Map 4:  Colorado and Utah
Including Rivers and Towns between 106.5 and 111 degrees west longitude
and 36.5 and 41.5 degrees north latitude.  The routes of the Survey Party are
indicated, including their campsites, which are indicated by date.
Map 4 has topographical details along what is now called the Gunnison River, named after the original leader of the survey at the 38th-39th parallels.  There are also details of Cochetopa Pass and westward continuation of the route into Utah.  The current location of Grand Junction, Colorado is in the center of the map.
23 x 31 inches

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Historical notes below

Print Type:   Single-sided Lithograph.
Publication Date:  1861.
Map Title:  Explorations and Surveys for a Rail Road Route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. War Department.  Route near the 38th & 39th Parallels.
Map No. 4:  From the Coo-che-to-pa Pass to the Wahsatch Mountains; from Explorations and Surveys made under the direction of the Hon. Jefferson Davis Secretary of War by Captain J. W. Gunnison, Topographical Engineers assisted by Captain E. G. Beckwith, 3rd Artillery.  R. H. Kern Topographer in the field.
Map made under the supervision Capt. E. G. Beckwith 3rd Artillery by F. W. Egloffstein Topographer for the Route 1855
Scale of 12 Miles to one inch or 1:760320
Source:   Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.  Made under the Direction of the Secretary of War, in 1853-56.  According to Acts of Congress of March 3, 1853, May 31, 1854, and August 5, 1854.  Volume XI.  Washington: George W. Bowman, Printer, 1861.
Total Size Including Margins:  Unfolded: 23 x 31 inches

History:  In 1853, the U.S. Congress authorized the Corps of Topographic Engineers to
 undertake a survey of potential rail routes between the Mississippi River and the Pacific
 Ocean.  This map is from the report of the survey at the 38th and 39th parallels under the leadership of Captain John W. Gunnison, assisted by Lt. Edward G. Beckwith, who surveyed routes in Kansas, Colorado and Utah.  Gunnison, Richard  H. Kern, topographer and artist to the expedition, and seven others were killed by Ute Indians along the Sevier River in Utah.  Beckwith assumed leadership and the survey explored routes at the 41st parallel which Beckwith (and Gunnison before him) recommended as an economical and practicable route.   Although this suggestion had little influence at the time  of the survey, the first transcontinental railroad completed in 1869, when the Union Pacific  and the Central Pacific Railroads were joined at Promontory Point, Utah, basically followed Beckwith's route. 
Please Note: On this map the Gunnison River is called the Grand.  The norther part of the Colorado River is called the Blue River.  And the Price River is called the White River.

To view a "thumbnail gallery" of other maps and tinted lithographs from the Pacific Rail Road Survey    PLEASE CLICK HERE

Courtesy of William Husson.