The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-10

Pacific Railroad.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 90, 1916.
To The Editors Of the Public Ledger.
Philadelphia.
GENTLEMEN We arrived here last evening
in the steamboat John Goalong, from Fort Leaven-
worth, having been on the waters of the mighty
river 81 days, and navigating l400 miles, $50 in
log canoe, the balance in steamboats,. We are
all well.
My last letters were dated at Prairie du Chen,
about the lst OF July, at which place expected
guide to the Missouri, was disappointed, and again
at Fort Atkinson, so miles west of the Missssp
p, disappointed, though Col. Wilson and Major
Dearborn, and the Indian Agent, did all in their
power TO aid the. | am under much obligation
for their kindness and civilities Thus situated,
without guide, and but one laboring man, our
number small, (seven in all, felt heavy re-
sponsibty, and no small reluctance to leading
the young gentlemen with me into probable dan
gers and certain hardships and latgues, an I'M
known wilderness before us, and probably hos
tile savage foe to watch our every step; but the
young men. to man, said, +" go on-we will fol-
low you've cannot turn back and they have
fully and mantuly 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 it would 90 hard with them, but they never
| flinched-they were ready 10 wade through mud,
water and grass 10 their necks, with our provi-
sions upon their heads-to swim rivers-io fell
trees for bridges, and all other faigues necessary
! 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-
sourl, and with compass in hand, made it within
five miles of the point started for. BY Burr's
Map of Wisconsin, embracing Iowa, &c., (Which
found more correct than any | have seen,) we
crossed the Turkey river at Fort Atkinson, North
lat. 43 deg. D min., thence crossed the differ
ent branches of the Wabisipinica and the cedars
in about the same latitue to Clear Lake. in West
longitude 90 deg. 25 min, thence Northwesterly
until we came to branch of the ST. Peters, run
ming Northeasterly. will here remark that we
did not find the Cedars or ST. Peters branch to
correspond with Burr's, or any map have seen.
/ Thence due West to the Des Mones, in lat 43
deg. 20 min, and West long. 95 deg, which
streams we crossed by telling trees for bridge.
Thence due West to number of small beautiful
lakes forming the head waters of the Little Sioux
and emptyug INFO the Missouri; thence across
Floyd's river thence due West across the branch
es of the Calumet and the Calumet; then the
! Whtestone or VeTmillion; 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
country upon the globe, capable of sustaining three
times the population of the same space in any
other part of the world-no swamps, marshes,
no flooding of rivers, except in the vicinity of the
WabisiPlnica, and then only small distance, and
undoubtedly the most healthy country in the
world
| have never found an atmosphere 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
none of the rivers west of the great Lakes are
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 as it can be none richer. In the whole dis
lance did not see one half acre of useless or 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 as the Cedars, (ninety miles
west of the Mississippi considerable tracts of
good timber, bnt none beyond, to the Missouri,
and then very little till down TO Fort Leaven-
worth, and then only about three miles wide, and
sometimes none on the river; but Goals are abun-
dant, and the growth of timber so natural, that
without the fires, (Which now spread over the
whole prairie yearly, consuming every thing,) 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 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 vi
cniiy of Prairie du Chen and above, but, as
understand, rot below that place.
From the Mississippi to the Missouri the
streams can be bridged easily, and at small com
paratively expense, first rate materials being
abnndamt in the bluff which form the banks
The Missouri is very difficult stream to bridge
or navigate, its waters rapid, many shoals, Is 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, causes the
banks TO tumble into the river, and so on, until
new channel is made from one side Of the bottom
( to the other, rendering it almost impossible to
/ bridge anywhere below the entrance of the Calu-
met, but above which are two places Of rock and
one of gravel bed, where, too the bottoms, from
bluff to bluff, narrow, and a bridge may be
erected without difficulty and with safety
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