The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-13

LETTER FROM MR.. WHITNEY.

4 -
LETTER FROM Mr.. WHITNEY.
| We have received the following letter from Mr.
Whitney, the protector Of the Atlantic and PACING
railroad Philadelphia Ledger.
ST.. LOUIS, Sept. 20, ls4b.
To the editors Of the Public Ledger, Philadelphia
| GEsrLEmEs We arrived here last evening in the
steamboat John Golong, from Fort Leavenworth,
having been on the waters OF the mighty river
thirty-one days, and navigating 400 miles-IoO 10
log canoe, the balance in steamboats,, we are all
well.
! NV last letters were dated at Prairie du Chen
about the LIST Of July, at which place expected
guide to the Missouri; was disappointed, and again
at Fort Atkinson, SO miles west OF the Mlssisslpp
disappointed; though Colonel Wilson and MAJOR
Dearborn and the Indian agent, did all in their pow
err to aid me. l am under much obligation for their
kindness and civilities. Thus situated, without a
guide, and but one aborlng man, our number small
(seven in all felt heavy responsibility, and no
small reluctance to leading the young gentlemen
with me into probable dangers and certain hard-
ships and fatigues, an unknown wilderness before
U.S. and probably hostile savage foe to watch our
every step; but the young men, TO man, sand,
| $50 on, we will follow you've cannot turn back;'
and they have fully and manfuly redeemed their
pledge, having gone through many hardshiPs' much
| fatigue, hard labor, hunger, and thirst. cannot
say too much for them, nor can too much praise be
awarded for their labor and conduct. Unused TO
any labor feared il would go hard with them; but
they never finched--they were ready to wade
through mud water, and grass, to their necks, with
| our provisions upon their heads-to swim rivers
to fell for bridges and all other fatgues neces-
sary for the accomplishment of our object. am
thus particular, because feel it due to them and to
their friends. Before leaving Prairie du Chen, |
fixed upon route would like to pass to the Mis-
souri,, and, with compass in hand, made it within
five miles of the point started for. By Burr's map
IOf NH rucinp &c (uh
more correct than any have seen,) we crossed the
Turkey river at Fort Atkinson, north lat. 43 deg.
Is min; thence we crossed the different branches
Of the Wapsipincon and the cedars in about the
same latitude to Clear Lake, in west longitude SO
deg Is Inin.; thence northwesterly until we came to
branch Of the st. Peters running northcastery.
will here remark that did not find the Cedars or
ST. Peters branch to correspond with Burrs or any
map have seen. Thence due west to the Des
Moines, in lat AZ deg. 20 min, and west long. IS
| deg which streams we crossed by telling trees for
a bridge. Thence due west to number of small
beautiful lakes forming the head waters of the
Little Sioux, and empting into the Missouri; thence
across Floyd's river; thence due west across the
branches Of the Calumet, and the Calumet then the
Whitestone or Vermilon; thence jacques river;
and then the great, the grand Missouri, Is miles
below the great bend-making distance from the
Mississippi of over 500 miles, over the finest coun-
try upon the globe, capable of sustaining three times
the population Of the samespace in any other part
of the world--no swamps, no marshes, no flooding
of rivers, except in the vicinity of the WapsipincoD,
and then only small distance, and undoubtedly the
most healthy country in the world.
! have never found an atmosphere so pure-the
surface gently rolling to an almost level--always,
however, enough undulating to let all the water off
While on this subject, will remark that Of the
rivers west Of the great lakes natural rivers but
have formed themselves and beds by the constant
wash of this vast and almost level plain. The soil
of this vast wilderness is as rich il can be- none
richer. In the whole distance did not one half
acre of useless bad land--all covered with the
finest of grasses for cattle; and, when cured, good
hay. The farmer will want but the plough, the
seed, the scythe and sickle. As far the Cedars,
(ninety miles west of the Mssissippi,) consider
able tracts of good timber, but beyond, TO the
Missouri and then very little till down to Fort Leav
enworth, and then only about three miles wide, and
sometimes none on the river; but Goals are abuh.
dant, and the growth oftimber natural, that with
out the fires, (Which now spread over the whole
prairie yearly, consuming everything in fifteen
years the whole, from river to river, would be one
dense forest
From the lake to the Mississippi the lands are
! good route feasible, and an abundance Of timber,
which must be then prepared and taken on as the
road progresses, the whole distance to the Rocky
mountains, and no streams difficult to bridge till the
Mississippi, which can be bridged in the vicinity of
Prairie du Chen and above; but, as understand,
not below that place.
From the Mississippi to the Missouri the streams
can be bridged easily, and at small comparative
pense--frst-rate materials being abundant in the
bluffs which form the banks. The Missouri is a
very difficult stream to bridge navigate its waters
rapid, many shoals, IL to % inches water its bed
quicksand its channel constantly changing, and
now full of snags; its bottoms, below the Calumet,
are four to five miles wide between the bluffs, and
all quicksands in layers or strata Of from one to
three feet, between which the water constantly leaks
| out, which, with the wear of the main stream,
| sho hov,k
on, until new channel is made from one side of
the bottom to the other, rendering it almost impos-
sible to bridge anywhere below the entrance of the
Calumet, but above which are two places Of rock
and one Of gravel bed where, too, the bottoms from
bluff to bluff are narrow and bridge NAV be erect
ed without difficulty and with safety.
j Thus you will see from my picture that have
found all desired, and far more than expected
when set out, If ! can get the grant Of lands,
can build the road. In few months after the grant,
the work shall be commenced; and far sooner than
| had dared to hope, the work can be completed -
when we shall have the whole world tributary us;
when the commerce of the whole world will be
| tumbled into our lap when this vast and now use
less waste and wilderness land ever must be without
this road) shall become the centre, the thoroughfare
and the garden Of the world, feeding, clothing
| comforting, and enlghtening millions who are now
starving homeless, naked, ignorant, and oppressed.
j And who can oppose such work. | have not exag-
gerated the results to flow from it. Let any intelligent
man calmly and deliberately look over the subject,
and he must, he will be satisfied that ii is not chmer-
ical il ia not Exaggerated but that it is impossible to
half estimate its results The geography ofthe world
will show to all that this road must inevitably
j change the whole commerce Of the entire world,
forcing its passage over, and making it tributary to
this road. Some may hesitate to investigate, and
be frightened at its magnitude but is as simple
it is grand; its completion and success but require
its commencement; its means to be supplied from a
source as permanent as time. A bank which has
never failed, or refused to open its doors and yield
up its rich treasures to the demand Of the ndustri-
GUS laborng mantle source of all the worlds
i wealth--the only regulator Of commerce and ex-
changes-is now ready to furnish the means for this
great work; and can such means fall This, the
most beautiful and richest of all the earth, inviting
man to come forth and demand its rich treasures
and there are millions now ready and waiting for a
way to get at such promise.
| again ask, who can oppose this work. No
mans rights TO be abridged, no mans taxes to be
l..x~ .x.I ILL