The Prairie Traveler Part 26

5-1/4. White Clay Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

15. White Clay Creek.-Good camps all along the valley of White Clay Creek.

3/4. Commencement of Canon.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

1/2. White Clay Creek.-Good camps all along the valley of White Clay Creek to the end of the lower canon.

12. Weber River.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

6. Parley's Park Road.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s. Pa.s.s over the divide.

3-3/4. Silver Creek.-Willows, water, and gra.s.s.

6. Timpanogos Creek.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s. Cross over the divide.

1. Commencement of Canon.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

24-1/2. Cascade in Canon.-Good camps at short intervals all along Timpanogos Canon.

4-1/4. Mouth of Canon.-Wood and water.

6-1/4. Battle Creek Settlement.-Purchase forage.

3-1/4. American Fork Settlement.-Purchase forage.

3. Lehi (town).-Purchase forage. Gra.s.s near.

2-3/4. Bridge over Jordan.-Gra.s.s and water; wood in the hills 1-1/2 miles distant.

14. Camp Floyd.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

Total distance from Fort Bridger to Camp Floyd, 155 miles.

Note.-Captain Simpson says this wagon-route is far superior to the old one in respect to grade, wood, water, and gra.s.s, and in distance about the same.

XXIII.-From Fort Thorne, New Mexico, to Fort Yuma, California.

[Distances in miles and hundredths of a mile.]

Miles. Fort Thorne, N.M., to 14.30. Water Holes.-One mile west of hole in rock. Water uncertain; no wood.

9.19. Mule Creek.--Water at all seasons a little up the creek; wood plenty.

12.00. Cook's Spring.-Water sufficient for camping; mesquite bushes on the hills.

19.50. Rio Mimbres.-Water and wood abundant.

16.30. Ojo de la Vaca.-Water and wood.

12.00. Spring.-Constant small streams two miles up the canon; water at the road uncertain.

44.40. Rancho.-Pond of brackish water one mile to the right, four miles before reaching here.

13.90. Rio St. Simon.-Constant water a few miles up, and mesquite wood.

18.40. Pa.s.s in the Mountains.-Water on the left about two miles after entering the Pa.s.s.

6.40. Arroya.-Wood one mile up; water uncertain; small stream crossing the road 1-1/2 miles from last camp.

26.30. Nugent's Spring.-Large spring.-Excellent water one mile south, at Playa St. Domingo.

17.20. Canon.-To the left of the road. Water 1-1/2 miles up the canon, two miles from the road.

17.00. Rio San Pedro.-Water and wood abundant.

16.30. San Pedro.-Water abundant; wood distant.

20.80. Cienequilla.-Water and wood abundant.

7.30. Along Cienequilla.-Water and wood abundant; road rough.

21.80. Mission of San Xavier.-Large mesquite, and water plenty in Santa Cruz River.

8.00. Tucson.-Village on Santa Cruz River. Tucson is the last green spot on the Santa Cruz River. The best camping-ground is two miles beyond the village, where the valley widens, and good gra.s.s and water are abundant.

7.20. Mud Holes.-The road pa.s.ses over arroyas, but is rather level.

65.00. Agua Hermal.-Road pa.s.ses over a desert section, and is hard and level. Water is found in most seasons, except in early summer, in natural reservoirs on an isolated mountain about midway, called "Picapo;" poor water and tall, coa.r.s.e gra.s.s at the mud-holes. Road here strikes the Rio Gila.

15.10. Los Pimos.-Road follows the river bottom. Lagoon of bad water near camp. Gra.s.s good; plenty of cottonwood and mesquite.

13.20. Los Maricopas.-Road takes the river bottom, and pa.s.ses through cultivated fields; soil and gra.s.s good. The Indian village is on a gravelly hill. The road is good.

40.00. El Tegotal.-The road leaves the river and crosses the desert. No water between this and the last camp at the Maricopas' village. Road is good. The calita abounds here, and the mules are fond of it.

10.50. Pega del Rio.-Road runs in the river bottom, and is level.

Rincon de Vega.-Road runs in the river bottom, and is level. Good gra.s.s.

10.50. Mal Pais.-Road continues near the river, but over low gravel-hills and through a short canon of deep sand.

9.50. Mil Flores.-Pa.s.s over a very steep precipice to an elevated plateau, thence over gravel-hills 4-1/2 miles to camp, where there is excellent gra.s.s and wood.

13.70. Santado.-Road keeps the river bottom until within four miles of camp, when it turns over the plateau. Good gra.s.s.

