Preliminary report on the physical geography and natural resources of the country along the route of the Kansas Pacific Railway on the 35th parallel, from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean

Parry, Charles C.

Published by Review Printing House, Philadelphia, 1868

First edition. Folding map. 20pp. 8vo. A very rare preliminary report by the geologist on Palmer's survey, the noted botanist and physican Charles C. Parry. The report intended to give preliminary findings on the "natural resources and habitable character" of the country surveyed for the route of the transcontinental railroad, with a favorable opinion of the proposed route. Focussed on the region from the Rio Grande to the Pacific, the work includes sections on climate, water supply, native vegetable products, prospects for agriculture, minerals and more. The information from the report would be included in Palmer's Report of Survey's Across the Continent in 1867-'68 (Philadelphia: 1869). The map is a reduced version of Keeler's important map of 1867, depicting the region from Nashville in the east to the Pacific in the west, from Yankton in the north, to the Mexican border in the south, with railroad routes depicted, as well as towns, mines, forts, rivers and Native American reservations. Born in England, Parry (1823-1890) came to the United States in 1832 and studied under Asa Gray and John Torrey. He served as the botanist and surgeon on the Mexican Boundary Survey (1848-55), and made extensive collections of botanical specimens in the west. From his own autobiographical account, he writes: "In 1867 I accompanied a railroad surveying party in the interests of the Pacific Railway Company, across the continent, on the line of the 35th parallel of north latitude. The most valuable part of my collections during that season were made in western Kansas and southeastern Colorado, passing by the Sangro de Cristo Pass to northern New Mexico; thence late in the winter season through Arizona, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Tehachapi Pass, and through the Tulare and San Joaquin valleys to San Francisco" (White, p. 417). "A valuable report to Gen. Palmer, continuing to the Pacific the observations of LeConte" (Eberstadt). Scarce. Eberstadt 137:473; Sabin 58855. On the map, see Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West, V, part II: p.235. Not in Graff, Streeter or Farquhar. White, Charles A. "Biographical Memoir of Charles Christopher Parry." The Annals of Iowa 7 (1906), pp 413-430 Unstitched. Library stamps, soiled. Seller Inventory # 371112

Bibliographic Details

Title: Preliminary report on the physical geography...
Publisher: Review Printing House, Philadelphia
Publication Date: 1868
Binding: Folding map. 20pp. 8vo
Edition: First edition.