The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18


inc their settlements in continuous chain from SEQ
DESIGNATIONS were directed to be male as t. the
zoology anu 0otany OF the country, which enters
into the question Of the choice OF routes, because
they indicative OF the capacity OF the country to
sustain life and furnish materials for constru tion.
Allusion has been made to the inadequacy of the
appropriation for surveys to ascertain the best route
Jer railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific
ocean. In determining the route OF ordinary rail-
roads through thicky settled countries Of easy &C
cess one. halt per cent on the actual cost OF con-
struction ia not considered too liberal allowance
for the preliminary surveys and therefore it cansot
be expected that the best line for road which has
been estimated to cost 500, 900 900 be located
through an unlnhabited and comparatively unknown
region for $3.50 900.
There is but little doubt that the best line which
can be chosen will present a combination OF nearly
all the obstacles which have, up TO TINS Time, oeea
successfully encountered by the art OF The engineer,
and that any haste or negligence which should cause
an improper location of the road to be made, must
lead 10 consequences which would endanger the sue
cess OF the whole enterprise.
striking illustration of the value of opinion not
based instrumental survey Is presented in the de-
velopements made by Lieutenant Williamson's ex-
ploratidn OF Walkers Pass. II will be remembered
that this famous gap was consi Tered fixed point,
and the various expectations on routes differing in
everything else, generally concurred In tending to
Walkers Pass. Recent information from Lieutenant
Wlk nsop establishes the fact tn II this pass Is i'm
practicable for a railway.
The information which has been received from the
parties in tie field is too limited and imperfect
to Justify an opinion on the question proposed by
the act of Congress. When the reports of these par
ties shall have been received, or at the date pre-.
scnbed by Congress, it is my purpose to submit q
condensed statement and map, exhibiting ali the
reliable information possessed, with proies annexed
OF all instrumental surveys which hsve at any time
been made, aud which serve to ans yer the inquiry
contained in The act Of appropriation under which
surveys are now in progress
II | seem TO have pressed the magnitude OF the
obstacles to successful execution OF the conten-
plated work, 1t has not been to suggest the abaa.
doIment OF the undertaking., but only to enforce the
propriety Of much caution in the preliminary steps,
ana the nece sity for concentrating sll the means
which can be made available to the completion OF so
gigantic project.
Preconceived opinion or prejudice personal inte-
rest and sectional rivalry must be held subject to
the developments Of instrumental surrey, and sub
servent to the purpose of final success or the result
to be anticipated is failure. Aud when, from the
consideration of the magnitude of the difficulties to
be overcome pass TO the importance of the effects
to be produced there is enough to sustain patriotism
In the sacrifice OF any personal or local interest which
may be involved. It's commercial and agricultural
advantage, its political and military necessity, have
attracted the attention and excited the interest OF
our whole country. Congress has, by its appropra-
ton, manifested the purpose to obtain such informa
tion as will secure proper location for the road
The necessity for more rapid sources Of commune
cation has been referred to in the other parts of this
report, when treating of the defence Of southern
boundary the western territory and the Pacific coast
Duties and interests Of vital i'm oortance other than
these, NJ the 10 Inc
Paci6c but they do not fall under the charge of
this department have not attempted to present
claims, nor have i deemed it proper in this commu.
pication to offer my views as to the means or the
mode by which the general government may constl-
tutonaly aid in the attainment OF the contemplated
object.
The absence Of navigable streams in large por
ton Of recently acquired territory and the exist
ence Of TIE vast ard and mountainous regions
described in another part of this report have entaed
upon the government very heavy charge for the
transportation of supplies, and for the services OF
troops stationed along our new fro1 tier ard opera.
ing against the predatory and nomsiic Indians of
those regions. The cost OF transportation within that
country for purposes connected with military de-
fence, amounted in the year ending June, 1858, to
S45l ,775 OF.
The modes Of transportation now used-wagons
drawn by horses, mules or oxen-besides being very
expensive, are necessarily circuitous the routes
travelled, slow and generally unsatisfactory to
prompt inquiry for means which may be attained
with better results
In any extended movement, these wagon trains
must depend upon grass for forage and their progress
will seldom average more than twelve miles per day;
and II often happens IN traversng tee country ist
referred to- that long spaces are encountered in which
there Is neither grass nor water, and here the con
sequences must be severe privatlon and great dest
tuition 10 The apimsls pcyed, ii not the failure OF
the expedition Thee inconvenencies felt in all
movements between tie distant parts Of that section
aid seriously obs;ruct sometimes actually defeat, tle
pursuit of The mounted Indians of the plains, who,
by their Intimate knowledge Of the places where she
small plies Of grass and water are TO be found
able to fly across the most arid regions after
having committed depredations Oh frontier popd-
alton. or upon the trains Of merchants and emf
grants.
Beyor d TIE difficulties here contemplated in con.
necton with transportation TO thesneror it is pro-
per TO look to these which would arise ia the trans
portaticn Of supplies for the deence7 of our Pacific
coast, ia the contingency Of war with maritime
power. Our experience has been confined to state
of peace, aud to the use of routes of communication
VIII D6l he he i'm ia af aur Paa.
soning from the difficulties which have been encoun-
tered in supply ing points where it necessary only
to traverse part of the space which lies between
the Pacific coast and the points of supply, il may be
claimed as conclusion that it would not be practi
cable, with the means now possessed, to send across
the contiDe at the troops munitions and provisions
which would be required for the defence OF the Paci
fic coast railroad, such has been contempt tied,
to connect by the st eligible route the Mississippi
river with the Pacific coast would but partially re-
move the difficulties. 1t would serve to transport
troops and TO supply depots along route and at the
extremity OF the line but there would still be vast
regions ofthe interior too remote from its depots
terialy to feel its effects.
On the older continents, in regions reachingsfrom
the torrid TO the frozen zone, embracing arid plains
and precipitous ountins covered with snow neIs
are used with the best results. They are the means
of transportation and communication in the immense
commercial intercourse with Central Asia. From
the mountains OF Circassia to the plains OF India
they bave been used for various military pur poses,
to transmit dispatches to transport supplies to draw
ordnance, and a subtitute for dragon horses
Napoleon, when in Egypt, used with marked sue
cess the drcmedary, feet variety of the same ami
NAL, In subduing the Arabs, whose habits and coun
try were very similar to those Of the mounted Indians
OF our western plains. learn, from wha. is believed
to be reliable authority that France is about again
TO adopt the dromedary in Algeria, for similar SER
vice to that in which they were successfully used
in Egypt.
For ike military purposes for express and for re-
connoisances it is believed the dromedary would sup
ply q want now seriously felt in our service and
for trans portation with troops rapidly moving
the country, the camel it is believed would
an obstacle which nov serves greatly to diminish
frontier.
For these consderationsitis respectfully submitted
that the necessary provision be made for the intro
duction Of q sufficient number Of both varieties Of
this animal TO test its value and adaptation to