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Show 85 Aneroid- barometers and thermometers were observed at all meander- stations; the aneroid being compared with the standard every morning and evening, and, when a considerable elevation was crossed, at its summit also. When stations were made npon peaks, simultaneous observations were taken at base and summit on cistern-barometers and psychrometers. General meteorological observations were also taken. Profiles of all routes by which the San J nan mines can be reached were taken, and will be found appended to my descriptive report of routes of communication. I wish here to tender my acknowledgments to Mr. J. C. Spiller and Mr. G. M. Dunn, for tbe care and pains taken to perfect their notes and secure abundant and good material in their several branches of work. The former gentleman brought from the Held very fnll and elaborate sketches and topographical details, and the records of the latter were kept throughout the season in good shape. Mr. Dunn also succeeded in transporting his barometer throughout the season and bringing it back to the office without injury, which is quite a success, considering the rough character of the country surveyed and the means of preserving the instrument from almost inevitable falls and consequent injury. PART II.- GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA SURVEYED. The Platte and Arkansas divide, or that portion of it surveyed this year between the southern edge of South Park and the Arkansas River, is a high rolling area, covered along its northern surface with basaltic and trachytic overflows, with but few high peaks and but scantily timbered. Ridges aud low cones of lava appear here and there above the general level to the north, heavily grassed with the nutritious bunch- grasses of the mouutains, and quite well watered by tortuous streams. A portion of the divide reaching from near the head of Currant Creek to Basalt Peak- a black mass sloping like an inclined plane to the west, but abrupt on other faces- rises to over 11,000 feet above the sea. Between Basalt Peak and Trout Creek Pass, however, the elevation is slightly above the general level of South Park. Over this portion of this high rolling area are scattered many little parks and grassy swales, the most extensive of which is Punch a Park, south of Basalt Peak, and the basin at the head of Badger Creek. Several cattle- ranches are located in these beautiful little parks, the cattle running at liberty over the hills during the summer- months, but are driven to lower altitudes for winter- herding. The streams bordering on the south side of the divide or those flowing into the Arkansas cut quite deep canons in the plateau, attaiuing the level of the Arkansas from 2,000 to 3,000 feet below the summit of the limiting rim of the canon of that stream. The general level of that portion of the plateau south of Basalt Peak exceed% that of the northern portion. South of Punoha Park is a short range of peaks rising nearly to timber- line, or to about 11,500 feet, which furnish water to Tallahassee, Gorell, and Badger Creeks. The basin of Badger Creek, save toward the north, is inclosed in quite well- defined ridges, and its caiion for miles above its mouth is a very formidable one. Stratified rocks appear, in quite extensive development in this southern portion of the Arkansas plateau, and predominate over the trachytic overflows. There is no agricultural land, except narrow strips along the canons of Current, Tallahassee, and Gorell Creeks, the general level exceeding 9,000 feet above the sea. The scarcity of timber, save upon the high ridge between Basalt Peak and 39- Mile Mountain and the ridge bordering Badger Creek, is quite a marked feature of the Arkansas plateau. The southern slopes of the hills are well grassed, but there are very few trees; these occur, where at all, on the northern slopes. This is probably due to the pervious nature of the trachytic soil aud the greater dryness of the southern Blopes. Spruce is the principal timber, but this gives place, near the Arkansas, to juniper and pifion. The old ( 1* 61) Pnncha Pass and Canon City toll- road leaves Currant Creek near the Soda Spring, and passes through Puncha Park, and via the headwaters of Badger Creek, to the Arkausas River, near the mouth of the South Arkausas. It is now abandoned, the more southerly route, via the Arkansas CaQou aud Pleasant Valley, being now used as the mail- route. It iB easy, however, to travel in nearly any direction over the divide, save near the Arkansas River, where it is too much cut by cafions. The country bordering the Arkansas River has been already well described by Professor Stevenson in his report; it is barely sufficient to say that at the mouth or the South Arkansas the valley of tbe Upper Arkansas, which lies between the massive 8aguache range and the edge of the Arkansas plateau, and extends for some twenty miles above the point named, is closed by the foot- hills of the Sangre de Cristo range, through which the Arkansas has out a short but narrow canon. This valley is not, of great importance; the agricultural lauds are limited by the edges of terraces, which, breaking down in succession from £ he slopes of the high peaks to the west, close in within a comparatively short distance of the river, and by their height, and by the fact that they are cut trausversly by the canons of the streams emerging from the mountains far below the level of their upper surfaces, irrigation of any considerable proportion of this valley, at reasonable expense, is precluded. Several ranches, however, exist, and fair crops are raised. On the South Arkan AP. JJ- 6 |