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Show 1272 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. TRIANGULATION. The main points on which onr triangnlation depends are: Mount Rose, 10.820 feet; Mount Lyon, 8,815 feet; Tutib Peak, 7,062 feet; Basalt Peak, 6,599 feet; Fairview Peak, 8,412 feet; Tarogqua Peak, 8,771 feet; Grant Peak, 9,965 feet; Desatoya Peak, 9,921 feet; Paradise Peak, 8,662 feet; and Bunker Hill, 11,405 feet, and Poston or Davies Peak, 11,756 feet, in the Toyabe Range. From each of these stations repeated angles were taken to Cory's Peak, the highest point in the Wassnck Range, and situated just west of Walker Lake ; and from Mount Rose, Basalt, Paradise, and Davies Peaks angles were taken to White Mountain Peak, which is to the east of Benton, Cal. The triangle- Davies, Monnt Rose, and White Mountain Peaks- which will be completed when the angle at White Mountain Peak is measured, is a very large one. The lengths of its sides are- Mile a. From Davies to Rose 142.45 From Rose to White Mountain 134.25 From White Mountain to Davies 88.00 The instruments were returned in good conditiou, except that the wet bnlb of psy-chrometer No. 8 was broken, being blown from the top of a peak by the wind. Mr. Spiller was untiring in his efforts to do the work thoroughly and well. Mr. Cowles, in addition to his designated duties as meteorological observer, constantly performed those of a topographer as well, and in both instances with credit to himself. RATIONS. The twenty- five days' rations taken at Carson lasted the party as far as West Gate The day after we reached that place, the team in charge of Corporal O'Neil arrived from Carson, with provisions for the party for the remainder of the season. Taking out sufficient to last us as far as Dead Horse Well, 1 instructed the corporal to return to Ragtown for grain left; there by me, and, returning through West Gate, to proceed to Ellsworth, leaving there some grain ; thence to proceed by the old Wellington road to Dead Horse Well, and leave there a supply of rations for fifteen days and the remainder of the grain. These orders he faithfully carried out, aud proceeded to Reno, where he reported to Lieutenant Till ma ft. On our arrival at Dead Horse Well, the rations there were taken up, and lasted through the field- season. FORAGE. Although much of this country is well adapted to grazing loose animals, there is little luxuriant growth of grass. At the time of the year in which we traveled through it the pasturage was very dry and short, where there was any at all. In every instance we were compelled to pitch our camp either on ground already taken, up by ranchmen, or, more often, in places where the pasturage was much too scanty to subsist the animals by feeding loose overnight. We were thus compelled to carry or purchase grain at all times, aud hay was fed whenever it could be obtained. The animals came in in excellent condition, having been fed during the season a daily average of 6$ ponnds of barley and 6.3 pounds of hay. The price of barley varied from 4 | cents per pound at West Gate to 3 cents in Reese River Valley aud 2} cents in Mason Valley. Hay was 2£ cents per pound at West Gate and 1 ceut in the valleys. A list of road- distances, with remarks as to wood, water, & c, is transmitted herewith. After the disbandment of the parties at Carson, and in accordance with instructions, I proceeded to Camp Independence, California, with the auimals, & c, nsed by the parties in the field. I left Carson December 4; two non- commissioned officers and three privates of Company D, Twelfth- Infautry, and four civilian employes, being of the party. We had in charge two six- mule teams and one light wagon, with eighty- five auimals in all. We arrived at Camp Independence, without accident, December 13. I at once turned over the property to Lieutenant Wotherspoon, Twelfth Infantry. This completed my duties in the field. Respectfully submitted, R. BIRXIR, JR., First Lieutenant Thirteenth Infantry. Lient. GEORGK M. WHEELER, Corps of Engineers, in charge. |