Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-04-13

and thence to the Bay of San Francisco
This route traverses the Great Basin, pre-
senting three different lines, which you
will find indicated on the map. Repeated
journeys have given me more or less know
ledge of the country along these lines, and
l consider all of them practicable, although
the question of preference remains TO be
settled. The Northern line is that of the
Humboldt river, which, although DETECTING
from the direct course to the Bay, COM
mands in IFS approach to the mountains
several practicable passes, the lowest Of
which is only 1900 feet above the sea.
The Southern line, which in crossing the
Basin has not the same freedom from OBJ
struction enjoyed by the open river line Of
the North, is still entirely practicable, and
possesses the advantage of crossing the ST.
ezra Nevada at a remarkably low dhpres-
sion, called Walkers Pass, more commonly
known as the Point of The .Nountoias, and
being in fact termination OF one of the
mountains which 90 from that chain.
This pass is near the 35th degree of lati-
tude and near the head of the beautiful and
fertile valley of the San Joaquin, which the
road thence would follow down TO its Juno
tion with the Sacramento or to some point
on the Bay. This route defects to the
South about as much as the other does to
the North, but secures good way, and
/ finds no obstacle from the Sierra, turning
thai mountain where it has sunk down
nearly to the level of the country. Among
the recent proceedings of the California
Legislature, resolutions were introduced in
favor of bringing in the railway at this
| post.
The third line, which is the middle and
/ direct line, and that TO which ! gave de-
cldcd preference, is less known to me than
either of the others but believe fully in
its practicabIity, and only see, as the prin-
cipal obstacle TO be overcome, is the Great
Sierra itself, which it would strike near its
centre. That obstacle is not considered in
surmountab!e, nor, in the present state of
railway science, sufficient TO turn Us from
the direct route. A pass is known as indi-
Gated by the hne upon the map, which la
Dor would render practicable Other pas
seS are also known, TO the north and south !;
and if tunnelling become necessary, the
structure of the mountains is such as allow
tunnels TO be- used with the greatest advan-
tage. Narrow places are presented where
opposite gorges approach each other, and a
wall of some two or three thousand feet
often separates points which may not be
more than quarter or half mile apart at
its base base. Ii will also be remembered
that the Great Basin, east of the Sierra Ne
vada, has a general elevation of over four
thousand feet, so that the mountain would
be approached on the cast at that elevation,
and on the west the slope is wide, though
descending to near the level of tide water.
The foregoing remarks embody all the
general information am now able to give
upon this line. The first section oft, from
the Missouri frontier TO the head Of the Del
Norte, is explored and needs nc further re-
connoisance. 1t is ready for the location
of the road by practical engineer. The
second and third sections require further
explorations, to determine, not upon prac-
ticability, but upon the preferences due to
one over the others.
A party of 300 men, skillfuIly directed,
with the assistance Of three or four pract-
cal road engineers, would be sufficient TO
lay out the whole routes, and clear and
open a common road in the course of the
next Spring and Summer, so as to be passa-
bic for wagons and carriages, and as rapidly
traversed as any of the common roads in
. the U. States.
The obstacles which have not mention
ed are, the winter impediment of SHOWS.
and the temporary one from the hostility of
indians. The latter can be surmounted by
military stations, sending out military pa
trolls to clear and scour the line. The SHOWS
are less formidable than would be supposed
from the great elevation of the central part
of the route.
They are dry and more readily passed
through, are thin in the valleys, and re-
+. main on them only during a very brie
: winter. The winter of my last expedition
was one OF unprecedentedly deep and carly
SHOWS, yet IN the valley of the Kansas anc
: Arkansas, it was thin; in the valley of Hu.
j eriano, none; and in the valley of the Del
: Norte, at the end of November, but few
e inches deep. Even in this severe winter
on the 9th of December, at the greatest ele-
i vation crossed by the eastern section of the
9 line-being in the narrow pass between
= the Arkansas and Del Norte, the snow wa
: only three feet deep; the Thermometer a
o Zero near midday. The weather in thesC
d high mountains and deep vallies is of {
I character adapted to such localIties-ex
J, tremely cold on the mountains, while tenn
r perate in the valleys. | have seen it storm
e ing for days together on the mountains in {
}. way TO be destructive to all animal life eX'
e posed TO it, while in the valley there would
Is be pleasant sunshine, and the animals feed
II ing ON nutritious grass. Beyond the Rocky
d Mountains, the cold is less, and the snow
become a less and more transient obstacle
e These are my views of route for th'
e road or roads, IA common one is first want
a ed,) from the Mississippi; TO the Pacific. |
J, fulflls, in my opinion, all the conditions 0
= route for a national ihoroughtare.
d LIST. Ii is direct. The course rs almost
n straight line, from end to end. St. Louis i
v between $3.50 San Francisco is abou
the jame the route is between these paral