The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26

Na:s tss!illIy Il ~ undertaking 'Asss ~ ~;
sess wAs % net yet sslevs the. yssssl. ssa :sSss
s 81: ss e: ..I S.s ss a. sn IT, g.
.aston eal be transmitted hundreds Of miles In z
iecond 70 any one who believes that. such
;inss. are, the completion OF Wh!Ineys fas!roaa'
lsanuc as il is, will seem very easy matter.
fhs following Is description OF the two routes
suggested by Mr. Whitney,
SOUTH PASS
Leave Council Bluffs. Missouri thence proceed
N straight line pthe river Platte; thence through
the Sonih Pass 10 Green river; thence south
ward pia Muddy creek 10 Bear river thence RIA
Salt hike TO Casha river, bearing norlhward until
yea strike the main south branch OF the Column
bia river; thence down the Columbia, until you
reach Fort Bosie; thence pursue the Great kamin,
until you reach the plains of the Wallah Wallah
thence down the plains 10 the dells OF the Column
bla thence down the Columbia ria the cascades
to Vancouver, (or from the valley of the Wallah
Walah, neatly as direct route TO the mouth OF
the Columbia, as across the valley by way OF the
Fuca Sound The distance on this route Qrom
Council Blufis) is about ZOO miles.
DESCRIPTION. the Bluffs 10 the River Platte,
the country is nearly level, and the soil hard and
compact, with few intermediate impediments,
such as knobs, rivulets, &c. from the Platte to
Green river, the country is also comparatively le-
vel, and the soil freely mixed with sand from
Green river to Bear river the country is rough and
billy, with here and there deep ravines from fifty to
one hundred feet IN width al the top. These cross
can be obtained easily, and with as liltle cost
direct as by tortuous course. IL would be neces-
sary 10 cross Muddy Greek, perhaps, score times
before reaching Bear River; but its width is less,
and seldom over one hundred feet. From Bear
River 10 Casha River, the route is more level, the
country beng similar to that between the river
Plalte and the Green River. After nteysecting
with the south branch of the Columbia River, the
route 70 Fort Bosie is rough and the country billy
and full OF ravines. The soil the entire distance
ls a continuous bed OF sand. The route by way of
the kamln is level, and easy of pursuit; that
through the Wallah Waah valley being still more
SO, until you reach the dells of the Columbia,
when the country becomes again hilly and uneven.
The ravines at this point, however. are not so
numerous. After connecting with the Columbia,
the route by way OF the cascades, Is rough as also
the route by way of Fuca Sound.
Snow begins 10 fall about the 30th OF November,
and continues fall until late in March. Its great
est aggregate depth Is five teet-seldom over six
feet In body 1t is light and dry. but seldom drifts.
The ground during three months is covered from
the South Pass TO Salt Lake, at about the depth
stated, the distance being $50 miles.
NORTH PASS.
Leave mouth OF M'kenZle's River; thence ND
Mkenzle's River to the Yellow Stone thence up
the Yellow Stone to twenty-five yard River ;
thence up Twenty-Five yard River to Three Forks
OF Missouri RIVER; up Jefferson Fork to the
Source ;sthence through the Coudney Country and
Flat Head Country to the plains of O'Kenaugeu
thence to the main branch of the Columbia River
above Wallah Wallah Valley; thence direct to
IuSut SOUND, AT which 1.-THE route terminates. DIS
tance about 1900 or 1000 miles,
Hescy1ptton.-From mouth of M'Kenzie's River
to the Yellow Stone, the country hily, and full
OF ravlncs, with number of small streams inter-
spersed at intervals The course is otherwise dl-
rect. From Yellow Stone to Twenty-Five Yard
Creek, you pursue beautiful level plain, which
terminates at the head of Jefferson Fort. From
the source OF Jefferson Fork, you enter well TIM
bcred country, comparatively level, which coni-
nues until you reach the plains of O'kenaugeu,
which are extremely level, and the soil hard and
productive. After crossing the Columbia River,
above the Wallah Wallahs, you pursue a hilly
country until you reach the Cascade Ranges, when
the route becomes more even and direct, and the
face OF the country less broken.
On the South route, little timber is to be had :,
bui IN this, timber grows in abundance. The snow
falls and continues during the same months of the
year, and increases TO about the same depth Wa
ter Is plentiful is also tho case on the Southern
route. 1t is also the opinion that the railroad
should start at Lake Michigan and thence by
M'kenZie's River
The whole project is now before committee ..of
The House of Representatives, who intend 10 report
ilvorab!y upon il almost Immediately, and leave
the selection of either the North or South pass to
me House. OMEGA.