The Nevada journal., 1851-11-06
From the ST. Louis Republican.
TIE PiGIPi1 RNLRliO-iL LGrPaR rnou
CO... BENTON.

The President o. tAc Pacific Rail
road Company has placed the following
letter from Col. Benton in our hands
for publication:
Washington, Jnly so. 1851
To NeSvs I&omaS Ai'ea. Jlmev r. Lucas,
james L. fe1tmaa, Hu is1D L, Drjdgc.
4 and Edr1rJ Harea, C0mmHtcs Of The
Da7fJ Of EHect0rS Of Me-PaaGc Rail
road Compang.
GESTLEMEN / did not receive your
invitation to he present at the con-
meNcement OF your great work i'll time
to answer it for the day. TO attend l
could not, even II the time had been
longer, is reasons connected with the
state CT Ms. Bcnton's LualtA. and m
occupation of my own, put it ont Of
my power to return to 81. Louis before
September.
take great interest in the success
Of The road Of which yoi make a be-
ginning. Il IS the central roa,c, and
every national consideration requires
it 10 be made, and with the AID OF the
National Government. St. Louis, San
Francisco, and Washington city are
on a line, and that line is through the
heart and centre of the Union. and
tie eyes Of the Federal Government
should be fixed upon it. Cdhappi!y,
they seem to be fixed upon Southern
sectional route, hardly within the limits
Of the United States. l send TO the
address Of the President and Directors
Of your Company dozen copies OF Il
docri9ent Just ;-;.;nted, being a report
OF seven Uinerent Yeconnoiss2nces for
Southern IL 1aso route 10 San
Franeisco-bcing the seven explored
within the last year by as many differ
ent officers, and exclusive OF those
previously made, and also exclusive
Of the survey which the Mexican
boundary commission is TO make on
the Gila river, as u continuation Of
the FL Paso route and Of which the
amputation OF Fl Paso from New
Mexico and giving it to Texas was
also an auxiliary measure. This do
cument should open the eyes Of the
people Of Missouri to the danger which
the central route has 10 encounter, and
the forced adoption Of another con-
dcmned by every national consider
alton. Ii is true that Il bifuca,ion"
(Which | believe signifies a io?k) Of
tnis III PaSo route is intended TO be
conducted 10 - Louis, which, if done,
will lie favor lost, as TO man in Mis-
souri, would any more think OF going
to san Francisco by that route than
Of coming TO Washington city by way
Of Fast Florida. The central route is
the only national ono, and the only
obstacle is the Rocky Mountains, aud
that is no obstacle at all. as the country
rises gradually and impcrceptbly
1000 to 5000 feet before their base
is reached, and there are then many
passes between the head OF the del
Nortc and South Pass-belween 35
and ~ degrcea--vc'y practicable, and /
already marked out by the buffalo
lrai $. In speech which | made on
This route at the last session Of Con- |
grcss pointed ont these animals as
the original and most uncrring Of To-
biographical engineers, the first finders
OF all good routes, and tic safy-t
guides to all roadmakers and gave .
Instances, | did not know then that .
the great llumboldt had previously /
writieA The same thing, and in fact
given the same ins s.anc :, but have .
snce seen that he dill; and now add .
what he wro:c, for the sake OF con
WING ng those who yicll to authority .
the conviction which they refuse to
reason. lie says.
1T is worthy Of remark that the |
American buffalo has cxcrted an in
hucncc in the progress Of geography .
III track!eSs mountain regions.
"Thesc animals wander in the win, !
ter in search of milder climate. in
herds Of several thcusands, to the (
south OF the Arkansas river. In these +
migralions their size and unwicldircss
make it difficult for them to pass over
high mountains. I.hcn, therefore, a
we l-troddcn buffalo path is met with, J
il is advisable TO follow il, as being f.
sure 10 conduct 10 the most convenient!
path across tie mountains. The best
routes through the Cumberland Moan-
tains, in the southwest part Of Virginia |
oni Kentucky, in the Rocky Noun
tains, betwccs the sources Of the Vel
low Stone and the Platte, and between !
the southern branch Of the Columbia
and the Rio Colorado Of California,
we're thus marked ont beforehand by |
buffalo paths. ASPECTS Of Nature,