OCR Text |
Show 88 width, capable of cultivation for 12 or 15 miles above Saguache, and above that point furnishing, in connection with the bunch- grasses of tbe rolling and plateau like region bordering it, abundant grass for stock nearly to its head. The streams, other than tbose named above, tributary to the San Luis swamp, but which reach the center of the valley under the surface, are bordered by but narrow strips of agricultural lands aud furnish but little water for irrigation. The iutervals between the streams in this portion of the valley are almost destitute of vegetation other than sage and chico, of which there is quite an abundant growth. About midway of the length of tbe valley, the Rio Grande emerges from the mountains to tbe west, and, after following its course to the south of east tor 30 miles, turns to tbe southward, and soon enters a cation with low walls of volcanic material. It is joined by the Trinchera, Culebra, and Costilla Creeks from the east, and by the Conejos and Alamosa from the western side. These are all quite large streams, and along their banks are quite extensive strips of land, not difficult of irrigation, and of good soil. This is particularly true of the Conejos, which is quite thickly settled along its banks by Mexicans; and the Upper Culebra, where a quite extensive and fertile valley, watered by numerous little streams tributary to it, is cultivated. Beyond the strips or agricultural land borderiug the streams, the southern portion of tbe San Luis Valley is now a desert. The soil is decomposed trachytes, resembling in texture gravel and coarse sand. There are extensive areas, covered originally not very thickly with short grass, wbere large herds of sheep are herded by the Mexican inhabitants and keep the face of the earth bare wherever they are driven. Undeniably the greater part of this soil is capable of producing good crops, its fertility being apparent in tbe luxuriant growth of sage and greasewood, which in great part covers it. Indeed, the San Luis Valley, if its resources of water were utilized to the full requirements of the laud susceptible of irrigation, is capable of sustaining any population the extensive mines of Colorado in its vicinity are likely to attract. In the southern portion good crops of corn aud vegetables are produced and in the northern the usual small grains. The marshy and arid portions of the valley are capable of furnishing the necessary flesh- food. Agriculture, however, at present is not profitable, and the people who have settled it are mainly stock and wool growers. The present state of agriculture caunot, therefore, be taken as at all representative of tbe capabilities of this valley. The entire valley is treeless, save along a few of the larger streams, where groves of cottonwood exist. On the northern and western rims, near the valley, piuon, a fine fuel^ is abundant, and farther back spruces and pines for timber. The Sangre de Cristo range from the edge of the valley to the timber- line, wherever the slopes are sufficiently gentle to retain soil, are well wooded with spruce and cottonwood; tbe latter, however, of small size, fit only for poles and fencing. This large area, comprising over 2,000 square miles, is but thinly settled, compared with its resources; but the richness of the mines in its vicinity and the consequent demand for its products is causing quite an influx of population. Saguache and Del Norte are quite prosperous towns, and the agricultural lands, especially about the former, are nearly all taken up by settlers. With the exception of tbe Americans at the two towns mentioned, the United States traops at Fort Garland, and a few rancheros in the valley, the population is Mexican, and is mainly distributed about numerous small plazas on the Conejos, Culebra, aud Costilla Creeks, where they live in poverty, ignorance, and idleness; dwelling in wooden stockade- like pens plastered with mud, or in more or less pretentious huts of adobe, cultivating the ground even yet in primitive fashion with wooden plows, drawn by oxen, aud raising barely sufficient crops of corn, oats, onions, and chili or red pepper f. r » beir support, their poor sheep and the jack- rabbits of tbe sage- fields furnishing their meat. F. om the time we left the San Luis Valley, in July, until the first part of November, the party were almost constantly in the mountains surrounding the headwaters of tbe Rio Grande. A minute description of our work and daily travels, and of the local peculiarities of the small areas examined daily by us, would perhaps give a very vivid idea of the personal toils and trials of the party in mountain- travel, but would perplex the mind with unimportant details, and prevent its comprehending the general topographical structure of thin interesting region. For this reason I will continue a general description, referring to particular features only where they are remarkable and specialiv noteworthy. A little to the north of Saguache the Cocbetopa Pass ( first examined and reported upon by Capt. J. W. Gunnison, United States Topographical Engineers, in 1853) oners the most practicable passage- way from the Atlantic to the Pacific slope along the Rocky Mountain barrier from Cheyenne to New Mexico. South of this pass the divide sweeps round to the west, and then, at about 107° 35', returns upon itself, inclosing in a wide and deep tongue- shaped cul- de- sac the headwaters of the Rio Grande del Norte. The |