The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-12-21
GEN. ARBUCKLE's LETTER.
HEAD QUARTERS, 7rH Mil. DEPT
Fl. Smith, NoU. 2Oth, 1913.

| GEN. ARBUCkLES LETTER.
HEAD QUARTERS, 7TH Mil. DEPT. !
Fl. Smith, Non. Goth, 1913.
Dear Sir have received your note of the
9Th ultlmo, requesting information as TO the
best route on this frontier to California, which
would have been complied with Immediately
had time and circumstances permitted.
now avail myself of the earliest convenient op-
portunity to give you such information as
possess In relation to this subject.
do not entertain doubt, but that, upon an
impartial examination, this would be found to
De the best point for emigrants going to New
Mexico and California, to assemble, and make
preparations for their journey, as every thing
necessary for their transportation and subsis-
tence can be procured as cheap here, and with
as great facility, as at any other point. There
are many other advan tages which it possesses,
the most important of which, is that its loca-
ton may be considered at the head of naviga-
ton of the most important river in the State,
where steamboats, can reach for a considerable
period of each year. In connection with these
considerations, it is we'll ascertained that the
route from this place is the nearest that can be
found from our frontier to New Mexico and
California.
All the information have been able TO OBJ
tain convinces me, that road should be laid
out from this point to the head branches of
WashIta river, distance of about three hun
dred and fifteen miles; and which is nearly the
direct route to our newly ACQUIRED territories.
1t is believed this road should pass entirely on
the south of the Canadian river, and approach
near to it, opposite Chouteau's trading house,
which Is located on the north side of the river,
and but short distance from it. This belief
is based upon personal observation, in con nee
tion with information obtained from some of
the most experienced explorers. This route
would be freer from distractions, by water
courses, than any other that can De selected
II Will pass through country that, in a few
years, will probably furnish all supplies nee
essary for the subsistence and comfort of trav-
eiers from the head waters of the Washita, the
proposed route would run over a prairie coun-
try, gently undulating, and well suited for a
good road, intersecting Gregg's course on his
return from Santa Ee to the United States,
about sixty or eighty miles from the Washita,
and continuing with it to the table lands on
the western border of the plalns-in all dis
lance OF about one hundred and sixty five
miles-leaving the ''Pilot Hills 10 the south
These table lands are reported to be very fer
tile, and to afford sufficient wood and water
Tor considerable settlement. Here the di
rect route to California would leave Gregg's
trail, and incline slightly to the south of west
for distance of about seventy miles, to the
Pacos-an eastern branch of the Rio Del Norte, |
proceeding on the same course about eighty |
miles, TO La Joya, village situated upon the |
Del Norte, and which is believed to be the pro |
per point at which to cross that river on the |
most direct practicable route to California.
have availed myself of the most reliable |
maps In computing the distances on the route l
have described, which makes the distance from |
this place to La Joya, on the Del Norte, six |
hundred and thirty miles; being, at least two |
hundred and fifty miles less agreeable to the |
calculations of our Typographical Officers,
than the route from Independence, Missouri. |
1t is true, have computed the distance from
this point to the Del Norte, by the maps; yet,
from the nature of the ground upon which the |
road would run, its winnings would not, ii is |
believed, increase the distance more than thir-
ty or forty miles, at farthest-still making ii |
more than two hundred miles shorter than the |
Missouri route. In addition to this, the travel
would commence on this route at least one
month sooner than on that, as il runs through |
a much warmer latitude, and vegetation is
much earlier, consequently. The truth is, the |
advantages of this route, over all others, are so
and important that it would extend
this Extraordinarily too lang-to attempt to
point them out. 1t is always prudent, how
ever, before such an important work should BIZ
for the route TO be thoroughly ex-
aminHd, by the most experienced Engineers
very respectfully, your 90 L SeFN |,
M. ARBUCKLE, Brig. Gen. U. S. 4.
To JOHN F. WHEELER,
Editor Fort Smith Herald
ADDITIONAL DEPORTATION ON THE SAME SUB
JECT.-We publish in to-day paper, letter
from Maj b. L. E. Bonneville, U. S. Army, to
the editor of this paper, on the subject of the
proposed road TO California. Maj. B. is well K
known in this section of the country, that any
thing coming from his pen will be received as
authe ntic, and in every respect worthy of con-
idence. His long residence on this frontier,
enables him to speak wit h certainty Of the suPe
rior advantages of the route up the Canadian;
greater portion of the distance he is we'll ac-
luainted with, and as he was engaged two or
hree years in exploring the country between
mere and the Rocky Mountains, and greater
portion of Oregon, he is, therefore, well ac
luainted with the Geography of the country.
lie knows all The streams and their sources
The route marked ont by him, is up the north
ork of the Canadian, on the south side, which
le considers to be far the best ground over
which the road should pass, as it is free from
and large streams, which is not the
,ase on the north side of the river. The diff
u al hl