OCR Text |
Show 44 After farther refitting at Fort Union, and purchasing supplies, sufficient with those left at Cimarron for the remainder of the field- season, we left that place on October 21, surveying down the Mora River to its junction with the Canadian, and up the Canadian to its junction with the Cimarron, and up the latter stream to Cimarron. It was found impossible to keep close to the bank of the Canadiau; the river near its confluence with the Mora being in a canon 600 or 800 feet deep, and the plateau above deeply cut up by numerous siae- cafions, we were obliged to head it, beiug impossible to cross them with the pack- train. This caQon we found continued up the river almost to the junction of the Cimarron. I reached Cimarron on the 29th of October. Mr. Sommer, who had been detached upon leaving Fort Union, with directions to move northward to the Cimarron River, keeping midway between the stage- road and the Canadian, also reached Cimarron the same night. Upon leaving Cimarron, after refitting, Mr. Maxson was detached and directed to cross the Raton Mountains by the Triuchera Pass, that being the most easterly gass within my portion of the survey. The remainder of the party continued up the an ad i an River to Chico Rico Creek, and up that to its headwaters, crossing the mountains by the Manco Buno Pass, and thence skirted the northern base of the mountains to Trinidad, reaching that point on the 8th of November; Mr. Maxson also getting in on the same night. A delay of one day was made here while Fisher's Peak was being occupied as a triangulatiou- station. I left Trinidad by th# stage- road to Las Animas, making one day's march along that, and then across to the north, to the Apisipah River. It was my intention to follow that stream to its jnnction with the Arkansas, but finding that it was perfectly dry, and that there was but little probability of obtaining any water along the proposed route, that fact and the condition of my stock of provisions decided me to return to Pueblo by the shortest route; the telegraph- road was accordingly followed, and Pueblo reached on the 14th of November. My party was disbanded at that place the following day. About nine thousand square miles were covered by my party of the survey during the field- season, embraced upon portions of atlas- sheets .62c, 69b, 70*, 70°, 76d, and 78*. The totaj length of meander- line during the season was over 2,200 miles. Twelve primary triangulation- stations and thirty- one secondary triangulation and topographical stations were occupied, in addition to about nine hundred stations on the meander- line. Connecting twice with the permanent astronomical stations at Trinidad and Fort Union, three times with that at Cimarron, and once with the station at Las Vegas, as well as the connections at the opening and close of the season with the Pueblo station, gave accurate checks at frequent intervals upon the meander- line. Sextant- observations for latitudes upon north and south stars, or upon the sun when practicable, were also taken by myself. Observations upon Polaris for magnetic declination were frequently obtained. At all camps, readings of the meteorological instruments were taken every three hours from 6 a. m. to 9 p. m., when the camps were for a whole day, except when camps were in the vicinity of a permanent astronomical station, where they were taken hourly for twenty- four hours. Upon the march, the aneroid barometer was read at each station upon the meander- line, and the cistern- barometer also when the station was an important one. These observations were continued until late in the field- season, when the cistern- barometers getting out of order, and being unable to repair them in the field, these observations had to be discontinued. Both Mr. Sommer and Mr. Maxson, the topographers, as well as Mr. Bates and Mr. DuBois, performed their duties during the entire season in a manner perfectly satisfactory. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, STANHOPE E. BLUNT, First Lieutenant of Ordnance, Lient. GEO. M. WHEELER, Corps of Engineers, APPENDIX £. EXECUTIVE REPORT OF LIEUTENANT C. W. WHIPPLE, THIRD UNITED 8TATE6 ARTILLERY,, ON THE OPERATIONS OF PARTY NO. 1, FIRST DIVISION, AND SUBPARTIES, FIELD-SEASON OF 1874. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN, Washington, D. C, April 24, 1875. SIR : I have the honor to submit the following brief summary of the operations of the parties under my obarge during the past field- season : Leaving Rendezvous Camp at Pueblo, Colo., on the 1st day of August, with a small party of tive members, associated with Lieutenant Marshall's party, the road was meandered south of the Arkansas as far as Ca& on City. From there, crossing the> |