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


this rugged region. As this popularity IN
the country forms the basis of my informa-
ton, desire to state it clearly at the out
set, IN order that l might be more readily
understood in proceeding to show that this
continent can be crossed, from the Missls-
slppi to the Pacific, without climbing a
mountain, and on the very line which
every national consideration would require
TO connect the great valley Of the west
with the Pacific Ocean.
In describing the belt of country through
which the road should pass, it will be
found convenient to divide the entire line
from the mouth of the Kansas TO the head
of the Del Norte the Middle, from the
head of the Del Norte to the rim of the
Great Basin and the Western, from the
rim of the Great Basin to the Ocean. Be-
ginning near the 30th parallel of latitude,
at the mouth of thr Kansas, the road would
extend along the valley of that river some
three or four hundred miles, traversing a
beautiful and wooded country of great fer
tilty of soil, well adapted to settlement and
cultivation. From the upper waters OF the
Kansas, falling easily over into the valley
of the Arkansas, the road strikes that river
about a hundred miles below the foot OF the
mountains, continuing up it only to the
mouth of the Hueriano river. From this
point the prairie plans sweep directly up
to the mountains, which dominate them as
! highlands to the Ocean. The Huertano Is
one of the upper branches Of the Arkansas,
and following the line of this stream the
road would here enter country magniii-
Gently bcautiful-timbered, having many
bays or valleys of great fertility having a
mild and beautiful climate having through
out the valley country short winters, which
spend their force in tha elevated regions of
| the mountains. The range of mountains in
which this stream finds its head springs is
distinguished by having its SUBMITS almost
constantly cnveloped in clouds of rain or
snow, from which it obtains its name Of
Sierra Moiada, or Wet Mountain. This
chain is rema kahle among the Rocky
! Mountain ranges for the singular grandeur
OF ITS winter scenery, which has been char
act"rized by travellers whc have seen both,
as unsurpassed either in the Alps or the
HumaayaS. 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 wa
gon way the valley of the Hueriano, the
road reaches the immediate foot Of the
mountain at the entrance of remarkable
pass, almost every where surrounded by
bold, rocky mountain masses. From one
foot of the mountains TO the other, the pass
is about five miles long a level valley from
two to four hundred yards wide, the noun
tain rising abruptly on either side. With
scarcely a dStnguishable rise from the
river plains, the road here passes directly
through or between the mountains, emerg-
ing in the open valley et the Del Norte,
here some forty or fifty miles broad, or
more properly a continuation northward OF
the valley in which the Del Nortc runs
Crossing this flat country, or opening be-
tween the mountains, and encountering no
water course in its way, the road would
reach the entrance of a pass in the Colorado
mountains, famiiarly known to the New
MeXicans and Indian traders who are ac-
customed to traverse ii at all seasons of the
year, and who represent it as conducting 10
the waters OF the Colorado river through a
handsome rolling grass-covered country,
and afiording practicable wagon routes.
This section of the route, so far as the
entrance to this pass, covering twelve de-
grees OF longitude, / am able to speak Of
from actual exploration, and to say that the
line described is not only practicable, 5u'
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 par
OF its course.
In the whole distance there is not an ele
vation, worthy of the name, to be sur
mounted and level, of about 5000 feet
is gained almost without perceptble ascent
Up to the Kansas and Huerano river val
leys, the country is wooded and watered
the valley of the Del Norte is open, bu
wood is abundant in the neighboring noun
.. tans, and land fit for cultivation is fount
f almost continuously along the water cour
ses, from the mouth of the Kansas to tht
head of the valley of the Del Norte.
A journey, undertaken in the winter o
t 1S4S-49, (and interrupted here by entering
more to the southwark, the rugged noun
! tain of ST. Johns, one the most impracti
cable on the continent,) was intended t
make correct examination OF this pass an'
, the country beyond to the rim Of the Grea
$ Basin. The failure OF this expedition
5 leaves only for this middle portion of ou
f line such knowledge as we have been abb
: to obtain from trappers and Indian traders
. The information thus obtained had led IN
D to attempt its exploration, as all account
: concurred in representing it practicable 70
b a road and the information thus obtaine
: was considered to be sufficiently reliable.
: According 10 this information, the sam
: structure of the country to which | hav
: called your attention above, as forming
Y system among the mountains, holds gooc
: and ! accordingly found no difficulty in be
IS lieving that the road would readily avoi
e any obstacles which might be presented i
y the shape of mountain ranges, and easl
| raach Tho Rasin rE rf..