CLIMATE AND SEASONS.

The Department of the Cauca possesses the climatic conditions of all zones. Upon the plains of the Caquetá and the basins of the larger rivers, such as the Patía and the Atrato, and likewise upon the coast, one experiences a very warm and uninviting climate. In the region between the cordilleras the climate is temperate and healthful, while upon the various summits of these ranges it is so cold that the thermometer sometimes falls below zero. The large and fine valley of the Río Cauca has a climate more or less warm, but salubrious, and in consequence thereof is well populated. In the central portion of the territory the seasons called summer and winter succeed each other twice in the year, that is, there are two periods of summer and two of winter, which last approximately 90 days each. In the Caquetá region the rains are prolonged for six months and even longer, and in the Chocó, as well as in some of the wooded and enclosed valleys, it rains throughout the year.

PRODUCTIONS.

In this Department nature is rich beyond reasonable expectation. The mineral resources are both abundant and varied, the Cauca competing with Antioquia in the wealth of its precious metals. Gold ore of excellent quality is abundant, especially in the provinces of Atrato, San Juan, Barbacoas, Marmato, and Santander; auriferous silver in those of Santander and Marmato, and in the latter is found the very rich mine of Echandía; platinum in large quantities in the Chocó, San Juan and Atrato regions; copper, iron, and pit-coal abound in the Province of Cali; and at other places in the Department there are found salt, gypsum, lime, sulphur, marble, amethysts, garnets, etc. The soil is exceedingly fertile and produces, almost spontaneously, sugar-cane, plantains, maize, tobacco, beans, cacao, coffee, wheat, rice, anise, potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables. In the forests are found large quantities of wood suitable for building, cabinet work, and dye purposes; medicinal plants, balsams and resins, dates, and a large variety of fruits. The Peruvian bark of Pitayó, the varnishes of Pasto, india-rubber, cinnamon, ivory-nuts, balsam of Tolú, the bread-tree, and other fruit plants are to be found. By reason of the extent and fertility of its pasture-lands, the Department is very rich in herds. Among domestic animals we find the cow, mule, goat and sheep, large numbers of swine, and the best breeds of horses.

The population of this Department is over 500,000, without counting some 30,000 savage Indians who live in the Caquetá, Darién, and the Pacific Coast sections. The inhabitants are divided among the white race, which predominates, the Indian, the negro (which increases rapidly in the lower and warmer regions), and the mixed races which are found in all climates and localities.

INDUSTRIES.

The principal industries of the Department of the Cauca are agriculture, cattleraising, mining, and commerce. Manufactories have long been established in the southern provinces, where excellent linens, blankets, carpets, sheetings, and other kinds of woolen and cotton goods are fabricated. Mats, baskets, hats, hammocks, tortoise-shell combs, chairs, and other furniture are likewise made. The fertility of the soil, especially in the valley, is such that there exist large plantations devoted to cacao, coffee, sugar-cane, plantains, and rice. The advantageous position of the Department, its waterways, and the abundance of some of its products, enable its inhabitants to carry on an active commerce not, only with the neighboring departments, but also with some of the republics on the Pacific Coast, especially with Ecuador, the United States, and Perú. All kinds of merchandise are imported through the ports of Buenaventura, Tumaco, and Ipiales, as well as clothing from Cundinamarca and Antioquia, while the exports consist of gold, silver, platinum, cacao, coffee, tobacco-especially that raised near Palmira-tortoise-shell, indiarubber, ivory-nuts, dye-woods, varnishes, Peruvian bark, hides, cattle, mules, horses, and hogs.

LOCATION CONTINUED.

