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It having been definitely determined, that the great Railroad,
connecting the City of San Francisco with the head of
navigation on Mission Creek, should be constructed without
unnecessary delay, a large appropriation ($120,000) was
granted, for the purpose of causing thorough military examinations
to be made of the proposed routes. The routes,
which had principally attracted the attention of the public,
were “the Northern,” following the line of Brannan Street,
“the Central,” through Folsom Street, and “the extreme
Southern,” passing over the “Old Plank Road” to the Mission.

Each of these proposed routes has many enthusiastic
advocates; but “the Central” was, undoubtedly, the favorite
of the public, it being more extensively used by emigrants
from San Francisco to the Mission, and therefore more
widely and favorably known than the others. It was to the
examination of this route, that the Committee, feeling a confidence
(eminently justified by the result of my labors) in my
experience, judgment and skill as a Military Engineer, appointed
me on the first instant. Having notified that Honorable
Body of my acceptance of the important trust confided
to me, in a letter, wherein I also took occasion to congratulate
them on the good judgment they had evinced, I drew
from the Treasurer the amount ($40,000) appropriated for
my peculiar route, and having invested it securely in loans
at three per cent a month (made, to avoid accident, in my
own name), I proceeded to organize my party for the expedition.

In a few days my arrangements were completed, and my
scientific corps organized, as follows:—

                         

John Phœnix, A. M.	Principal Engineer and Chief Astronomer.
Lieut. Minus Root	{ Apocryphal Engineers. First Assistant Astronomer.
Lieut. Nonplus A. Zero	{ Hypercritical Engineers. Second Assistant Astronomer.
Dr. Abraham Dunshunner	Geologist.
Dr. Targee Heavysterne	Naturalist.
Herr Von Der Weegates	Botanist.
Dr. Fogy L. Bigguns	Ethnologist.
Dr. Tushmaker	Dentist.
Enry Halfred Jinkins, R. A.	{ Draftsmen.
Adolphe Kraut
Hi Fun	Interpreter.
James Phœnix, (my elder brother)	Treasurer.
Joseph Phœnix, ditto,	Quarter-Master.

         

William Phœnix, (younger brother)	Commissary.
Peter Phœnix, ditto,	Clerk.
Paul Phœnix, (my cousin)	Sutler.
Reuben Phœnix, ditto,	Wagon-Master.
Richard Phœnix, (second cousin)	Assistant ditto.

These gentlemen, with one hundred and eighty-four
laborers employed as teamsters, chainmen, rodmen, etc.,
made up the party. For instruments, we had 1 large
Transit Instrument (8 inch acromatic lens), 1 Mural Circle,
1 Altitude and Azimuth Instrument (these instruments
were permanently set up in a mule cart, which was backed
into the plane of the true meridian, when required for use),
13 large Theodolites, 13 small ditto, 8 Transit Compasses,
17 Sextants, 34 Artificial Horizons, 1 Sidereal Clock, and
184 Solar Compasses. Each employee was furnished with
a gold chronometer watch, and, by a singular mistake, a
diamond pin and gold chain; for directions having been
given, that they should be furnished with “chains and pins,”
—meaning of course such articles as are used in surveying
—Lieut. Root, whose “zeal somewhat overran his discretion,”
incontinently procured for each man the above-named
articles of jewelry, by mistake. They were purchased at
Tucker's (where, it is needless to remark, “you can buy a
diamond pin or ring),” and afterwards proved extremely
useful in our intercourse with the natives of the Mission of
Dolores, and indeed, along the route.

Every man was suitably armed, with four of Colt's revolvers,
a Minie rifle, a copy of Col. Benton's speech on the
Pacific Railroad, and a mountain howitzer. These last-named
heavy articles required each man to be furnished with

a wheelbarrow for their transportation, which was accordingly
done; and these vehicles proved of great service on the survey,
in transporting not only the arms but the baggage of the
party, as well as the plunder derived from the natives. A
squadron of dragoons, numbering 150 men, under Capt. McSpadden,
had been detailed as an escort. They accordingly
left about a week before us, and we heard of them occasionally
on the march.

