The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-10
Vor this IToiou
The whitney Route and the Gil. HouIe for a Rail-
road tn he


gan TO the mouth of the Columbia river, has received
extraordinary favor from the public Many legislatures
OF States have committed themselves TO decided APP
prevail and recommendation. Ii is the visionary scheme
of gentleman who believe, has never passed over any
considerable part Of the proposed route Having that
advantage over him, and perfectly dsinerested, will
consider IN one two points OF view, which will be
sufficient TO prove lis impracticabily. The hrst-on
which shall not dwell-is, that il proposes road of
some $500 miles without settlement but al the
tremliles.
But lei consider a moment the geology of our
ocean bounded territory. The Rocky mountains is the
great divide" OF the northern continent Its slopes
throw the waters TO the east and for a great
extent but also, at It's extremltes, 10 the north
and south. The Allegheny mountains a second
airy range, which, with like confguraiion, perform
The Office for the Atlantic district; and Ike
these, but lofty, the Snowy mountains fulfil
the same condition for the Pacific district he Misss
slppl and Colorado draining the great intermediate val
ieys) NOW, The Whitney route would attempt the
Rocky mountains near lis central magnitude, where IFS
base lis nver heads from 900 5000 feet above
the Mississippi at St Louis. But the Rio Grande marks
on the southern boundary Of New Mexico, We might
calculate upon It's arriving al great depression Again
the Pacllc range extending into Oregon assumes the
rregularly always characteristic OF districts OF volcanic
formation. There we find vast and confused wilder
ness OF basac mountains the rivers, with excessive
crookedness, have found or made vertical channels, cut
thousand feet below the surface The thirsty traveller
looks down upon water unavailable and tanalizng
the mirage OF the desert But give the literal truth
and for many hundreds of miles beyond the ridge OF the
barren Now, is, il all probable that railroad will
eosr pass over 500 or 600 miles Of such country
The problem, then, is, to AVOID or more easily over
come these two mountain ranges. Does the Pacific
slope sufficiently towards the south, like the Rocky
and Allegheny mountains
When that great and honorable man, General Kearny,
after his conquest of New MeScoas bold as bloodess-
was disappointed owing 10 the death OF Col Allen. in
the timely arrival of 500 infaniry-the Momons-ayoid
ing the delays which spoil many enterprises he form
ed the heroic determination TO throw himself INTO Cali
DRAGONS. these
soon afterwards reduced to 100 sabreshe pushed for
ward by the nearest line TO the OF the ella, and
followed II for bunireds of miles abrupt
tans rough with rocks, finding his passage very difficult
for pack muesas difficult as the SHOWS and preclpces
OF The northern route 10 Caliomla-a much rauned dis
covery-by which we returned TO the United States
tie communicated 10 whom he had appointed 10 lead
The 500 infantry the information OF the excessive obsta
ces OF hs route and with characteristic forecast and ex
panSlon Of views, urged the advice 10 attempt the dis
coyery OF better by which could and should
take with wagons the Pacihche set hi. superfu
guides 10 exporting with orders TO meet and join
He encouraged me by dwelling the idea OF the great
Importance aud credit Of the task
Thus ADVISED and urged at some risk had the fortune
to discover that the mountains do slope of, that,
little TO the north OF FL Paso they nearly lost IN high
plains; and these, 80 miles TO the south OF
The mountainous OF the upper CHA, made wagon
road and took wagon tram al nearly the average rate
Of infantry marches OF this route made careful TO-
biographical sketch, until fell upon the ella Ii has
been found TO correspond with remarkable accuracy with
points established by observations BY MAJOR Emory, and
document 1t indicates that probably great improve
nent can be made, which would shorten the route some
% miles The country had never been passed over by
whites from east TO west and being very deficient IN
wafer, of course II could not be thoroughly explored
with iootmen and wagon tram
My map Is also 10 be found separate IN House Ey. Doc
No A. accompanied by my military report II was prob
ably intended by those who called Tor these reports IN the
wo houses OF Congress, that my official journal should
rave been gwen better Calculating the nature OF the
country and oadtand might possibly have been found
more useful and Interesting than an equal number 0!
lages OF figures in those documents II is necessary
The principal OF the ithogaph IN the
House document, rendered important by the omission OF
he parallels OF latitude and longitude The point marked
.22" miles below Santa Fe should be 22s miles
After striking the ella river. difficulty for railroad
occurs for 800 miles When arriving within about 100
niles Of San Diego the spurs OF the southern slope OF
he Pacific range (S'era Nevada) are encountered but
instead OF the perpetual SHOWS volcanic labyrinth of
broken mountains, which everywhere the north pre-
sent barriers impossible by railroad, found only hills
md from the main ridge 'divide, which has smooth
oI, there to be seen on the 2lst OF Janu
Try the highest points IN view
By this road the distance from the Rio Grande was s37
niles 10 San Diego, which has well known excellent
larbor.
great advantage OF this route is, that il embraces so
much less unsettled and much less barren country
han the northern; and IN the military, II not thoroughly
rational view, OF It's linking New Mexico with the Fast
md the West
The objection may be raised. that it passes through
portion OF Mexican territory. This will not prove very
treat difficulty: il one which anticipated and
provided against for a common road right of way in
he late treaty without the weighy consideration that
abroad would prove the only efec,ua barrier 10 the at
acks Mexico by the predatory Indians to the north
But this stipulation made with such ignorance
Of localities, that traveller on mule cannot ride
through TO California without passing It's limitations
As 10 the location OF railroad to the east OF the Rio
Irande-over a country much better known, and OF
which examinations are now making, or about to be |
made and where sectional interests will exert lnfu- |
,nce-l shall make but few observations
Doubtless several routes will have their advocates
abroad from independence Missouri by Santa Fe or Its
vicinity through the valley OF the Rio Gande, the heart
,f New Mexico ii is known would lead over country,
with little exception remarkably level; over which, |
hough unworked upon wagons bearing three tons pass
with great expedition.
Others may advocate Memphis, Tennessee, for the
eastern terminus This would have the advantage OF
he level valleys of the Arkansas and Canadian rivers;
and would pass directly towards Ell Paso not far
rom which the road must leave the Rio Grande those
satisfied with the precarous navigation OF the Ar
kansas may prefer Van Buren, for the commencement OF
he road
The valleys of some Of the Texan rivers particularly
he Colorado) eminently worthy OF consideration
But would suggest the idea of the praciicabty and
advantage OF navigation by the Rio Grande through
is valley FL Paso itself Above the head of steamboat
know of obstacle TO very easily con-
stTucted canal
Very respectfully,
2. ST GEO. COOKE,
Major I'd Dragons
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. q.
rive do not wish TO be involved IN elaborate
discussion upon the subject OF western railroad at
ime when the proceedings of Congress beginning to
,ress upon US. Blu, Mr. Whitney may wish 10 reply
o Major Cooke, he shall have the OF col
Imns in point of dimension, have allowed to the
above article.-UNIoSl