PAGE 191

Mr. H. R. Holbrook, Esq.,
Chief Engineer, Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dear Sir:

Having completed my second one hundred miles from the Colorado River east, I will give you my report on the same. The work was commenced July 14th, 1880 and completed October 7th, 1880. We have had long days, fine weather, full party and a complete outfit. Teams sufficient to haul supplies from Mineral Park and Prescott; to haul our water supply twenty miles for a part of the time and move camp, so that my work has been carried through with regularity and effect.

One of my teamsters Mr. J. F. Scott, was shot on the 27th of July at the point of Red Mesa by the accidental discharge of his own gun, which was being carried on the wagon seat. Other than this the party have enjoyed excellent health and Mr. Scott is now convalescent.

To avoid entirely the heavy grades and heavier work at Mesa Gap and Jara Divide, I determined to keep south of the Red Mesa through Beals Pass, two lines were run over the Yampai Divide down into the Aubrey Valley and the southerly line adopted as we saves largely in distance. I found an easy line thru Beals Pass, this avoids all bad, heavy work. The rise to Point of Mesa from Aubrey Valley is but 194 feet and then a descent of 153 feet to the Chino Canon makes this pass very easy. Had it been two to five miles further north we could have reached it without the loss of distance and general direction.

From the point of Red Mesa, Bill Williams Mountain can just be seen protruding above the divide, between Mt. Taylor and Picacho to the east. I examined the country carefully to this Picacho divide in the direction of Bill Williams Mountain and found a practicable route. The divide corresponds to the Jara divide of the "71 survey. They ascended 542 feet from the Val de Chino. Here on this line I ascend 504 feet. They descend 772 feet from the Jara Divide to Partridge Creek. From Picacho divide to Partridge Creek, I descend 660 feet. The Picacho divide presents some considerable difficulty, both on the east and on the west slope there are canons one half and one mile long respectively, leaving a smooth beautiful country on the summit between. These canons cannot be avoided. For some time I thought it would be necessary to work a passage to the east, north east from this divide so as to regain the vicinity of the old survey, and to carry out this design. I examined the partridge creek country thoroughly and concluded that I did not want any of it. I could reach their line without difficulty, but would have to run my line nearly north for ten or fifteen miles, so I concluded to run an independent line regardless of their. I found no difficulty until I reached the slope of Bill Williams Mountain from the point of the Red Mesa deviating only when necessary to overcome some local difficulty in topography or grade.

From the slope of the Plateau I had great difficulty in finding a practicable route. I examined the break in the Plateau from Beales Wagon road, southerly as far as Hells Canon, and I examined the route to the north and south of Bill Williams Mountain. After reaching the Plateau I could get an easier grade line to the south of Bill Williams Mountain, but the distance would be much longer. My object in this line was to find a good route and keep nearer Prescott without the loss of distance, but I found the Plateau to slope off too quickly for a 2% grade and I was forced to give it up for a shorter line. My next effort was to examine Johnsons Canon. (Photo by Russell Crump, July, 1998.) This takes the drainage of Bill Williams Mountain from the west side as Hell Canon does from the south and I concluded that this canon would be in my general direction should I pass to the north of Bill Williams Mountain. My first trip through the Canon disheartened me; but realizing that it was my only chance I made two other examinations before I accepted the situation. At first it seemed impossible to follow the Canon with 10 degree curves but a little more familiarity found the line could be kept out of the Canon on a comparatively smooth slope and only have three or four miles of bad work and after passing through the Canon would have to commence supporting to reach Bill Williams Divide and the north side of the Mountain. In perfecting this we found the greatest difficulty in ascending the slope to the Canon as there were chances fro several lines on 1.8% and 2.6% grades. About 4-1/2 miles from the Bill Williams Divide we reached the line of the old survey saving 7.02 miles in distance. We then followed near the old survey to station 10050, when our line goes nearly east in a good general direction for Flag Staff and the point of the San Francisco Mountains while the old survey keeps northerly for three or four miles into some very rough country.

I have made a very thorough examination of the country as far as the point of the San Francisco Mountain, including that portion along the old Survey, finding a much easier and more direct route passing along the old Survey, finding a much easier and more direct route passing south of E W Pittmans ranch, through the northerly portion of Snider Prairie, over the Divide between Snider and Volunteer Prairies, crossing Volunteer Prairie about one mile north of the Spring of fthat name, then to the east over another divide aand descending to Flag Staff without any trouble or loss of much distance. From Flag Staff Mr Sterritt has already run preliminary lines east connecting his located line with 75 ft. maximum grades. It will now become a question how far west it will be desirable to run on 75 ft. grades, probably to Volunteer Springs, as by the loss of some distance 75 ft. grades can be obtained and this is a desirable location for end of divisions.