On consulting with my assistants, I had determined to
select, as a base for our operations, a line joining the summit
of Telegraph Hill with the extremity of the wharf at Oakland,
and two large iron thirty-two pounders were accordingly
procured, and at great expense imbedded in the earth,
one at each extremity of the line, to mark the initial points.
On placing compasses over these points to determine the bearing
of the base, we were extremely perplexed by the unaccountable
local attraction that prevailed; and were compelled,
in consequence, to select a new position. This we finally
concluded to adopt between Fort Point and Saucelito; but,
on attempting to measure the base, we were deterred by the
unexpected depth of the water intervening, which, to our surprise,
was considerably over the chain bearers' heads. Disliking
to abandon our new line, which had been selected with
much care and at great expense, I determined to employ in
its measurement a reflecting instrument, used very successfully
by the United States Coast Survey. I therefore
directed my assistants to procure me a “Heliotrope,” but
after being annoyed by having brought to me successively a

sweet-smelling shrub of that name, and a box of “Lubin's
Extract” to select from, it was finally ascertained, that no
such instrument could be procured in California. In this
extremity, I bethought myself of using as a substitute the
flash of gunpowder. Wishing to satisfy myself of its practicability
by an experiment, I placed Dr. Dunshunner at a distance
of forty paces from my Theodolite, with a flint-lock
musket, carefully primed, and directed him to flash in the
pan, when I should wave my hand. Having covered the
Doctor with the Theodolite, and by a movement of the tangent
screw placed the intersection of the cross lines directly
over the muzzle of the musket, I accordingly waved; when I
was astounded by a tremendous report, a violent blow in the
eye, and the instantaneous disappearance of the instrument.

Observing Dr. Dunshunner lying on his back in one
direction, and my hat, which had been violently torn from
my head, at about the same distance in another, I concluded
that the musket had been accidentally loaded. Such proved
to be the case; the marks of three buckshot were found in
my hat, and a shower of screws, broken lenses and pieces of
brass, which shortly fell around us, told where the ball had
struck, and bore fearful testimony to the accuracy of Dr.
Dunshunner's practice. Believing these experiments more
curious than useful, I abandoned the use of the “Heliotrope”
or its substitutes, and determined to reverse the usual process,
and arrive at the length of the base line by subsequent
triangulation. I may as well state here, that this course
was adopted and resulted to our entire satisfaction; the distance

from Fort Point to Saucelito by the solution of a mean
of 1,867,434,926,465 triangles, being determined to be
exactly three hundred and twenty-four feet. This result
differed very much from our preconceived ideas and from the
popular opinion; the distance being generally supposed to be
some ten miles; but I will stake my professional reputation
on the accuracy of our work, and there can, of course, be no
disputing the elucidations of science, or facts demonstrated
by mathematical process, however incredible they may appear
per se.

We had adopted an entire new system of triangulation,
which I am proud to claim (though I hope with becoming
modesty) as my own invention. It simply consists in placing
one leg of a tripod on the initial point, and opening out the
other legs as far as possible; the distance between the legs is
then measured by a two-foot rule and noted down; and the
tripod moved, so as to form a second triangle, connected with
the first, and so on, until the country to be triangulated has
been entirely gone over. By using a large number of tripods,
it is easily seen with what rapidity the work may be
carried on, and this was, in fact, the object of my requisition
for so large a number of solar compasses, the tripod being in
my opinion the only useful portion of that absurd instrument.
Having given Lieut. Root charge of the triangulation,
and detached Mr. Jinkins with a small party on hydrographical
duty (to sound a man's well, on the upper part of
Dupont Street, and report thereon), on the 5th of February I
left the Plaza, with the savans and the remainder of my

party, to commence the examination and survey of Kearny
Street.

Besides the mules drawing the cart which carried the
transit instrument, I had procured two fine pack mules, each
of which carried two barrels of ale for the draftsmen. Following
the tasteful example of that gallant gentleman—who
conducted the Dead Sea Expedition, and wishing likewise
to pay a compliment to the administration under which I
was employed, I named the mules “Fanny Pierce,” and
“Fanny Bigler.” Our cortége passing along Kearny Street
attracted much attention from the natives, and indeed, our
appearance was sufficiently imposing to excite interest even
in less untutored minds than those of these barbarians.

