These two volumes contain the reports that provided Congress with the first comprehensive view of large sections of the American West. Congress authorized these surveys to seek the best route for a transcontinental railroad. Anxious to know what had been learned to date, Congress ordered the preliminary reports to be published in 1854 in this octavo format. Subsequently, these reports with additions were published in twelve large quarto volumes from 1855 to 1861. Volume one contains the reports of Humphreys and Warren, Jesup and Stevens, and volume two includes reports by Beckwith (2), Whipple and Pope. Each report is separately paginated. Disbound.

References: Wagner-Camp #261:1 & #261:2.

Condition: B+

The three sections of disbound text are mostly clean and bright with some occasional light toning and minor foxing.