The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-11-08
.qna n From the Buffalo Commercial.
THE SOUTHERN ROUTE. ,o,s

THE SOUTHERN ROUTE. .ooa od
Tho following letter was written by Major
Heintzelman, the officer in command of the
southern military district in California. IL was
not intended for publication, but the informa-
ton contained in it is too interesting and val
uabo to be withheld from the public. l,
Fort Yuma, CAL, July 25, 1853
SEQ from the newspapers that several par
ties have started to explore for route for the
Great Pacific roilroad; but mono on what ap-
poars to me TO be the best, if not tho only
practical route-that south Of the Gila.
Mr.. Bartlett, tho late Commissioner, Mr..
Gray, the Surveyor, and Lieutenant Whipple
of the Typographical Engineers, all unite in
speaking of the favorable nature of the coun-
try. / have been in California since the spring
of 1S49, at San Diego and this place, and be
ing acquainted with all the members Of the
Boundary Commission, and havi'ig conversed
with many of tho emigrants. some who have
also come the other routes spoken of, have
heard but ono opinion as to the entire practi-
cabilty of this q
1t is several hundreds of miles shorter than
Mr.. Gwinn's middle route. and avoids the
SHOWS in which Fremonts party suffered so
much. There is suitable timber on the north
side of the ella, within short di tancc OF
where the road must pass, and accessible. A
fine stick of iamrack, not less than eighteen
inches in diameter, was picked up in the Colo
RADIO, the last high water, opposite this place.
1t was carefully examined by practical man,
and he pronounced that it grew in a dense
forest. The ends were much worn and roun-
ded showing it had hard ,ime of it in de-
scending the river. My opinion is, this stick
grew along or above the Great Canon, which
would make the forest available for the con-
al n.ti .,f ba ffal l,a
nature of the country, having becn some nine
ty miles above ,his that no suitable timber
grows this side of the Canon.
The Colorado has been navigated by steam,
at the lowest stages, and supplies and mater-
ais of every description can be landed at this
point, affording facilities for working both
ways.
Corn, wheat cotton rice and sugar. togeth-
er with the tropical fruits, will grow on he Gila
and Colorado Tn would be an outlet for
the agriculture Of those valleys, and for the mi.
ming regions of this portion of New Mexico.
Tho late Gen Condo, tho Mexican Commis-
sion, told mo in San Diego in 1949, that ho
had explored great deal in Sonora, and that
within thirty miles of the Gila there wero as
rich gold mines as any in California. Several
small pieces of gold have been picked up on
this side of the Colorado. hope ere long to
explore and determine whether the placers are
worth working.
l will say nothing Of the route east of the
Rio Grando; but starting from the vicinity Of
Ell Passo, passing south of the Pinal Liano
mountains, avoiding the pass below the june
tion of the San Pedro with the Gila, and then
from above the Pimos, following the latter riv-
or TO its junction with the Colorado, crossing
there, then across the Colorado desert to the
Vallectas. or prefably to Jacum, by tho Thu
nan ana Sweet Water valley to San Diogo.
The route have thus slightly skctched is
remarkably straight, tho only place it leaves
tho parallels of so and 80 being near tho Pimo
village. and the distance is about $50 miles
from Ell Passo to San Diego.
AT the junction of the Gila and Colorado is
a most eligible pain for crossing tho latter riv-
er. The united rivers pass through short
rocky canon, not MIRO than $40 feet wide and
the banks no rly 20 feet high.
AT Jacum there may be some difficulty in
ascending tho mountlins, but there will be
difficulties by the yallecitas route. The saw
ing in distance must determine.
The harbor of San Diego is well known, and
the climate, as well as that of the whole route,
has tho preference over tho more rtherly
ones.
The only objection to this route Is that
large portion nf it will be on Mexican soil, an
objection which may be removed
The valley of the Colorado wolld be of no
use as a route for the railroad, as part of its
course is nearly north and south, and Salt
Lake but worry little east of this Ii ought,
howover, to afford the saints an outlet TO tho
ocean.
The CJloral) is unques,ionably nlvgabe
for STEAMBOATS, as far as the Great Canoi, 800
or $50 miles form its mouth II receives no
large r,vers below thero and is narrower
thar from here to the gulf. The waste in this
hot dry climate must be immense The Gila
at the mouth has boon dry in summer.
When will tho Ericsson invention be tried
on railroads: Thst would obviate all difficult
ties on these long routes, rs it would want but
little fuel and no ater. Water on tho Colo
RADIO desert can undoubtedly be had by boring
and to no grcat depth. The mesquite which
grows here is superior to hickory for fuel.
Letters sent you by tho mail were lost
Our express rider has not been heard from,
and we fear he has perished on the desert. =
Tho opinion in San Diego is that no was
killed by the Indians. | do not think there is
the slightest possibility of that. My opiuion is
that he was drowned in crossing New River, or
was taken sick and perished on the desert. |
am now sending party out to learn his fate,
If possible i1aa .to'iee
The thermometer stl ranges abovo 100,
but our hottest weather is over, and wo now
have cooler breezes. In fact. we row con-il
or the weather quito cool. On gardens, cult
vatod in the I',dian style, are doing well. ~
have just had vi it from party OF Mo
havis Yum friyas and Chi-mi-hua huas They
came TO professsfricndshD towards the whites
The Chu- cha-nos and Yunis will start in
fcw DAYS on war expedition tn revenge the
recent massacre Of their people by the Go CO.
pos. These indians are their allies aud viii
join thcm. Tue Coco pes have also recently
encroachedi on some of the valleys of tho
Indians, and a war party of the Du
guenns will start against them. The Clrchs-
nos wish mo to aid them. but as tho Co-cn-pcs
live in Mexico Il cannot. l would most gladly
help to punish them for their trcochery IL in
my power. oIo1HH nl
] am crossing train to sendty the mouth
OF tho rivor for our supplies now the steamer
Is lost. lost by this mail the report ma1o
IL r Ia.