The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-27


between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and great
highway for the intercourse and commerce between Ea-
rope and ASIA my exclusive study for the last ten years.
il has been my object and aim TO examine every point that
might be considered as connected with the subject in all
its parts and feataes also, to ascertain all the facts con
nected Herewith.
believe that am prepared TO meet any reasona-
BILE objection that has BEEN may be- urged against the
enterprise which have undertaken. ask only for
fair examinaon but satisfy objections which can be
sustained only by positive asseron-from those who
have had no practical scientific knowledge OF the sub
jec and have taken the time TO examine either the
scientific or practical researches OF others, and whose
opinions and bold assertions directly in opposition 10
Natures laws, to philosophy. and TO actual experience
all know is easy matter Such, fear, IS my posi-
ton in relation to the objection urged against my enter
prise on account OF and ice.
But will give the facts from the experience OF
those who are beyond doubt the best authority can
get and hereafter will give the results from scientific
research.
First AS to the ice On the route which propose
taking the streams all be brdged and there be no
obstruction by the ice in crossing ihem and that paa-
lei thawing and freezing rain and see in the winter
would be unfreqnen and could not interrupt the
operation Of the road Practical knowledge. with COM
sense. would teach these facts, and authorities are
not required for them.
Second As 10 snow have taken much pains TO in
form myself on this subject and The result is that as we
60 from the great lakes il is mder, and less snow
In Wisconsin the seldom falls foot deep all
winter and this is dry not hawng and freezing As we
go into and through the mountains, the cold oil course
increases with the elevation. The snow commences TO
fall about Christmas and remains on till May; its falls
are not frequent and is dry, with rains to haw It,
Mr. Fitzpatrick, whose great experience in the noun
ains qualities him 10 be the bestauhoriiy have in
November, 1916, gave to me statement wherein he says
AT Fort Laramie there is very little snow has
seen depth Of than fifteen inches, and that very
rare, aud never remains more than one or two days
Thence to the Pass snow continues during The winter
about three monhs-depth, 10 TO IS inches; thence to
Green river decrease depth, but remains longer than
at the east side of the Pass from Green river TO Bear
river crossing range about the at the Pass ;
thence following 10 Bear river, is that snow
found; but, descending the river norhery to Soda
springs, is again found and hall 10 two feet
deep; then, you to Fort Hall, and very
little on Lewiss Fork to immense plain; from this
plain we get on to branch of Salmon river without
ing a divide, and no OF consequence TO the Blue
range, where is again found two feet deep; then
there is snow TO the ocean,"
Ramsay Crooks, esq who spent winter at Fort Lara
ME- confirms Mr. Fitzpatricks statement 10 that place
R. Campbell, esq, highly respectable and intelligent
merchant OF ST. Louis spent three winters in succession
and part OF the fourth in the Rocky mountains, from
the Pass to Fort Hall, and TO the head of Salmon
river In November, 1885, he says that g one winter
oniy the fell three feet deep fall commences from
the Isl TO 4th OF November, and does vary in lime
there is very little and il melts off. At Christmas the
heavy fall commences, and its regularity TO time is
makabe the falls not frequent, and dry, and
main till April winters but little snow, that
could travel of the country. We found buffalo
all winter living the grass under the snow, which
they root up; animals were sustained in the same
man ner there are three routes from the Pass 10
Fort Hall, all good"
Dr. Elijah White, under date OF July ~, 1916, says;
" As to the objections raised in consideration OF the
have only to say from the best advices received during
residence OF ten years west OF the mountains,
nexion with my observations, it is believed there is
much less snow west of the mountains than east
and, az TO the Pass in the mountains, am not able
to speak distinctly but know that the British Fur Com
pany send down large OF horses laden with fur
in January and February annually from Fort Hall, only
hundred and ninety miles from the Great Pass subsst
ing entirely upon the grasses Indigenous that country
OF the opinion there is less the Black Hills,
and in the vicinity OF the Rocky Mountains, than is gem
orally conceived, as am credbly informed that the buff
falo Craze and range not unirequeniy throughout the
winter" ~
The American Fur Company, Messrs. Choutan & Co,
have informed that, nj their trading station the
mouth OF the Yellow Stone, latitude between IS and 40
degees) there is but little snow and they have there
pastured American cattle all winter.
Judge Thornton. in speaking of the incredible depth OF
snow the Sierra Nevada, says II is very remark.
able fact that the at this POINTS, deg "a min.
north aiitude-is usually much deeper than il on noun
tans OF a corresponding elevation further north" This
fact has been fully confirmed by the emigration 10 Cali
forna All have represented the Sierra Nevada mpas
sable from any point OF direction during the winter and
the snow in all its range OF immense depth-as much
thirty feet and those who read the newspapers must
be OF this fact
Natural and philosophical causes (the proofs and au.
thones for which will give in few days) will show,
beyond any doubt that continent and in the Rocky
range, you go north of Al deg, the amount
Of dimnishes rapidly from the fact that the intense
cold freezes up the atmosphere, leaving little humidity TO
make snow; and that which does fall is dry and would
not seriously impede the operation OF railroad but as
you go SOUTH there is but little rain in the the
humidity all falls in the winter, and on the elevated
ranges where The temperature falls below the freezing
point il makes snow almost incredible depth for
instance the great distractions met with by Col Ere
mont was on the parallel Of about 81 deg
The mountain ange in Texas, east OF The Pecos river
md down and below the junction OF that river with the
Del Noe, is covered with during the winter 10 an
immense DEPTH and 1t must be familiar to all who read
hat the expedition for the boundary survey was last win
Ter blocked up by snow at Paso del Nore" II sare-
nsrkable fact that from Col Emorys report, il is found
hat the thermometer fell quite low at the same season
,f the year on the Del Norte and ella rivers did on
Col Fremonts route 10 the Columbia river Col Emory
hs report, page s., dated October the Del Norte
says: For the last night two il has been unusually
cold thermometer ranged IS deg TO % deg latitude 80
deg 30 min" On the ella, November 10, he says: The