NOTES TO ACCOMPANY SKETCHES, (VIEWS ALONG THE BOUNDARY LINE ON PARALLEL 31° 47′ AND 31° 20' NORTH LATITUDE), BY JOHN E. WEYSS, FROM STARTING POINT ON THE RIO BRAVO TO 111TH MERIDIAN OF LONGITUDE. Sketch No. 1 presents a view of the initial point on the Rio Grande, the observer looking west along the line, parallel 31° 47′ N. The flag indicates the point where the line crosses the mountain known as the "Muleras." Directly west of this mountain, the line crosses a very sandy valley, supposed to be a former bed of the Rio Grande, and strikes the table land (some 200 feet above the river) about three miles from the initial point. Here sketches Nos. 2 and 3 were taken, looking respectively east and west. Sketch No. 2 is a back view, looking towards the initial point, again showing where the line crosses the Muleras mountain, and also, in the back-ground, the mountains near Franklin, east of the river. Sketch No. 3 is a view taken at the same point as No. 2; that is, where the line first strikes the table-land, but in the direction of the line westward. The line here leads over an apparently endless level table-land, which is very sandy and generally without grass, but thickly covered with clumps of bushes and small sand-hills four or five feet high. On the horizon, exactly in the line, is visible the top of an isolated mountain, serving beautifully as a natural monument. The mountains seen on the right hand are the "Sierra del Potrillo." Sketch No. 4 is taken from the top of the isolated mountain that the line strikes, as represented in sketch No. 3. By this view, the observer looks east along the line towards the initial point. The volcanic mountain range on the left of the flag is called "Sierra Seca." The two mountains behind this Sierra are the topmost peaks of the Sierra del Potrillo, represented in sketch No. 3. The Sierra, quite on the back-ground, shows the mountains near Franklin, and those on the right of the flag are the mountains near El Paso. Sketch No. 5 is a near view of the Monument mountain before mentioned, on which is shown, by the flag, the exact point struck by the boundary line. This view was taken from a point west of this mountain, and about a mile from it. Sketch No. 6 is a view also taken near, and from the west side of Monument mountain, but looking westward along the line. At this mountain the table-land ceases, and the line passes over a series of hills for about 2.5 miles, the highest of which is not more than 300 feet, with so gentle an ascent as to be easily crossed with loaded wagons. Passing these hills, the line leads into a broad valley, bounded on the west by the Sierra del Carrizalillo. About a mile from the foot of these hills the sand begins to disappear, and fertile soil takes its place. The pasturage of this valley was everywhere luxuriant; and in its lowest part, nearly midway between Monument mountain and the Sierra del Carrizalillo, about one mile south of the boundary line, are the "ojos adjuntos,” the first permanent water near the line west of the Rio Grande, and about sixty-four miles from the initial point. The "ojos adjuntos" are a series of lagoons formed by many springs, of which fifteen were counted, all affording clear water. They are connected, and all together present a sheet of water from one and a half to two miles long, by from one-third to one-half mile broad, and four to five feet deep; their direction is north and south. The most northern springs, as also the lagoons which they form, are some four or five feet higher than the surrounding prairie. It is possible that these springs are but the re-appearance of the Rio Mimbres. Fine grama grass surround these lagoons and springs, but no bushes. From the "ojos adjuntos" to Vol. I-13 the foot of the Carrizalillo hills, there is a gentle ascent of the prairie. In the prolongation of the line towards this last named Sierra, it passes six miles south of the "Sierra del Tabaco," and north of, but very near, two small isolated hills, where the magnetic needle underwent a variation of 2° 30'; the needle was affected by this magnetic influence at the distance of three miles, on each side of these hills. The mountains on the left of the flag in this view, are the Sierra de la Boca Grande; those directly on the back-ground, the Sierra del Carrizalillo, where the line crosses; and those on the right hand belong to the Sierra del Tabaco. Sketch No. 7 gives a view of the Carrizalillo hills where they are crossed by the line. It leads up a steep valley across these hills, through an open valley, into another series of hills, where the parallel 31° 47′ terminates. This termination is marked by a monument, a view of which is given in sketch No. 8. Sketch No. 8.-From this point southward the meridians connecting the parallels 31° 47′ and 31° 20′ constitute the boundary line. This sketch gives a view westward, from the terminal point of line on parallel 31° 47', and not along the line. Sketch No. 9 represents a view of the line, on the meridian, from the monument marking the terminal point on parallel 31° 47'. The flag marks the direction across the hills. Sketch No. 10 is taken from the point where the flag stands in sketch No. 9. This view is south along the meridian. The high mountains on the left are the Sierra de la Boca Grande. The distant hill ranges beyond the plain, and covered by the flag are the hills on which is erected the monument marking the beginning of the boundary on parallel 310 20'. The hills on the right hand belong to those adjoining "Ojo del Perro." Ojo del Perro." The boundary line here runs through a large valley or plain; the Sierra de la Boca Grande lying on the east, and the Sierra de la Hacha, and that of Ojo del Perro, on the west. Nearly in the middle of this valley, and about 172 miles east of the boundary line, are situated the Ojos de los Mosquitos, five in number, which, though furnishing an abundant supply of clear water, soon sink below the surface. The pasturage of this valley is good in some places; but the soil is generally sandy, and many spots are destitute of vegetation. As the