The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-07
Route TO acknowledgements Of the Govern

Route to acknowledgements Of the Govern
mcat
We are indebted to Col McClemore for the following
interesting letter of Senator Borland of Arkansas with
its various enclosures. We hasten TO lay them before
our readers
WASHINGTON, February ?, ls49.
DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiries concerning the
emgraung party from Arkansas to California, which
Will set OIL about the of April next herewith enclose
you communication from the Adjuant General, cover
ing copy oil letter OF instructions General Arbucke,
WIN which he has been kind enough to furnish me.
From this, you Will see that of troops has been
ordered to accompany this party at least far Santa
Fe. In conneXon with this expedition Also as YOU will
officer OF Typographical engineers has been ORDER
ed TO make reconnaissance OF the route travelled and
report &c. need not remark upon the advantages this
action of the government will confer upon the exped-
hon-n afordng security to all who may desire avail
themselves of this opportunity to visit arthes west
ern possessions But the great benefit to the country
anticipate from the movement is the settlement in
part at least, OF the mooed question, Whie rs the short
est and best route TO CALIFORNIA?
Herewith ! send you, Also slips from the Fort Smith
Herald consisting OF editorial of that paper and the
circular OF the leaders of the emgntng party These.
doubt not will be read with interest by all who desire to
go to California; and you the statements alike
Of the editorial and the circular may be confidently relied
upon.
| will add, that at this time, and from this until
late in the spring summer, Fort Smith is entirely
accessible on steamboats, of good size and excel
lent accommodations by way OF the Arkansas river.
To this add the estimate of only hundred days for
the overland travel from Fort Smith to San Francisco,
which consider very reasonable, and will be found
that this route already compares favoably to time,
with any other proposed route And when the certainty
and safety OF this expedition, together with the saubrty
of the country and climate through which will pass,
further considered its advantages and inducements to
emgrants strike the mind in admirable contrast with
those of any and every other. The trip from almost any
portion of the middle States Fort Smith
be made with entire convenience and comfort steam
boats and railroads within three tDeekS arthes Thus
only hundred and t,psnty days four months will be
sufficient to place the emgrant, from the most distant
point in the United States, San Francisco; and that too
over route which, for safety, certainty and freedom
from disease, has no rival Who would expect to reach
San Francisco by way of the isihmus of Panama,
regarded the most expeditions and almost the only
route within time much shorter than have estimated
for the other especially when the almost inevitable delay
at Panama. waiting for transportation considered and
encounterng, at the same time, the discomiors and
pes of sea-voyage Tor distance of at least fifteen
hundred miles, from New Orleans TO Chagres, and
co-to say nothing of the hazards of the general in
salubry of the tropics to unclmatized persons, and
the particular Peshlenal atmosphere OF Chagrcs--and
leaving out of the account the troublesome and
free from all these very serious and to many persons
nsuperable Oblecons while over the more northern
overland route from Independence heretofore generally
travelled, to Santa Fe, it has the very important and de-
sirable advantages of shorter distance by about 100
milesof earlier for grass upon the praiTies)
of about three weeks-o supplies OF and other pro-
visions for about 200 miles the way-and OF abun
dance of wood and water the whole distance
As have received many letters of inquiry similar to
your own from various portions of the country, and
you may, you think proper, make this, with its enclo-
sures public for the information of all who may desire
such information as it conveys
am very respectfully and truly Iy yours Bon, ANN
COL JNo c. McCLEMoRE, Washington city