triangulation. Sextant observations were taken for the latitude of all the principal points. The botany of the region was carefully studied, and botanical and geological specimens collected. Several good sites for military posts were selected and surveyed in detail, and all possible sites were carefully examined and described in the several sub-reports sent from the field. The results of the scientific work will be embodied in my final report. Dr. Havard, who is thoroughly conversant with botany, made collections which cannot fail to be of general scientific interest; unfortunately, however, when he joined us the season was too far advanced to enable him to prosecute his work to advantage. An examination of the country with a view to select sites for military posts regulated all the movements of this expedition, but the country was completely reconniotered, and observations were taken all along the route with the idea that they might eventually be incorporated in an exact and final survey of the country, and results were obtained that would have involved a great outlay if expeditions had to be sent out for the purpose without the co-operation of the troops. All the work of this expedition was done by the officers and troops who were put under my command for this purpose, and many, even of the enlisted men, learned to perform the different kinds of scientific work. The troops not only had a fine opportunity to acquire practice in their field duties, but were even more favorably disposed for the protection of the country than if they had been sent out on a scout for this purpose. In plotting the observations, it was found that in the country west of the Pecos but little more work would be required to connect the survey in such a manner as to form a complete system of triangulation, even without any special appropriation for the purpose. No exact measurements had ever been made in this part of the State, but the topography of Western Texas had been so well delineated by the officers and troops, partly under my direction, and partly in connec tion with scouting parties previous to 1880, so that it was very important to complete the triangulation. Accordingly, in 1883, another expedition was sent out at my request to complete the survey of the country west of the Pecos. On this expedition I was assisted by Assist. Surg. Valery Havard, botany; Second Lieut. E. B. Ives, Nineteenth Infantry, topography and photography; Second Lieut. C. H. Grierson, Tenth Cavalry, Second Lieut. W. Geary, Nineteenth Infantry, topography and triangulation; First Lieut. S. W. Fountain acted as quartermaster, commissary, &c.; Dr. H. C. Wood, zoology; 20 cavalry and 10 infantry were detailed from Fort Davis, and 4 cavalry and 4 scouts from Fort Clark. The transportation consisted of 6 wagons and 18 pack mules. The expedition started on the 1st of July and proceeded, via Pena, Colo., to Bone Spring. Here Lieutenant Fountain was left in charge of a supply camp, while the country to the south was explored and surveyed as far as the Rio Grande. The supply camp was moved to Tornillo Creek on the 1st of August. On the 7th of August notification was received from department headquarters that the Mexican troops were driving a party of hostile Indians across the Rio Grande, south and east of our supply camp. The exploring parties were immediately withdrawn from the south, and with all the cavalry, scouts, and pack-train we followed the Mara villas Creek to its mouth, and then went down the Rio Grande to a point near San Francisco Creek, and returned after having completed the reconnaissance and survey of the country to the east of our camp. No Indian sign was found. The supply camp was then moved to Davis Ranch, and the surveying parties proceeded by three different routes to cover the grounds as far as the Presidio road. With Dr. Havard and Lieutenant Ives, I took the southern, Lieutenant Grierson and Geary the central, and Topographical Assistant Rostock the northern route. A few weeks were occupied in the country about Marfa, and the party was again divided up as follows: Lieutenants Fountain and Ives were directed to follow down the Rio Grande from the Vieja Mountains to Polvo, and to return by way of Gomez and Santiago Mountains; Lieutenant Geary was left at Marfa to measure the angles about the baseline; and Topographical Assistant Rostock was sent to occupy Guadalupe Peak and to survey the country between that point and Fort Davis. After remaining a few days with Lieutenant Geary's party, I took a small escort and surveyed the country to the north and east as far as Fort Stockton. The parties all assembled at Fort Davis at the end of October and the expedition was broken up. The tertiary triangulation was completed over the area between Fort Stockton and the neighborhood of the Rio Grande. I thought that the work of the boundary survey would answer the tract lying along the river, but it has been found insufficient both in accuracy and detail. I had expected also to use the maps formerly made by scouts to fill in the topography of the country not visited by our own parties, but owing to the valuable assistance rendered by all the officers of the expedition, and by Topographical Assistant Rastock, we were able to cover nearly all the region west of the Pecos with an exact survey. Dr. Havard completed