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Show APPENDIX NN. 1273 APPENDIX E. EXECUTIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE REPORT OF LIEUTENANT CHARLES C. MORRISON, 8IXTH CAVALRY, ON THE OPERATIONS OF PARTY NO. 2, COLORADO SECTION, FIELD- SEASON OF 1876. OFFICE OF UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS, WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN, Washington, D. C, April 1, 1877. SIR : I have the honor to render the following execnti ve report of operations of party No. 2, Colorado Division of the survey, during the field- season of 1876, together with a brief description of the country traveised and its resources: EXECUTIVE REPORT. The Colorado Section, consisting of Party No. 1, which was taken charge of by Lieutenant Bergland, Corps of Engineers, shortly after its leaving the rendezvous- camp, and my own party, No. 2, was organized at Fort Lyon, Colorado, late in August. The parties took the field on the 29th and 30th of August, respectively. The personnel of the one under my charge was Lieut. C. C, Morrison, Sixth Cavalry, executive officer and field astronomer; Mr. Frank O. Maxson, topographical assistant; Mr. George M. Dunn, meteorological observer; Mr. Lanier Dunn, aneroid and odometer recorder; A. R. Mitchell and Martin Sanchez, packers; Edmund Rocrof|, laborer; Thomas Kennedy, pucker and cook. From Fort Lyon the party proceeded to Trinidad, following generally the drainage of the Piirgatoire, following on the west side, thus cutting all drains coming in on that bank. About eight miles above Trinidad we left. Piirgatoire, following up Long's Cation, crossing the divide at its head, and coming down upon the npper waters of the Canadian. Here a belt of country was closely surveyed, locating the heads of that river. Thence we proceeded across the heads of the Vermejo and Point, via Elizab « thtown and Taos Pass, into the valley of the Rio Grande. Entering the Taos Valley, some two miles southeast of Fernandez de Taos, we passed tbiough the lower edge of the valley, striking the Rio Grande at Cieneguilla; thence following the main stream, through the canon of the Rio Grande known as the Caja del Rio, the party proceeded t o Santa F6, at which point rations were obtained and comparisons were made of meteorological instruments with those of the Signal Department, as the survey of the belt of country to the south was to be referred for its vertical element to this point. Three days' observations were taken here for horary curve, and the triangulation-station on the hill just north of this city was re- occupied for development of the base and system of triangles to the south. The party left Santa Fe" September 21, and on the 23d Old Placer Peak was occupied by Mr. Maxson, as triangulation- station, while the mining district of New Placers wan examined by myself. Statious were then made on the Sandia and Manzano Mountains for triangulation and topography. At Mosca Peak the party was detained four or five days by cold heavy rains- the equinoctial storm. From the Manzano Range we worked eastward over the plateau extending from the base of these mountains and re- occupied Pedernal Peak; thence, proceeding southwest, through the plains of the many alkaline lakes, we passed the Salt Lake proper, from which salt chemically very nearly pure is obtained in coarse crystals. We reorossed the Manzano Range by Comanche Pass, having first occupied Osha Peak for triangulation and topography, and worked up the eastern slope of the range. Descending Comanche Cation, we crossed the plateau extending to the Rio Grande, striking the river opposite Los Lunas. From Los Lunas a meander line was run to Socorm, on each bank of the river; the one by Mr. Maxson, the other by myself. At this place rations were obtained, and the party proceeded to the Socorro Mountains, camping at Culebra Springs. Socorro Peak, Culebra, and Polvadera Peaks were all occupied for triangulation and topography. Thence we proceeded to the Magdalena Mountains, leaving the main camp in caflou Del Agua. Mr. Maxson and myself, with one packer, ascended the peak, expecting it would be necessary to stay away one night and a day for triangulation, topography, a r d azimuth observations. Before reaching , the top we were canght in a bliuding snow- storm. We made camp at the edge of timber- line, and theu had to wait four days, without tents and with insufficient blankets, with no water except that obtained by melting snow, aud but scant supplies. Our animals suffered much from want of water and grass, as we had nothing we could melt snow enough in for them, nor would they eat, as they suffered from thirst. The poiut was very important in the system of triangles. Over three hundred angular readings were made on this one point by Mr. Maxson, and an astronomical azimuth was determined by myself. He afterward eecu pied Garcia Peak, in the same range, while I examined the mineral deposits in these mountains. From the Magdalena Mountains we proceeded Via the Quinza drain to. the Ladrones |