Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-11-15

- 80 ~" 0SScWOISu. DeyOHu tHIS pass
the northern road would take north
western direction until II would strike the
waters OF the Columbia river, the course
OF which it would follow to the sea. Il is
impossible to say, from any information
now before us, whether this route is prac-
tlcahle or not. suppose it would be al
together possible 10 build Railroad upon
lt,--but there are so many objections TO the
plan OF construction which has been asso-
ciated with it, that Congress has hereto
fore failed to adopt it.
From the "Souih Pass" the line of the
central route takes south western direc-
ton to the Great Salt Lake from thence,
through the Great Basin to Humboldt's
river, the course Of which it follows until
that river loses itself in the sand; from
thence 10 the Sierra Nevada, where il is
proposed to cross the range, at pass near
the head waters Of the Salmon Trout river
on the eastern slope OF the Rio de los
.Hmericanos, on the western slope of the
mountains, and from thence TO San Fran
cisco. To my mind, the only difficulty
about this route, is at the point where it
would cross the Sierra Nevada. In l843,
Fremont passed from the head of the Sal
mon Trout riverto Suffers Fort, which is
situated upon the Rio de los .4mericanos.
He was number Of days in the mountains
found them covered with snow, and at
several places twp thousand feet higher
than the Rocky Mountains at the South
Pass, and more than nine thousand feet
above the sea. Since that time, howeye
wagon way has been discovered some
where in that vicinity, and, il is said that
emigrants to California are now crossing
there in great numbers. 1t is altogether
probable, therefore, that all difficulty in
regard to this point may be removed, when
we shall hear from the emigrants tho have
crossed this range during the past season.
On this side the Sierra Nevada, there is,
comparatively, no difficulty. Perhaps
there is no portion of the country where
Railroad can be more easily constructed
than from St. Louis to the eastern slope of
these mountains, by the way of the Kan
sas River, Fort Laramie, the ,"Sou,h
Pass, "the Salt Lake and Humboldt. river.
1t is proposed that the Southern route
shall pass from Memphis along the ranges
between the Arkansas and Canadian rivers
or south of the Canadian from thence 10
the Rio Grande until it reaches Passo del
.torte thence across the river TO we'll
known pass in the Sierra Madre; thence
south Of the Gila river, within the terrific
ry OF Mexico; thence to point near the
Gulf OF California thence to San Diego,
, passing the Sierra Nevada through The
level country which lies between the
Southern extremity Of The mountains and
the sea, and from thence up the San Joa.
| quin Valley to San Francisco. Taking
/ into consideration all the elements which
enter into the estimate in the construction
OF railroad, this is perhaps, the mos,
practicable route heretofore propose ed: ye
not enoughis known of this 10 justify any.
thing more than the belief that it is prac.
'icable. From what has been said BY
those who have passed over the most diff.
cult portions Of it, think there is very
little doubt but that it furnishes COCO
| route for road. Yet there is one imped.
iment in the way. A portion of it-tha,
which is south Of the Gila river--passes
through the territory of Mexico, and we
could not occupy this territory withou,
the consent of the Mexican Government.
Whether the right Of way could be obtain
ed or not, there are very few, presume
who have any means of knowing. l sup
pose the Government would have no diff.
Guilty in securing this right, If it shall be
found to be the most practicable route
Perhaps the Government of Mexico would
be willing TO grant it without compensa-
| ton, because OF the commercial advantages
TO herself. Our recent intercourse with
people Of that country has not only i'm
pressed them with the superiority of our
military power, but with our great intelli
gence and unexampled enterprise.
Whilst it is, beyond all question, true
that not enaugh is yet known of either Of
these routes to justify a selection between
them, al this time, yet, 10 my mind, it is
equally true, that, ifthe Government shall
resolve 10 do SO and shall go energctically
to work, road may be built upon either
Of them, in less than ten years-perhaps
in fve. What is there in the elevation Of
mountains or in the depth of valleys, te
stop the progress of such a people as we
are? Where is there 10 be found an i'm.
pediment, which our industry, our enter.
prise and our intellect cannot overcome
We were, but the other day., a mere hand
full of people, driven, by persecution, from
the old world, and seeking. upon the des.
ert rock Of Ply mouth, TO dedicate a temple
to civil and religious freedom in the new
The charter of human rights, which on,
pilgrim fathers spoke into being, upon the
little Mayhower, contained within il
the germ OF our present greatness. Il
gave life and vigor and energy to every
effort of their lives. We have built upor
it the proudest and noblest structure O
government, the world ever saw;--a gov
eminent whose egis is broad enough ane
strong enough TO protect the whole human
family from wrong. We have been vic,
torious in three wars, and successful in
all the pursuits of peace. We have ex.
tended our dominions from sea to sea, and
our commerce 10 every, portion of The
globe. We have made the desert to bios
som as the rose. We have amazed the
whole world at the progress Of our intel
!igenoe, our virtue and our enterprise
And now, when we are nation Of tween.