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149

Answer to 8th Question. -- No large hayfields or bottom lands sufficient in extent to warrant a judgment in the premises was observed; although the present season, or rather the past summer, has been unusually favorable in the production of grass as evidence by the valley of the Sweetwater and the points mentioned above the Valley of the Sweetwater opens out as it approaches its confluence with the North Fork and might afford hayfields in proper season, in short, it is the only place which was observed to afford extended facilities for grass or grazing.

Answer to 9th Question. -- There are bottom lands of considerable extent in the valley of McClellan Creek, near its mouth, no timber visible, except a few straggling cottonwood trees. The debris of a large overflow was observed in the valley of the Creek, giving evidence of being in greater part submerged during the August and September rains. The valley of the Sweetwater is quite large and opening out well towards the bluffs' on the Northside, furnishing in many places bottoms of no mean extent for so small a stream, and as noted above, towards its mouth opening out into a broad valley of considerable extent. As before stated, only a fringe of timber was observed along this stream, but looking West from the point at which our Command left, the valley in the direction of the Washita, a considerable amount of timber was visible and broken country with bluffs jetting down to the Creek. The valley of the North Fork was found to be very much divif [strike] divisified with sand hills, small clumps of cottonwood timber and not bottoms were observed of great extent at the points reached by our command.

                                                                Respectfully submitted
                                                   (Sgd)     W. B. Kennedy
                                                                 Capt. 10" Cavy.

_________________________________

                                               Fort Sill, I. T. Dec. 9, 1874.

Capt. G. B. Russell, A. D. C.

    Captain,
                                                    I have to honor to make the following reply to your interrogatories of the 8th. inst.:

1st., the quality of water in Sweetwater is good and I believe sufficient in quantity at all seasons, for a medium sized Command. The water in McClellan Creek and North Fork above its junction with McClellan Creek is good, but that in McClellan Creek I believe the best. They both cease to run in dry seasons, but there is permanent water in McClellan Creek in dry seasons, in clear deep pools, doubtless inexhaustible.