New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-18
EEW-MEXICO.
Journey across the Prairies-Up the Mis-
souri-Fort Leavenworth-ROutet TO santa

nA4tsNf Atfli- rbLut
departure ofthe last mall avail myself OF them give
you epome of my journey across the prairies and
plains, which from what think have been justly
termed the Great American Desert" Railroads have
been projected TO run from the western borders Of
Missouri of Arkansas across this stretch Of desert
country which il fearfully monotonOus 70 the eye
destitute utterly OF timber for any useful purpose
destitute also Of wholesome supply Of water for
and animals, and scantiy supplied at the most
favorable Of the year with grazing. Tle utter
folly of thinking that may be practicable to
tabsh railroad route across this portion OF the Ame.
lean continent was very apparent 70 me and - my
my companions Of the plins, while jogging alOn. Day
hy day this country arid in much Of its length
the Desert Of Sahara, aud where not tree or Shrub
could be seen fer miles upon miles. No amount Of
travel between the two oceans, amount Of character
Of trade warrant restore the enormous ex
pensc which VIII inevitably be required for the con
sructon Of O single track only FAR the border Of
New-Mexico. Beyond the eastern borders OF New
Mexico the undertaking would he herculean, gigantic
In this section OF country from which write you are
mountains Of the mostruyged character sandy prrlc
and an almost entire absence Of water. except that
there Is enough at considerable intervals TO supply me
immediate wants of command o. troops or party Of
eiaigrduts Iac Construct OF railroad, tIercCfe
through any portion OF such q country would c1laut
the treasury OF the nation and yield no suosftnA re-
Turn. Let me premise yet further that the plan
proposed believe by Col Benton in his sea- IN the
Senate consider 10 be the only feasible and Te Enable
plan for connecting the Eastern States by line OF travel
with possessions the Pa cic shore viz. tn the
Government should after careful reconnaissance othe
most practicable route or routes by a corps OF civil
engineers or By officers OF The L. : Typographical COrp
the establishment and construction OF a good sub
stental waeon-oad and leave 10 time to determine fairy
whether railroad II oris not manded by the nerssts
OF the tOn. Inc explorations OF Col Fremont nave
given reason 70 believe that any route l. eli doe and
practicable as far as e foot Of the Rocky Mountiin
range it must be by the Valley of the insas or hiw
River That stream il better timbered than any wLch
the Western plains ha5 good soil to encourage
settlements but no practicable pass Tor tOleraOle
wngon.rCad has thus tar been discovered nearer ia
than the South or Frem)nts Pass and tat to
n valley Of the ella River OF New-MeXcO So much
e the subject oil the visionary railroad schemes wIch
have got possession the minds Of many of enerprs
ing Citizens And now 10 my description OF the praires
ond plains.
will only occupy few lines in reference to my pas,
sage up the Museum River say, what you may possibly
already know that that is in many places Dor
dcred with high picturesque limestone cliffs cut and
fashioned in places into strange forms odd cayerns
and is studded with hOurshng towns villages all Of
which are OF less importance a. points for the
shipment TO St Louis OF the most profitable staples of
the State tobacco and hemp and that the farm lands
back from the river unsurpassed in fertility and
their farmers wealthy from the cultivation Of the above
mentionedstaIles
There are three points on the Missouri River generally
ed depot and points OF departure for New Mexico
viz Independence, Kansas Landing aud Fort Leaveu-
worL-the latter almost entirely 10y troops route -
iCn the army in New-MCXico. the route TO Oregon,
from Independence crosses the new road from + ort
Loavcnworn at the ferry of the kansas River, hityiour
miles from that post IL Is hoped that route tor one
hundred miles westward from OFT Leaycnworth which
Gun be made tor that distance 10 travc 3rs GO
ing to Oregon and to NewMexco has been found prac
ncLte by the exploration OF Government officers the
past season satisfactory demonstration of the feast
bty Of such route would most probably result IN the
breaking up o; Fort LeaveuwOrth as military station
retaining it simply as river landing and depot and the
esabl hment o III garrison. or one OF equal siren 9Th
al the dNergng point OF the roads to Oregon and New
Mexico.