In making a careful review of the line from Albuquerque to the Colorado River, I find we are likely to have about three divisions which will bear slight modification. The two first being on light grades are longer than the latter.

1st. Albuquerque to pt. below Cranes on 1. or 52.8 Grade, 136 miles
2nd. Cranes to St. Joseph n 0.6 or 32. Grades, 128.1 miles.
3rd. St. Joseph to Volunteer on 1.42 or 75 grades, 101.3 miles.
4th. Volunteer to Peach Springs on 1.8 or 95 grades, 105.5 miles.
5th. Peach Springs to Colorado River on 1.8 or 95 grades, 101.5 miles

By examining these distances it becomes very evident that I should locate from Volunteer Springs to Flag Staff so as to make a division of 75 ft. grades if possible. This would include 22.3 miles of .6 or 32 ft. grade from Brighham to St. Joseph.

I am still of the opinion that a 75 ft. grade can be run from Brigham to Canon Diablo, thereby saving enough distance to make it an object. Mr. Sterritt commenced this line but gave it up, thinking the other more preferable, but my ideas of location would require me to give facts and figures and until this line is run, estimated and compared on its merits, I shall believe there is a line there. Mr. S. acknowledges that he did not meet with anything serious, but thought the heavier work and loss of distance in supporting would counterbalance the distance to be saved. I think there is too much money at stake to accept this decision, not that I blame Mr. Sterritt, he has located one very good line, it may be far the best, but we want to show our figures. Further, he has some very expensive crossings. I think the Company would hardly like to expend $117,000 to fill one hole, or rather to build an Iron Trestle across it, before they had made other surveys and the maps, profiles and comparisons of each possible line given in undeniable statement of facts. Mr. Sterritt is working hard; he has some bad timber to locate in and must necessarily move slowly, and it will take some time to complete this line to Flag Staff.

This may seem somewhat irrelevant to this report, but it must be remembered that it becomes necessary for a Locating Engineer to look forward, so when his work is completed, and joined together, it may become one continued, harmonious whole. Being supported by our Values of Distance, Rise and Fall, Curvature etc, gives it strength and by following natures own pathway gives it beauty of design, economy in construction and operation.

In summing up these results of my exploration from the first to the second hundred mile post it is perhaps one of the hardest things for one to do to explain fully to another who is not on the ground, why one line is selectedin preference fo another, but there are many reasons why this route is preferable to any other.

First - Generally speaking it is the shortest route I can obtain.

Second - It presents a better general profile than any other, both as to work and rise and fall.

Third - It has probaly much less curvature than any other general route which might be obtained. Mr. Rehrers report and survey(?) to the contrary notwithstanding.

Fourth - It is nearer Prescott and the business of the country, its mines, population and public roads making it much more accessible.

Fifth - The absence of any long tunnels, it being the natural route which would be selected by any one after they become familiar eith the country and its general character.

Sixth - This line probably has less black malpais and lava rock along its surface than any other that can be obtained. From the Chino Canon to the end of the hundred miles we necessarily lpass over a malpais country - strewn with lava in places, sometimes lime and sandstone, pretruding below the malpais as in Jonsons Canon, but yet nearly always some in sight either as rock in place or loose gravelly fragments in the soil with rolling stones of the same strewn over the surface.

Seventh - As regards water, the chaces are probably in favor of this line as it is lower and there are places where it is quite probable water can be got by digging and in case well water can not be obained, there is more drainage tributary to Chino and Partridge Creek from which to obtain a supply for reservoirs.
There are no Springs in the whole country from Youngs Spring to Jondsons or Bill Williams anywhere, so there is no permanent water to divert from the right of left. As regards snow on the Colorado Plateau, one line is about as good as another.
Those are some of its many advantages as compared with other possible routes. That the line presents some undesirable features will be self evident from an examination of the map and profile, but that these difficulties can be avoided or rendered less objectionable is a question not so easily determined. We have taken the country as we found it and have endeavored to be governed by our values of distance, rise and fall, curvature, etc., etc., and whilst we can look back and see some few changes in detail that could be made by altering grade and alignment, yet I think we have about the right location.

Pages 191-194 Splinters Volume 14 transcribed in altered form for the Web by Russell Crump

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