New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-13
HOW TO REACH CALIFORNIA.
A Rsute from santa Re TO the Pacific

discovery OF veins Of gold Of extraordinary rich
ness In the mountains bounding the Rio ella, and
an opinion OF bis that the route explored By II.
Col. Emory, 30 far as regards security from ban
ditti, is the most advisable, send you an outline
OF the route, CLEANED from that typographical Off
GERS journal as far as that point on the ella, or
at no great distance from it, where those mines
are supposed 70 exist The residue Of tie route
10 San Diego, on the Pacific will follow in day
or two D.. II.
On leaving Santa Pc Major Emorys party descended
the valley Of the Santa Fe River nearly west Tor FIVE
miles when they left the river and struck across an
arid plain, nsersected by dry beds Of streams in 4
south westerly course Twenty three miles brought
them to the Gssteo Creek at the dry mouth of which
and directly on the Del NoIte Il tho town OF santo Do
mingo. The valley Of the Del Norte at this point Is
represented being quite and the coil ssndy
Leaving Santo Domingo, they struck the highway in
about four miles and two more brought them 10 the
village Of San Felipe, the scenery about which is de
scrbed peculiarly romantic and beautiful Between
san Felipe and the Angosttras six miles below, tho
valley Of the river 10 very narrow, afordlng no Interval
for agriculture On the west side the banks steep
walls crowned by seams Of basslt forming the table
lands The east IL composed of rolling sand hs
rising gradually 10 the base Of the mountains and Gov
cred with large round pebbles. The height indicated
BY the IL 900 feet above the level OF the
Below the Angosturas, the valley OF the river opens
into plsin varying from two 20 six miles IN width
sufficiently low and level TO admit the water of the
river TO be carried !, for the purposes OF irrigation
but the soil is very sandy snd better adapted Indian
Corn than Wheat. Al the little town of Bornalo the
valley opens but narrows again al Zandis Indian
49, q If,I f,fafu g
the same name said to contain the precious metals
little farther the valley IL wide, well cultivated and
Astounding with grapes melons &c with swsrms Of
wild geese and sand latitude At this point 35e'
IL 50o Beyond this the valley suddenly contrse's
and on the east side of the river POI ncuy barren
Mai F-as.y describes the temperature to be delight
full varied occasionally by gentle breezes from the
SOUTH waiting along the perfumes Of the vineyards,
and suddenly changing TO winds from the east, that
drive the sand binding The cotton wood IL the pc
caliar growth Of this region At Albuquerque the Del
Nore 10 about twenty i've yards wide aud its deopes,
part about FIVE feet, The couatry around IL sandy des
titute Of wood and with little grsss but Astounding
with ssnd crane geese and brsnt Tho air On October
10 described elastic and fragrant ss Summer. Below
Tome for few miles the valley wideus, the soil i'm
proves, and the cultivation is superior to any other
part particularly that OF the rancheros around the
pPnfAnt little village OF hticu. khOit distance be-
yond s tho hamlet of satinal after which the settle
few and Tar between and at la Lloys at the
bend OF the Del Nortc low sand hills 1T either side
to unite and shut up the valley the river mpnging
close the hills 40 10 make II necessary, the west
erp side 10 mount the table lands At this point IL u
advisable leave the River Del Norte ana strike tor the
Gls. nearly due west Here the prospect is forbid
ding from the Sierra Lescadog opposite the amph
theatre ss far south the eye reach the west
side Of the river Is chain OF preciptous basaltic
mountains raversed by kes Of trsp through which
the traveller has 10 pass Specimens OF galena and cop
per very pure, found here and the mountain
Il 10 said. worked for gold Beyond this there
settlements On the road taken by Mai Emory
The land however he describes. as iscomparaby the
beet In New Mexco-thc valley broader the soil firm.
err and the growth of timber along the river larger and
more dense. The atmosphere very pure and dry.