the botanical exploration. The primary triangulation was also laid out, the stations were built, and the angles were observed with such instruments as we had with us. A preliminary plot of our work has just been completed on a scale of 1 inch to 2 miles. In this work I was assisted, for a few months, by Lieutenant Ives, who was placed on duty here for that purpose from February 1 to May 5, 1884. Among the maps made by scouting parties, prior to the exact surveys, those of Lieut. R. D. Read, of the Tenth Cavalry, are deserving of special mention for their completeness and accuracy. During the present season it is proposed to complete the primary triangulation and to fill in the few remaining spaces with exact topography. The office work of reducing the field notes, such as ordinarily requires a large number of assistants and computers, is thrown upon me and one or two topographical assistants, but it is hoped that the result of this year's work with the more perfect instruments recently obtained from the Engineer Department will materially diminish the labor of reduction. Many new methods of survey and many new applications of the old method were developed in this expedition. Among the most prominent was the extensive use of three point stations and of views taken by camera lucida, camera obscura, or with photography. A few points on each sketch fixed by triangulation served as a means of determining the angles and distances between all points on the sketch, and the topography, especially of the mountains, was constructed from data so obtained. Dr. Havard has submitted a preliminary report of the botany of Southern and Western Texas, which is by far the most complete and satisfactory that has ever been made. Dr. Wood discovered a few new species of reptiles, and the geological discoveries in the Staked Plains will probably enable future immigrants to determine where and at what depth they can find water by digging wells. I have the honor to forward herewith a map of Texas showing the parts visited and explored by me. The parallel lines cover that portion on which exact surveys have been made and plotted on a scale of 1 inch to 2 miles. The dotted portions shows the area covered by reconnaissances and odometer surveys. The inclosed blue print shows the primary triangulation as already measured with inferior instruments. The topographical plot, which covers an area of about 50,000 square miles on a scale of 1 inch to 2 miles, will be forwarded as soon as a tracing can be made; also a preliminary map on a scale of 1 inch to 16 miles, which, it is hoped, may be lithographed in Washington. Dr. Havard's report will be ready in a few days, and will be accompanied by a map showing the distributions of wood, water, and grass in Western Texas. A report is also expected from Dr. Wood upon the specimens that he collected. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, W. R. LIVERMORE, Major of Engineers. Washington, D. C. APPENDIX B B B. EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA. REPORT OF MAJOR WILLIAM A. JONES, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF THE PACIFIC, Presidio of San Francisco, Cal., August 13, 1884. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith report of operations in the Department of California for the year ending June 30, 1884. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. W. A. JONES, Major of Engineers. (Through headquarters Division of the Pacific.) REPORT. The office force consisted of two topographical assistants. Operations have been directed to the following purposes: Special surveys for military purposes. The collection of geographical information concerning the region occupied by the troops of the command. The cartographic work connected with the foregoing. The reproduction of maps and drawings by photography. SURVEYS. Boundary between Presidio reservation and the Rancho Ojo de Agua de Figueroa. Assisting with itinerary of march of light battery, First United States Artillery, during its march of instruction, May and June, 1884. ASTRONOMICAL. Observations for determination of latitude and telegraphic longitude of Yuma Depot, Ariz., and The Needles, Cal. CARTOGRAPHIC. Rancho Corte de Madera del Presidio, and Peninsula Island military reservation. Pistol-grip for Colt's revolver. Improved breech-block for Springfield rifle. Magazine block for Springfield rifle. Improved cartridge shell and bullet. Fort Canby, Wash. (3). Light battery target (2). Improved cartridge. "Grace" method of horse-taming (7). Mojave Division Southern Pacific Railroad. Carson and Colorado Railroad. Improvements about corral building at Presidio. Experimental bullet. Field-gun pits for light battery (16). New harness and equipments for light-artillery horses. Magazine gun. Post chapel decorations, Presidio. English and Russian field-artillery harness. Map of Mexico. Commenced riot map of city of San Francisco. PHOTOGRAPHIC. 4 negatives, Colt's revolver, showing improved pistol-grip. 3 negatives, illustrating horse-taming by the "Grace" method. 6 negatives, field-gun pits for light artillery. 1 negative, map of Western Shoshone Indian Reservation. 1 negative, gun-pit drawings. 8 negatives, field-gun pits for light artillery. 637 prints, in silver and ferro-prussiate, of maps, plans, and sketches and from the above negatives. |