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Show FEXTEACT FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.] OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. 0., October 21,1876. i • • • • • * * GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN. Officer in charge, First Lieut. George M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, having under his orders First Lieuts. William L. Marshall and Eric Bergland, Corps of Eugineers; First Lieuts. William L. Carpenter, Ninth Infantry; Rogers Birniejr., Thirteenth Infantry: C. C. Morrison, Sixth Oavalry; C. W. Whipple, Ordnance Corps; and Second Lieut. M. M. Macomb, Fourth Artillery; Acting Assistant Surgeons H. C. Yarrow and J. T. Rothrock, United States Army, who, in addition to their professional duties, were engaged in zoological and botanical labors. The following scientists have also been attached to the expedition of the past year: Dr. F. Kampf, astronomical observer; Messrs. Jules Marcou, A. B. Conkling, and D. A. Joy, geologists; Dr. O. Loew, mineralogist, and Prof. F. W. Putnam, ethnologist. At the commencement of the fiscal year the main sections of the survey were engaged in their field of operations, having left the rendezvous at Pueblo, Colo., and Los Angeles, Cal., in the prosecution of their labors of former years in areas as shown by portions of Atlas sheets Nos. 61c, 61 d, 65, 72, 73, 74, 77a, 77 B, 78a and 80a. ( See progress map in Appendix JJ.) The astronomical determinations of the year were confined to those needed to check the several lines of meander within the immediate field of survey. The several parties were disbanded at Caliente, Cal., the then terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and ac West Las Animas, Colo., at the close of the field season in November and December, a number of the assistants repairing to Washington to prepare in the ensuing months the practical results, and at which point a small force of draughtsmen and computers was kept constantly employed in the reduction of field- notes and the production of finished maps. A report of the special party intrusted to Lieutenant Bergland, Corps of Engineers, to determine as to the feasibility of the diversion of the Colorado River of the West, for purposes of irrigation, at or below the mouth of the Lower Grand Canon, has been submitted. Examinations were made at such points as it was practicable for the party to reach in the seasons of labor available, and data bearing upon the physical features of the outlyirg mountainous sections, with their several passes, |