First came the cart, bearing our instruments; then a cart
containing Lieut Zero with a level, with which he constantly
noted the changes of grade that might occur; then one
hundred and fifty men, four abreast, armed to the teeth, each
wheeling before him his personal property and a mountain
howitzer; then the savans, each with note-book and pencil,
constantly jotting down some object of interest (Doctor
Tushmaker was so zealous to do something, that he pulled a
tooth from an iron rake standing near a stable-door, and was
cursed therefor by the illiberal proprietor), and finally, the
Chief Professor, walking arm in arm with Dr. Dunshunner,
and gazing from side to side, with an air of ineffable blandness
and dignity, brought up the rear.

I had made arrangements to measure the length of Kearny
Street by two methods; first, by chaining its sidewalks;

and secondly, by a little instrument of my invention called
the “Go-it-ometer.” This last consists of a straight rod of
brass, firmly strapped to a man's leg and connected with a
system of clock-work placed on his back, with which it performs,
when he walks, the office of a ballistic pendulum.
About one foot below the ornamental buttons on the man's
back appears a dial-plate connected with the clock-work, on
which is promptly registered, by an index, each step taken.
Of course, the length of the step being known, the distance
passed over in a day may be obtained by a very simple process.

We arrived at the end of Kearny Street, and encamped
for the night about sundown, near a large brick building, inhabited
by a class of people called “The Orphans,” who, I
am credibly informed, have no fathers or mothers! After seeing
the camp properly arranged, the wheelbarrows parked and
a guard detailed, I sent for the chainmen and “Go-it-ometer”
bearer, to ascertain the distance travelled during the day.

Judge of my surprise to find that the chainmen, having
received no instructions, had simply drawn the chain after
them through the streets, and had no idea of the distance
whatever. Turning from them in displeasure, I took from
the “Go-it-ometer” the number of paces marked, and on
working the distance, found it to be four miles and a-half.
Upon close questioning the bearer, William Boulder (called
by his associates, “Slippery Bill”), I ascertained that he had
been in a saloon in the vicinity, and after drinking five glasses
of a beverage, known among the natives as “Lager Bier,”
he had danced a little for their amusement. Feeling very

much dissatisfied with the day's survey, I stepped out of the
camp, and stopping an omnibus, asked the driver how far he
thought it to the Plaza? He replied, “Half a-mile,” which
I accordingly noted down, and returned very much pleased
at so easily obtaining so much valuable information. It
would appear, therefore, that “Slippery Bill,” under the influence
of five glasses (probably 2½ quarts) of “Lager Bier,”
had actually danced four miles in a few moments.

Kearny Street, of which I present above a spirited engraving
from a beautiful drawing by Mr. Kraut, is a pass,
about fifty feet in width. The soil is loose and sandy, about
one inch in depth, below which Dr. Dunshunner discovered a
stratum of white pine, three inches in thickness, and beneath
this again, sand.

It is densely populated, and smells of horses. Its surface
is interested with many pools of sulphuretted protoxide of
hydrogen, and we found several specimens of a vegetable substance,
loosely distributed, which is classed by Mr. Weegates
as the stalkus cabbagiensis.

It being late in the evening when our arrangements for
encamping were completed, we saw but little of the natives
until the next morning, when they gathered about our camp
to the number of eighteen.