Starting afresh at Popayán, a rather crooked development carries the line to Timbío; thence continuing across country, which now becomes more open, the town of Patía is reached, and a straight alignment on very nearly level ground takes the traject across the Río Guachicono and along the right bank of the Río San Jorge, past Capellanía, to the neighborhood of Tablón, whence a rapid descent is required via Sombrerillos and Veinticuatro to the valley of the Río Mayo. Ascending this stream via San Pablo and Mamendoy, the Quina Summit is reached and crossed by a tunnel 2,500 feet long, at an altitude of about 8,390 feet, the crest itself standing nearly 900 feet higher. A rapid descent along the valley of the Quina, past San Bernardo and San José, is soon necessary in order to effect a crossing of the Río Juanambú near the other Tablón, at an elevation of 5,010 feet, there having been a drop of 3,380 feet in the last 13 miles since leaving the summit. Having crossed the profound chasms of the Juanambú and the Vado, a heavy gradient becomes necessary to carry the line to a crossing of the summit north of Pasto, the elevation of this summit being about 9,630 feet, there having been a climb of 4,620 feet in the 25 miles intervening since the passage of the Juanambú. Ten miles more, on a descending gradient, bring the location to Pasto.

Pasto is the capital of the Province of the same name, and was founded in 1539 by Lorenzo de Aldana, upon an elevated plateau of the Andes, the height

being 8,448 feet above the sea. Although cut off from the rest of the Republic by reason of its isolated position and poor means of communication, by dint of hard work and energy it has attained the third place in importance in the country, on account of its population, its buildings, and its varied manufacturing industries. It is said to contain about 20,000 inhabitants. It has several colleges and schools for men and women, a hospital, three printing-offices, a dozen churches, and many work-shops in which are manufactured fine linens, woolen goods, paints, furniture, etc. Among others, it carries on an important trade with Mocoa, the capital of the Province of the Caquetá, a small place, with a hot climate, situated upon the right bank of the Caquetá and at the origin of the plains which carry the same name. Mocoa is so isolated from Pasto and the other principal towns of the Department by reason of the bad roads, that its population does not exceed 900 inhabitants. From the forests in its vicinity is obtained the celebrated Pasto varnish, the extraction of which and the raising of other products cause a fair trade to be maintained between these two towns.

Leaving Pasto, a stiff climb becomes necessary to carry the line over the summit of Santa Gertrudis, lying at the base of La Galera, also called Volcán de Pasto, the elevation of the ground at the point of crossing being about 10,680 feet. A rapid descent and much curvature are needed in proceeding via Yacuanquer to the neighborhood of Funes, whence quite a climb is called for to prolong the location via Potosí and Ipiales to a crossing of the Río Carchi (two and one-half miles westsouthwest of the last-named town) by which entrance into Ecuadorean territory is effected, the point of passage being 332 miles (534.30 kilometers) from Cali. The cost for grading, masonry and bridges between Cali and the crossing of the Río Carchi near Ipiales has been estimated at $10,685,802, giving an average of $32,186 per mile ($20,000 per kilometer).

Surveys were also made by Corps No. 2 along the Sapuyes and Guáitara rivers from Tulcán via Túquerres to a connection with the main line, but the indications along said route were not as favorable for a location as the one adopted.

Among the more important towns lying on or near the proposed route through Southern Colombia, we may take note of Ipiales, which is the capital of the Province of Obando, and next in importance to Pasto. It is a port of entry upon the frontier of Ecuador, and the site of a national custom-house. It contains 12,000 inhabitants, and lies at an elevation of 10,119 feet above the sea. It has churches, a printing-office, colleges and other public buildings. Túquerres is the capital of the Province of the same name, situated upon an extensive plateau and surrounded by very fertile plains well adapted to the raising of stock. Its eleva

