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The first 10 Degree curves used was at Station 8080 and no more were found necessary until we reached the vicinity of Johnson Canon. On this division we have usually eased off the heavy curves at each end. Sometimes where there was not room to ease off at both ends, we eased the upper and on ascending grades as trains run much faster or are liable to in descending than in ascending and the shock would be greater in striking the curves. There are places where curvature can be saved by taking more work.

I used 1.8% grades through the Yampai Canon 101.50 ft. excepting that from the 1st hundred mile post to the Pineveta Canon I have located on 1.42% grade and there is but little distance to be saved by using a heavier grade except coming off the Yampi divide into Aubrey Valley. As this division will have to be operated on a 1.8% basis this grade should be used, and perhaps 1200 or 1500 ft. in distance saved. Had the distance back from Picacho Divide not been so great, I would have gone back and relocated this on a 1.8% grade after finding it necessary to use 1.8% on both sides of this (Picacho) divide. From Station 7700 on the Picacho Divide to Station 8786, have used 1.8% grades freely wherever there was any distance to be saved.

From Station 8786 to Bill Williams divide, I have used 2.6% grades, althouhg at first I expected to get through on 1.8% grades, but this was impossible, and I fixed on a 2.6 as being the grade best suited to the slope. There is some distance lost near Bill Williams Divide, but this is unavoidable form our inability to support down andkeep our direction. From Station 9680 to end of line, 1.8% grades are used without much loss of distance.

From Station 8786 to 9646 there is a rise of 1770 ft. which is 2.04 pr. Station not allowing for compensation. I have from Station 8786 to 9696 - 900 stations between side tracks and station grounds of a 2.6% grade requiring the use of pusher or helper engine.

The work from Sect. 101 to the Chino Canon is free of Malpais. There is good earth excavation on most all the smooth work. The rock in Yampai Canon is limestone; the Tunnel there will be solid limestone not requiring any artificial roofing. There are some rock cuttings on the east slope of Yampai Divide, most in limestone. The material in Aubrey Valley nearly to Red Mesa is earth except the rock cuts in sand stone at Cedar Point, this earth is light and can be easily plowed and scraped.

From the Chino Canon to Johnsons Canon, we are passing over a Malpais country. Some of the Prairie is a rich dark soil on which the grass grows luxuriently; but it is full of lava gravel and surface is usually strewn with rounded fragments of lava rock. In Johnson Canon we find some sandstone and lime rock stratified and in position on either side of the Canon with Malpais capping it on top of the Canon. The Tunnel in this canon is in lime and sandstone with malpais rock not far from where the roof will come.

From Johnsons Canon to the Bill Williams divide we have some open fine looking country; some good easy soil, but it is mostly on malpais slopes, From Bill Williams Mountain to the end ot the second hundred miles, the line passes over a beautiful park country on which the grass grows finely, but there is the lava rock soil and gravel with loose stones on top everywhere to be seen.

Pages 195-Portion of 196 Splinters Volume 14 transcribed in altered form for the Web by Russell Crump. Photos by Russell Crump, July 1998.

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