During the 1850s, the U.S. government sponsored an extensive series of expeditions designed to gather information on the vast new territories that had been acquired in western North America. The discovery of gold in California further stimulated westward traffic and heightened the need for a faster and more convenient way to bring the far-flung parts of the country together. In 1853 Congress commissioned the Army's Topographic Bureau to conduct a series of surveys to find a suitable route for a transcontinental railroad. There were six major expeditions; five of them covered the area between the Great Plains and west coast, and the sixth explored the coastal states of California and Oregon. All of these expeditions were accompanied by naturalists and artists to document the landscape, flora and fauna along the route. The reports, maps and lithographs were published in the 13 volume report "Explorations and Surveys to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a Railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean."

This complete volume concerns the western section of the Pacific Railroad Surveys, in order to determine the most practical route from the Sacramento Valley to the Columbia River. It contains Henry Abbot's general report (134 pages), geological reports by Newberry, Conrad and Horsford (85 pages), botanical report by Newberry (102 pages), and zoological reports by Girard and Newberry (115 pages). The volume is profusely illustrated with 50 plates, featuring 25 in color including 12 plates along the exploration routes, 10 plates of flora, and a lovely colored bird plate featuring a Williamson Sapsucker and a Yellow-Breasted Chat. The 2 maps and 2 profiles associated with this volume are found in the atlas volume (XI). Hardbound in quarter leather over marbled boards.

References: Wagner-Camp #264a.

Condition: B

Plates are good to very good with scattered foxing, and the text is lightly toned. The spine has two long cracks and the front board is starting. Covers are worn with bumped corners and the spine is chipped at bottom.