sparsely timbered and grassed. Only small piiions and junipers are found on the near foot- hills, and few of these, but farther back in the mouutaius there seems to ba fair pine timber. Rio Grande at exit from the mountain*.- The foot- hills recede gradually, so that at four or five miles above Del Norte the valley is perhaps three miles wide; there they gradually close in again, until at fifteen miles above Del Norte the valley has become a varying space of from a few yards to half a mile, seldom more. From Del Norte to Camp Loma, seventeen miles up the river, is a pretty valley. The bottom- land seems fertile and warm, and the upland generally affords good grass. Along the river is a fringe of cotton-woods, and here and there clusters of pretty well- grown yellow pines. On the foot- hills are small piiions in sufficient quantity for fuel. In this valley are several farms and stock- ranches. Iu all this region early and late frosts must prevent the growing of Indian corn, but the small grains can be cultivated with success, and it is an admirable grazing country. Cattle run and thrive, unsheltered and unfed, summer and winter. Camp Loma.- Camp Loma was, when we passed up, at the end of wagon transportation. To this point the wagon- road was excellent, as, generally speaking, in all this dry country the finest possible roads are made by traveling in one track for a little time over the gravelly surface. A road- bridge was nearly completed over the liio Grande at Del Norte, and the ford at that place is excellent. Camp Loma to Antelope Park.- Beyond Camp Loma, a road, as good as is to be desired, may be obtained as far as the western limits of Antelope Park, in about two or three miles from Del Norte, by bridging the river a few times. When we passed, the only crossings were by swift, rocky fords, but with a pack- train once on the north side, recrossing was unnecessary. Since our return a company has been organized in Del Norte for the construction of a road over the route indicated, and a large part of the work was under contract when we last left Fort Garland. Camp Loma is near the confluence of the Rio Grande aud its south fork here; the foot- hills slope steep to the valley, which is from 500 to 2,500 feet wide. The foot- hills rise 300 to 1,000 feet above the river, and are generally heavily timbered with pine. In the gulches and along the |