tion is 10,095 feet above the sea. The population is placed at 8,000. The temperature is cold. Not far from the town stands the celebrated Volcán de Túquerres, also called Azufral, whose summit, 13,353 feet high, formed almost exclusively of sulphur, exhales an odor so strong that it is perceptible at a great distance during periods of ignition. Northwest of Túquerres stands Barbacoas, the capital of the Province of Barbacoas, situated upon the banks of the Telembí, at 50 kilometers (31.06 miles) from the Pacific. It is considered an important river-port, and maintains an active trade with Tumaco and with the towns in the Department of Panamá, and the states of Ecuador and Perú. It is said to have 6,000 inhabitants, contains several churches, a printing-office and near by are rich gold-mines. Tumaco is the capital of the Province of Núñez and is of importance by reason of its situation on an island in the Pacific Ocean, near the coast. It has a commercial trade of some note, because nearly all the steamers plying that part of the Pacific touch at that port. Tumaco has a national custom-house, several printing-offices and good buildings. The population is more than 5,000.

For the purpose of connecting the main line along the Cauca with the Magdalena Valley, with the ulterior object of attaining Bogotá, two routes over the Cordillera Central were more or less examined by Corps No. 2. The first of these starts at Cartago and proceeds via the Quindío Pass to Ambalema. It would be about 130 miles (209.21 kilometers) in length, the cost for grading, masonry and bridges being estimated at $4,184,000, giving an average of $32,186 per mile ($20,000 per kilometer). The second would run from Popayán via the Alto de Guanacas to La Plata. It would be 100 miles (160.93 kilometers) in length, and would cost $4,000,000, giving an average of $40,000 per mile ($24,856 per kilometer). From what precedes, it is evident that the distance from Paso de Caramanta to the Río Carchi, measured along the approximate preliminary, is 545.5 miles (877.89 kilometers); the total distance through Colombia from the Río Golfito to the Río Carchi is 1,354.04 miles (2,179.10 kilometers), and the estimated cost for grading, masonry and bridges is $33,738,424.84, giving an average of $24,917 per mile ($15,483 per kilometer). This, of course, is exclusive of the branch from Cartagena via Medellín to Paso de Caramanta, the cost of which has already been given.

The total distance from Ayutla across the six republics of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia, to the crossing of the Río Carchi near Ipiales, is 2,397.04 miles (3,857.63 kilometers), of which 211.3 miles (340.05 kilometers) are built, and 2,185.74 miles (3,517.58 kilometers) are to be constructed, at an estimated cost for grading, masonry and bridges of $50,892,941.84.

CHAPTER VIII.

SOUTH AMERICA.

II.

ORGANIZATION AND JOURNEY OF CORPS NO. 3 TO FIELD OF OPERATIONS.

Corps No. 3 was likewise organized in the United States, and at first embraced the following personnel:—

J. IMBRIE MILLER, Engineer in Charge.

W. D. KELLEY, Assistant Engineer.
WINTER L. WILSON, Topographer.

J. DOUGLAS FORSTER, Junior Assistant.

D. M. MARTÍNEZ, Junior Assistant.

CHARLES W. RUSH, Passed Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Navy.

Having outfitted, the Corps sailed from New York, in conjunction with Corps. No. 2, on April 10th, 1891, reached Panamá April 17th, and on the 21st, Guayaquil, Ecuador, where the party, with the exception of its chief, remained for some days and were the recipients of many attentions and courtesies from Mr. William B. Sorsby, U. S. Consul-General; Mr. Martin Reinberg, Vice-Consul; Señor Caamaño, Governor of the Province of Guayas; and others. Mr. Miller, acting under instructions from the Commission, proceeded direct to Lima, for the purpose of collecting such information in the way of maps and itineraries bearing upon the proposed line of survey as he could obtain, and furthermore of procuring the necessary passports and authority for the entrance of the engineers into Perú by way of an interior line.

Leaving the coast on the 27th, the Corps proceeded by rail to Chimbo, a distance of about 60 miles (96.56 kilometers), and thence by mule and diligence to Quito, which was reached May 7th, the Government of Ecuador furnishing free transportation for this journey at an outlay exceeding $1,000, and thus further contributing to the advancement of the aims of the Commission. Passing over the generous hospitality accorded the surveyors in the Capital, a full account of