mountains are approached, the soil becomes gravelly and bushes abound. Sketch No. 11 presents a view of the hills on which is located the monument marking the initial point of the line on parallel 31° 20'. The view looks south along the meridian, and the flag marks the spot where the monument is erected. Sketch No. 12 is a back view from the monument, looking north along the meridian. The rocky bluffs on the left are a part of the mountains near Ojo del Perro. Further on, and in the middle ground, are seen the Sierra de la Hacha, and entirely in the back-ground appear the hill ranges on which terminates the line on parallel 31° 47'. Sketch No. 13 is taken from the same point as No. 12, but looks west along the parallel 31° 20'. All the hills here represented belong to the Sierra del Ojo del Perro. The spring giving name to the sierra is situated at the foot of the second mountain on the right of the flag, and is about seven miles west of the monument, and north of the flag one and a half. Sketch No. 14 is a view taken from the place marked by the flag in sketch No. 13, looking eastward. The range behind the flag embraces the hill on which is located the monument, as shown in sketch No. 13. The mountain range in the back-ground on the left is Sierra de la Boca Grande. From this flag westward the boundary line runs for a few miles over a series of round hills, and, after crossing a wide valley, strikes the high Sierra de San Luis. The soil of this valley is light and sandy, except in the middle it is covered with grass and other vegetation. It contains a large prairie-dog town, and, constituting the receptacle of an extensive drainage, would be passed with much difficulty during the rainy season. A series of springs were discovered near the middle of the valley, and about one mile south of the line. They form a little creek, but are lost in the sand in a run of less than two miles. Sketch No. 15.-A near view of the San Luis mountains where they are crossed by the line; sketched from the intersection of the line and the road leading from Janos to Santa Cruz. Sketch No. 16.-This view is sketched from the monument near San Luis springs, looking eastward. The flag shows where the line crosses the mountain. Sketch No. 17 is taken from the same point as No. 16, but in the opposite direction. The top of the mountain on the back-ground, directly over the monument, is the first over which the line runs near the Guadalupe Pass. Sketch No. 18 is a near view of the mountain whose top rests on the horizon in sketch No. 17. The flag indicates where it is struck by the line. Sketch No. 19 looks west along the line, and is taken from the point marked by the flag in No. 18. Sketch No. 20 is drawn from the point indicated by flag in No. 19. It looks westward, and the single peak in the back-ground belongs to the mountain ridge west of San Bernardino; and the sierras still further off are the San José and Éspinola, on the left and right, respectively. Sketch No. 21 is a view looking eastward from the point where the line crosses the road through the Guadalupe Pass. Sketch No. 22 is a view from the monument near the springs of San Bernardino, looking west along the boundary, and giving a nearer view of the peak seen from the Guadalupe cañon, and represented in sketch No. 20. Sketch No. 23.-A back view taken from the same point as No. 22, but looking eastward towards the Guadalupe cañon. Sketch No. 24.-In this the observer again looks west, and is shown where the line crosses the first mountain-ridge west of San Bernardino. The mountain on the left of the flag is the peak referred to in sketches Nos. 20 and 22. Sketch No. 25.—This view is sketched from the point indicated by the flag in Sketch No. 24. The high mountain on the left fore-ground represents the before-mentioned peak. The high sierra in the back-ground on the flag is the San José; that on the right the Sierra de Éspinola. Rain-water was found at the foot of the hill where the flag stands, and was the only water near the line between San Bernardino and Rio San Pedro, a distance of fifty-five miles. The Rio San Pedro flows along the eastern base of the Sierra de Éspinola. Sketch No. 26 is a view taken at the foot of the hill on which the flag stands in sketch No. 25; it looks west along the parallel. From this hill, as far as the banks of the Rio San Pedro, the line runs over a rolling prairie of a light, sandy soil, sometimes covered with bushes, sometimes bare, and fine patches of pasturage occurring here and there. Sketch No. 27.-View looking west along the line from from flag-staff in sketch No. 26. Sketch No. 28.---Sketched from flag in view No. 27, also looking westward. The mountains on the left edge of which the flag rests, and marks the line, are the Sierra de Espinola. Sketch No. 29.-This view looks westward, and is taken on the east bank of the Rio San Pedro, where it is crossed by the line. At this point, approaching from the east, the traveller comes within a mile of the river before any indications of a stream are apparent. Its bed is marked by trees and bushes, but it is some sixty or one hundred feet below the prairie, and the descent is made by a succession of terraces. Though affording no very great quantity of water, this river is backed up into a series of large pools by beaver-dams, and is full of fishes. West of the river there are no steep banks or terraces, the prairie presenting a gentle ascent. Here again the flag represents where the line touches the Sierra de Éspinola. The mountains in the back-ground on the left of the flag are directly east of Santa Cruz. Sketch No. 30 is taken from the monument situated north of Santa Cruz, and is a back view, showing the flag on Sierra de Éspinola. Sketch No. 31.-A view from the same monument, but looking westward. The mountains in the right-hand corner of the back-ground are the Santa Rita. Sketch No. 32.-This is a view near Los Nogales, and shows where the line crosses the road leading from Tucson to Imuris. It looks south from the monument. The mountains in the back-ground are called the Sierra del Pajarito. |