The detachment of troops TO which was attached
marched from IL camp near Fort Leavenworth on the
18th OF Man. lrJ2 a OF very ncemcnt and un-
WhoosOme weather for travellers or troops VINO have
before them such long extent Of prrie travel ana
who need the outset all possible bodily vigor to un Ter
60 the pIvoton ana exposure which ar 30 apt TO bring
fatal diseases with them.
The great extent O. country nte'e nng Det"een thc
border OF Missouri and Santa re - usually d.vdel ac'
cordng 10 the character of SOIL face % the country &c
&c INFO tire portions trace, VIZ 1T That IRON la
dependence (or Fort LcayenwOrth) 10 the Council
Glove: 81 That from the Council Grove 10 FawRee
Fork and 1sy, that from the PaWnce Jfk eihef Oy
Bent's Fort route or the CimmarOn, 70 santa te
IntLis letter only give you some te account oil
the fret OF these divisions which presents features OF
country ana character OF SOL not 70 De ioni "e5e"'ru
beyond the Council Grove.
FoRr LEAyENwoArH TO COUNCIL GROVE
From Fort Leayenworth to the Council Grove the
whole face OF tie country one unbrOken successoho
hill a. dale Of what may be termed very heavily un'
dulsing ground Near Fort Lesyenworth and 70 the
Missouri River generally, the hIlocks or high s"eLlny
ridges are spsIrely covered with TIMBER while the mol
lows or low intervening tracts between tue mis- are III
yarably prairie the latter greatly pfeiomn1tins III eN
tent Of suiace. We have thus presented 10 the eye
beautiful sltcI nation OF woodland ana prare most pc
;uresaue and agreeable No words can describe 1e eX
qusite Law mike appearance Of these emerald green
~fo zlor4z IN he
passed richness OF the prairie soil Strsnser s. Hrass-
hopper and Soldier Creeks which respectively cross the
road extending rom Fort Leayenworh to Tie hn'ls Cr
Kaw River also the banks OF the latter rYef al w"
tnb .ed and would if the Indian title 10 the lands upon
then were extngu-hed, be readily settled AMI cuisa-
tel On nearly whole extent Of the praires a. lar
az Council Grove found the famous Polar plant Nf-
thitm LGciriafam) in the greatest Prousion WIENER
or not IL leaves found IN the plane o the magucuc
c1idisn with any considerable regularity am nor able
10 decide fcr the plant ia instance hall grown
where | saw il, and beyond Council Grove scarcely
specimen OF L appears. =,
aid above that we LEFT Fort Leavenworh in May at
avery Indictment AID unwhoesome season OF the year
omitted then 20 add that irCm the l0h TO the 2)h OF
Msy Of every yearthcTels always apfey aience o stormy
and nclcmen weather throughout tue whole extent OF
county bordering the Missouri River. Cold, wlnly days
are frequently succeeded BY cold, frosty nights tne eS
posre IRON which greatly tends 20 produce the attacks
or cholera prevalent on tic Plains IN tue srnS
81 tie wear Much OF thc sickness n our own deaca'
uert and deaths from that malignant da-e were uuc
- .rrh weather The wet muddy state OF all our camp
rouuds AMI IA part 70 the careless and unceanly habits
81 he n en- before commencing the march. For these
reasons therefore do not think u prudent 70 com
meuce Journey march across the plans before tae
OH of Nav Il is really inexpeent 70 10 so, Tor The
re- i not in good grazing condition before The Oth Or
5I,h Of May and often early. Before proceeding
ffrther let me state what may have omitted 20 make
s-norerf hat ID p the Council Grove, the route
Vbich sr now describing the face Of the country l. in
vsraby heavily rolling rrare and part Of Ibis section
CONES within ie plans proper Indeed, do not thnk
e P.wuee Fork Between the Council Grove, however,
snd Pavnse Fork the country Is destitute OF tim
Der. indeed almost entirely destitute of enough for
cooking puIpCses But, 10 return
Tie Kaiels or Ksw Rfve- "a miles from FOrt LcIyen
worth j rte considerable stream % cross the
whole 20 New Mecots width OF banks and volume
Of wafer being Teler % the crossing OF the road than
nhqt We found IN the Arkansas River Au5reys Cross
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