We were surprised to find them of diminutive stature, the
tallest not exceeding three feet in height. They were excessively

mischievous, and disposed to steal such trifling things
as they could carry away. Their countenances are of the
color of dirt, and their hair white and glossy as the silk of
maize. The one that we took to be their chief, was an exceedingly
diminutive personage, but with a bald head which
gave him a very venerable appearance. He was dressed in a
dingy robe of jaconet, and was borne in the arms of one of his
followers. On making them a speech, proposing a treaty, and
assuring them of the protection of their great Father, Pierce,
the chief was affected to tears, and on being comforted by
his followers, repeatedly exclaimed, “da, da,—da, da;”
which, we were informed by the interpreter, meant “father,”
and was intended as a respectful allusion to the President.
We presented him afterwards with some beads, hawk-bells and
other presents, which he immediately thrust into his mouth,
saying “Goo,” and crowing like a cock; which was rendered
by the interpreter into an expression of high satisfaction.
Having made presents to all his followers, they at length left us
very well pleased, and we shortly after took up our line of
march. From the notes of Dr. Bigguns, I transcribe the following
description of one of this deeply interesting people:

We broke up our encampment and moved North by compass
across Market Street, on the morning of the 6th, and
about noon had completed the survey as far as the corner of
Second Street.

While crossing Market Street, being anxious to know the
exact time, I concluded to determine it by observation.
Having removed the Sideral Clock from the cart, and put it
in the street, we placed the cart in the plane of the Meridian,
and I removed the eye and object-glass of the transit, for the
purpose of wiping them. While busily engaged in this manner,
an individual, whom I have reason to believe is connected
with a fire company, approached, and seeing the large
brazen tube of the transit pointed to the sky, mistook it for a
huge speaking trumpet. Misled by this delusion, he mounted
the cart, and in an awful tone of voice shouted through the
transit “Wash her, Thirteen!” but having miscalculated the
strength of his lungs, he was seized with a violent fit of
coughing, and before he could be removed had completely
coughed the vertical hairs out of the instrument. I was in
despair at this sudden destruction of the utility of our most
valuable instrument, but fortunately recollecting a gridiron,
that we had among our kitchen apparatus, I directed Dr.
Heavysterne to hold it up in the plane of the true Meridian,

and with an opera glass watched and noted by the clock the
passage of the sun's centre across the five bars. Having made
these observations, I requested the principal computer to
work them out, as I wished to ascertain the time immediately;
but he replying that it would take some three months to do it,
I concluded not to wait, but sent a man into the grocery,
corner of Market and Second, to inquire the time, who soon
returned with the desired information. It may be thought
singular, that with so many gold watches in our party, we
should ever be found at a loss to ascertain the time; but the
fact was that I had directed every one of our employees to
set his watch by Greenwich mean time, which, though excellent
to give one the longitude, is for ordinary purposes the
meanest time that can be found. A distressing casualty
that befell Dr. Bigguns on this occasion may be found worthy
of record. An omnibus, passing during the time of observation,
was driven carelessly near our Sidereal Clock, with
which it almost came into contact. Dr. Bigguns, with a slight
smile, remarked that “the clock was nearly run down,” and
immediately fainted away. The pursuits of science cannot be
delayed by accidents of this nature, two of the workmen removed
our unfortunate friend, at once, to the Orphan Asylum,
where, having rung the bell, they left him on the steps
and departed, and we never saw him afterwards.

From the corner of Market to the corner of Second
and Folsom Streets, the route presents no object of interest
worthy of mention. We were forced to the conclusion, however,
that little throwing of stones prevails near the latter

point, as the inhabitants mostly live in glass houses. On the
8th we had brought the survey nearly up to Southwick's
Pass on Folsom Street, and we commenced going through the
Pass on the morning of the 9th. This pass consists of a
rectangular ravine, about 10 feet in length, the sides lined
with pine boards, with a white oak (quercus albus) bar, that
at certain occasions forms across, entirely obstructing the
whole route. We found no difficulty in getting through the
Pass on foot, nor with the wheelbarrows; but the mule carts
and the “two Fannies” were more troublesome, and we were
finally unable to get them through without a considerable
pecuniary disbursement, amounting in all to one dollar and
fifty cents ($1.50). We understand that the City of San
Francisco is desirous of effecting a safe and free passage through
this celebrated cañon, but a large appropriation ($220,000) is
required for the purpose.

The following passages relating to this portion of the
route, transcribed from the Geological Notes of Dr. Dunshunner,
though not directly connected with the objects of
the survey, are extremely curious in a scientific point of view,
and may be of interest to the general reader.