Reports of Exploration and Surveys to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economic Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean… In 1853-4… Vol. VI

4to (11 ½ x8 ¾) original law calf morocco illustrated, [4], 134, 85,102, 114, [2], iv, 64 pp. Some scuffing and wear to covers, slight gouge to front joint, chipping to edges. Two plates detached, one with a chipped corner. Overall very good. Organized by the War department under the direction of Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War at that time, a collection of volumes was produced in the quest for the best route for a railroad to the West. Jefferson Davis wrote part of the introduction to this series and outlines the goals of the project. This report is on routes explored in Northern California and Oregon. Specifically, the expedition was to look for a railroad route crossing the Sierra Nevada near the source of the Carson River, and to see if it was feasible to connect the Sacramento valley with the Oregon Territory. Most of the color plates in this volume are located in the first three parts of the publication, which is focused on topography, geology, and botanical subjects. This volume includes 23 color lithographs of scenery and botanical subjects, 2 hand colored plates of birds, and 24 steel engraved plates. Wagner-Camp 264a.