Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean (1855) (14780053673)

Identifier: reportsofexplora05unit_0 (find matches)
Title: Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: United States. War Dept Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Subjects: Pacific railroads Discoveries in geography Natural history Indians of North America
Publisher: Washington : A.O.P. Nicholson, printer (etc.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant



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bove the river ; but in the spring, when the snow melts, the waters rise very rapidly, and oftenoverflow their roots. Extensive side-channels or sloughs are thus formed, and these aremost numerous near the mouths of the streams. On this account permanent bridges crossingthe-e streams must be much longer than otherwise. There is no difficulty in finding goodpoints for crossing. The Tuolumne would require a bridge from 200 to 300 feet. We followedup this river for 25 miles, when we struck the ordinary wagon-road, and thence proceeded toFort Miller, a military post on the San Joaquin, in the foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada. Asthere is no doubt of the practicability of constructing a railroad to the extreme head of theTulare valley, I do not think it expedient to enter into a detailed description of this vast plain,but refer to the few remarks at the commencement of this report, and the maps and tablesaccompanying it, for such geographical and topographical information as may be required.
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