la latitude 81 Al 10 the valley of the Del Norte Oses
what little capacity for agriculture II Possessed The
Chihuahus road the eastern side Of the river
and this part OF is the dreaded tornado of the ira
ders where they must go most sessons OF the year 20
rn-s without water though interpreted with great
variety Of vegetation all totally different, from that of
the United States The table lands reaching 10 the bss
VI the mountains TO the West of ssnd and large,
round pebbles. terminating in steep hills from halt IN
quarter of mile from tho river capped with seams
OF bssalt Advancing, the country becomes brokrr
and the valley into canon" which sweep.
the bsse OF Fra Cristcbel mountain Masking II reres
say 70 rise to the table lands the SIDE which
rsyerod by dry beds OF streams crowned by tasa
Here 1t wa found necessary by Major kmorys party
desert the aud have recoGrse 10 pack saddles
and mules They were S03 miles from Santa Re lrraa.
urcd along the rver) and had descended 500 ieei--
showing average fall In the Del Norte from tho camp
San Felipe of u feet per mile Their camp
in valley 10 or 100 sores Ia extent well grsssed and
wooded and apparently untrodden by the foo, of mar
Astounding in game. The thermometricsl exhibits are
Ia great cxtreres-the days being from - 10 soc and
the nights from % to 80
" After travelling three and half miles says Major
Emory we turned Of from the Del Norle. AFTER
mounting TO the table land some $50 feet shove the val
icy u 10 very level except where the table land 10 IN
dented by the streams from the mountains most of
which are now October l5) dry They passed two IN
succession both deep and wide enough 60 eontsin all
tne water OF the Msssspp aud present the appearance
Of the deserted beds Of large and turbulent rivers
On the table land the Winter gvams GRASP in grst
abundance, but now dry and sunburnt Far on TO the
south, between the peaks Of two high mounisins,
stretched the table land contiguous 10 the Del NOr,o
For the first time leaving the Arkansas the mirage
was seen and gave the wide opening the appearance Of
sheet OF water disturbed By the wind Below were |
green tees and luNursnt foliage, the indication OF
wster The stream WAS clear lmpd and cool the first 1
but one bad seen aimee crossing the whs 70
water could be drank without, imbibing due proper.
ton OF mud and sand Four nics farther brone hi Us
10 another creek OF clear wster running aud
about the sire OF mans waist In its valley were sny
large srses uproohed presenting the appearance Of
newly cleared ground
The country toward the Nimbrcs mountains IA ron.
Ing and trsversed By small streams of pure water
ffinged with stunted growth Of walnut i've OAK ana
ash The soi la TIE valleys and to the hill tops is Of
the best quality and mus, one day become a great
grazing country, particularly Tor sheep The pure dry
eminently adapted to ihem and they are said 10
be In ell New Mexico very prodein cases there
being two lambs At birth
The valley Of the Mimbres is described as being
ruly beauiifnl-aaosi mile wide Of rich fertile slL
iensely covered with cotton wood, walnut ash. &c.
Tth rapid, dsshing stream. about Is feet wide and
deep afordipg sufcent water for irrigation. and
in trout Tue route Is here westward
through succession OF hills and valleys. covered with
edar liveoak and long leafed pine. Ia the vsley Of
THAT 10 Supposed 70 be srm OF the Nmbres, there
~ come deserted copper mines These considered
be very rich both In copper and gold and the spsc
hens obtained by Major Emorys party sustained the
asertion We learned. says the Major that those
tho worked them made their fortunes but the Apsche
tribe OF lndisrs) did not like their proximity and
ne dsy turned out and destroyed the mining town, a
irving of the inhabitants. There the remains OF o
'me twenty or thirty sdobe houses and 6ftscn
sts linking into the earth The entire surface of the
ii into which they sunk 10 covered with iron
Irites and the red oxide of copper. Many veins al
tive copper were found but the principal Is the 6
lpharet Oas or two specimens OF silver ore were ~
10 obtained. Mr. Mcknight of the earliest sdven y
rers In New Mexico. the principal operator in =
ese mines and Il said to have snsssed an immense
rsape He 10 said have stated that the gold found
the ore sfthess minss paid all the expenses OF mining