The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-03
New Overland Route TO tho Pacific.
OUR SANTA FIJI CORRESPONDENTS
SANTA FE, New MAxica Iuix 1850

SANTA FE, New Mexico, July 1, 1852
Important Geographical Information.
Tho chief object Of this letter is to mako public
some geographical information of no little i'm per-
tanoe, touching the contemplated railroad to osa-
meet our Pacific with our Atlantic States Uaiess
the connection be made and that right speedily, it
is sefevident, to the oommonost mind, that tho
two regions will be, before the lapse of many years,
entirely separated politically thoy are physi-
caly If tho two oceans be brought into contact,
and so held, by great national railroad, they will
adhere kindly and as firmly as would the two OPP
posite surfaces of freshly made wound in healthy
. body But, should the government withhold its
oountenance from the enterprise, (Which is too gil
gantic for individual means to accomplish and rest
contcnted with circuitous routes through foreign
countries, the adhesion between such ponderous
parts may, ut any moment, be broken asunder BY
very slight causes. And such beginning would
soon lead to the disintegratiOn of whole polit-
cal fabric. But to the immediate subject Of the
letter.
months now known to exist through tho great
Rocky Mountain range. The discovery was made
about year ago, by Captain Joseph Walker-a
man who, without any ustce to Others may be said
quainted with, the Rocky Mountains than any other
living person. His time, perhaps for more than
thirty years, has been chiefly spent in wandering
over them, in almost every possible direction. He
has made repeated trips between New Mexico and
California; and about year since he came from
Monterey, or San Diego, to Albuquerque Seventy
five miles below Santa Fe, N. III } within twenty
FIVE days-travellng leisurely with pack animals
The route he travelled was an entirely new one,
hitherto unknown; and last fall he returned to Cali
forna by tho same way The route is directly west
from Santa Fe; and he represents it as being, in
every respect, practicable for wagons and car
ia hatw q nd
crosses no mountains, but lies upon broad and leve
or table. laads, where the finest of pastur
abounds, and suficiency of water is met at shor
intervals. Moreover, tho elevated lands adjacen
furnish a variety Of the best timber. I am
sorry it is not in my power to indicate
this route with particularly but the pub
lie may rest assured that the fact of the ex-
istence Of such pass to the Pacific is past all
doubt. believe there is but one man who has OBJ
tanned from Captain Walker plan Of the route,
with accurate data; and that gentleman, Mr.. Kern,
is, Ibelieye, now in Washington city Mr.. Kern, who
was with Fremont in one or two Of his expeditions,
is represented to me as being skilful engineer and
draugbtsman.
Captain Pope, an accomplished and energetic Off
Ger of the y. s. Typographical Corps, is at present
have mentioned in regard to this new pass through
the mountains, has made application at Washington
to be allowed to explore the route in thorough and
is granted, the moderate facilities he will require
will be readily granted him by Colonel Sumner, the
military commander of this department. 1t is not
to be doubted that so reasonable an application,
and that bids fair to furnish such valuable and
interesting knowledge will be granted by an intel
gent and patriotic administration like the present.
Captain Pope is in daily expectation of receiving
orders to explore this new route, which promises
avorably to furnish results in interest and impor-
lance far trnnscendng any hitherto brought to the
knowledge Of the country. Should it be found prac.
ticable for carriages and railroad, two marked ad-
vantages over the South Pass will at once present
themselves In the first place, the distance to the
Pacific is shortened by some seven or eight hundred
miles, and secondly, the winters are SO mild in this
latitude to make it certain that, from natural
causes no impeachment to travel would exist at any
season Of the year. O. H.