16.70. Las Lonas.-Road follows the river bottom. Scattered bunch-gra.s.s on the hills.

11.40. Vegas.-Road follows along the river bottom. Gra.s.s poor.

16.80. Metate.-Road runs along at the foot of a rugged mountain. Excellent gra.s.s at the camp.

14.70. El Horral.-Road ascends to the plateau, which it follows for seven miles over a level country, then descends over gravelly hills to the river. Camp on the river bank near the desert. Wood plenty.

20.80. Los AlG.o.dones.-Road runs along at the foot of the hills or spurs of the desert; small rugged hills, vegetation dwarf mesquit, cacti, etc. Good gra.s.s at camp.

7.40. Fort Yuma, on the Rio Colorado.

Total distance from Fort Thorne, N.M., to Fort Yuma, 571 miles.

XXIV.-Lieutenant Bryan's Route from the Laramie Crossing of the South Platte to Fort Bridger, via Bridger's Pa.s.s.

Miles. Laramie Crossing to 14. Bryan's Crossing.-Road runs on the south side of the Platte. Good gra.s.s and water.

12. First Crossing of Pole Creek.-Pole Creek is a rapid stream, sandy bed, 15 feet wide, and two feet deep. Good gra.s.s on the creek, and wood three miles off on the bluffs.

37. Second Crossing of Pole Creek.-Road runs along the creek. Good gra.s.s and good camps at any point. Good road.

17-1/4. Third Crossing of Pole Creek.-Good camp. Wood on the bluffs.

20-1/2. Fourth Crossing of Pole Creek.-Creek dry for three miles. Good gra.s.s.

20-1/4. Bluffs covered with dead pines.-Creek is crossed several times. Road runs over a rough, broken country. Good gra.s.s.

14-1/2. Road from Fort Laramie to New Mexico.-Road rather rough. The valley opens out into a wide plain. Plenty of gra.s.s.

10-1/2. On Pole Creek.-Good road; good camp.

20. On Pole Creek.-Road crosses several ravines, most of which can be avoided by keeping on the bluffs; the valley is narrow. Gra.s.s not very good.

17-1/2. Cheyenne Pa.s.s.-Road pa.s.ses over a rolling country. Good gra.s.s; willows for fuel. Military post established here.

14-1/2. Summit of Black Hills.-Source of Pole Creek. Gra.s.s poor.

10-1/4. East Fork of Laramie River.-Good camp.

16. West Fork of Laramie River.-Good camp. Cherokee trail comes in here.

14. Cooper's Creek.-Wood and gra.s.s.

10-1/2. East Fork of Medicine Bow Creek.-Wood and gra.s.s as far as Pa.s.s Creek.

2-1/2. Small Creek.

6. Birch Creek.

5-1/4. West Fork of Medicine Bow Creek.

2. Flint's Creek.

3. Elm Creek.

7. Rattlesnake Creek.

5. Pa.s.s Creek.

14-1/2. North Fork of the Platte.-Good road over high prairie. Five miles before reaching the river the Cherokee trail turns to the left, and crosses three miles above. Good camps on the river.

3-1/2. First Crossing of Sage Creek.-Good road. Gra.s.s not plenty.

10-1/2. Second Crossing of Sage Creek.-Road runs through Sage Creek Valley; hilly, broken, and sterile country, covered with sage-brush. Gra.s.s not abundant. Cherokee trail leaves three miles back.

4. Third Crossing of Sage Creek.-Road continues through sage-brush. Gra.s.s gets better.

3. Fourth Crossing of Sage Creek.-Good gra.s.s, wood, and water.

9. Bridger's Pa.s.s.-Road runs over a hilly country, crossing several small branches, with a little gra.s.s upon their banks; country covered with sage.

3-1/2. Muddy Creek.-The valley of the "Muddy" is deep and narrow at first, and afterward opens out. The crossings of this creek were either bridged or paved by the troops in 1858. But little gra.s.s in this valley.

20-1/2. Near Muddy Creek.-Very little gra.s.s; poor camp.

16-1/2. Bridger's Fork of the Muddy Creek.-The road for thirteen miles runs over a rolling country, then over a rough, broken country, with deep ravines. No water in this fork in a dry season; small springs of brackish water near the crossing. Gra.s.s poor.

4. Small Spring.-Water bad; gra.s.s poor.

2-1/2. Small Spring.-In the bluff. Water bad; gra.s.s poor.

1. Haystack.-Clay b.u.t.te. Spring in the dry bed of the creek. Bunch-gra.s.s.

5-1/2. Small Springs.-In bluffs on the right of the road. Gra.s.s poor and water bad.

7-1/2. Springs.-There is a fine spring at the foot of a steep hill on the south side of the road. Very little gra.s.s; rushes on the creek.

3-1/2. South Fork of Bitter Creek.-Good gra.s.s and water.

14-3/4. On Bitter Creek.-Country hilly, and intersected with deep ravines. South Fork is a fine stream of good water.