The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-04-26

seq elmer IN the Alps or the HImalaya.
Their naked rocky SUBMITS are grouped
into numerous peaks, which rise from the
midst of black piney forests, whence issue
many small streams to the valley below.
Following by an open wagon way the
valley of the Huerfano. the road reaches
the immediate foot Of the mountain, at the
entrance of remarkable pass, almost eve
ry where surrounded by bold, rocky noun
tain masses. From one foot Of the noun
talns to the other, the pass is about five
miles long; level valley from 200 to 400
yards wide, the mountain rising abruptly
on either side. With scarcely distin-
guishable rise from the river plains, the
road here passes directly through or be-
tween the mountains, emerging III the open
valley of the Del Norte, here some 40 or
80 miles broad or more properly a contin-
uation northward Of the valley in which
the Del Norte runs. Crossing this fiat
country, or opening between the mountains,
and encountering no water course IN its
way, the road would reach the en-
trance Of pass in the Colorado noun
tains, famiiary known to the New Mexi-
cans and Indian traders who arc accustom-
ed to traverse it at all seasons of the year,
and who represent it as conducting to the
waters of the Colorado river through a
handsome rolling grass-covered country,
and afording practicable wagon routes.
This section Of the route, so far as the
entrance TO this pass, covering twelve
degrees of longitude, am able to speak of
from actual exploration, and to say that the
| line described is net on y practicable, but
affords many and singular facilities for the
construction Of a railway, and offers many
advantages in the fertile and wooded coun-
try through which it lies in the greater
part of its course.
In the whole distance there is not an ell
ovation worthy Of the name to be surmoun-
ted; and level Of about 5000 feet is gain
ed almost without perceptible ascent. Up
the Kansas and Huerfano river valleys the
country is wooded and watered; the valley
Of the Del Norte is open, but, wood is abun-
dant in the neighboring mountains. and land
fit for cultivation is found almost contnu-
ously along the water-courses from the
mouth Of the Kansas to the head Of the
valley Of the Del Norte.
A Journey undertaken in the winter Of
1s4S-49, land interrupted here by enter
ing more to the southwark the rugged
mountain of St. Johns, one of the most
impracticable on the continent was inten-
ded to make correct examination Of this
pass, and the country beyond, 10 the rim
Of the Great Basin. The failure Of this e1-
pediton leaves only for this middle portion
of ourline such knowledge as we have been
able to obtain from trappers and Indian
traders. The information thus obtained
had led me TO attempt IFS exploration, as all
accounts concurred in representing it prac-
ticable for road; and the information thus
obtained was considered to be sufficiently
reliable.
| According to this information the same
structure Of the country to which have
called your attention above, as forming a
system among mountains, Lolds good; and
| accordingly found no difficulty in believ-
ing that the road would readily avoid any
obstacles which might be presented in the
shape Of mountain ranges, and easily reach
the Basin.
In pronouncing upon the practicability
of a road through this section. proceed
1poh my general knowledge of the face Of
the country, upon information received
from hunters and residents in New Mexi-
CO, and upon the established fact, that il
has not only been travelled, but at all sea.
sons, and is one of the travelling routes from
New Mexico to California.
The third section Of the map is from the
Wahsatch Mountain to the Sierra Nevada
and thence 10 the Bay of San Francisco
This route traverses the Great Basin, pre-
sentng three different lines, which you
will find indicated on the map. Repeated
journeys have given me more or less
knowledge of the country along the lines
and consider all of them practicable. al
though the question Of preference remains IL
, be settled. The northern line is that o
the Humboldt river, which, although de
fectiYe from the direct course Of the bay
commands in its approach to the mountains
several practicable passes, the lowest 0
WulCu 10 OHIJ t,COO lCCl uoOES tHC FSd.
The southern line, which in crossing tn,
, basin has not the same freedom from oh
struction enjoyed by the open river line 0
, the north, is still entirely practicable, ant
! possesses the advantage Of crossing th'
, Sierra Nevada at remarkably low depres
sion, called Walkers Pass, more common
> " known as the Point of the Mountain. ant
. being in fact a termination Of one of tn
mountains which go from that chain.
i This pass is near the 35th degree Of Ia
E titude, and near the head of the beautifu
e and fertile valley of San joaquin, which tn
E road thence would follow down to its juno
: ton with the Sacramento or to some poin
+ on the bay. This route defects to tn
1 south as much as the other does to TIL
n north, but secures good way, and find
r no obstacle from the Sierra, turning tha
d mountain where it has sunk down nearl,
S to the level of the country. Among tn
: recent proceedings of the California Legis
: lature, resolutions were introduced in favo
E of bringing in the railway at this pass.
S The third line, which is the middle an
e direct line, and that to which have de
r cided preference, is less known to me tha
Il * -. I,.t L. r.