Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-11


Is abundant the neghborng mountains and land f fol
cultivation is found almost continuously along the water
from the mouth Of the kansas TO the head Of the
Journey undertaken in the winter 1852 (and inter
rpted here by entering the southwark the rugged
Mountain Of ST. Johns Of the impractcabe the
continent was intended make correct examination
this pass and the country beyond the rim Of the Great Basin
The failure of this expedition leaves only for this middle
ton Of line such knowledge have been able 10 OBJ
tain from apper and Indian traders The information thus
obtained had led attempt its exploration all accounts
concurred in representing it practicable road and the
information thus obtained considered to be sufficiently
reliable THE statement Of Mr. Lero,r 6s ID tkis gap,
taken Of III the nouataas, aud shoes the e hu
bred mites from the head Of the Del Norte Vegas de Saato
Clara the Ndtey Of he Uppe Colorado, 10 BE- aas
coa.tryl
According to this information the same ructure of
country which have called your attentonnbove form
ing system the mountains holds goo; and accord
ngy found difficulty in believing that he road would
readily avoid any obstacles which might BIO pesened in the
shape mountain ranges and easily reach thj Basin.
In pronouncing upon the practcaby ofa road through
this section, proceed upon my general knowledge of the
face Of the country upon information received from hunters
residents in New Mexico and upon the established fact
that only been travelled but aseasons of the
year. and is of the travelling routes fomNew Mexico to
i California
The third section of the map from the yahsatch
the Sierra Nevada and thence TO the Bay of San Fran
cisco This route averses the Great Basin presenting three
different lines, which you will find indicated ,n the map Re-
peated journeys have given less knowledge OF the
country along these lines and consider alof them prac
cable although the question Of preference rnans TO be set
tied The northern line is that Of the Humboldt river which,
although DETECTING from the direct the bay
mands in its approach to the mountains scpra practicable
passes the lowest of which is only $500 feet bove the
The southern line which in crossing the Bsn has the
freedom from obstruction enjoyed by tn open line
of the North is still entirely practicable an possesses the
advantage of crossing the Sierra Nevada at aemarkab low
depression, called Walkers Pass comnply known
the Point Of The Muaaia and being in fact termination of
one of the mountains which go from that chain
This is near the 35th degree Of latitude and the
head of the beautiful and fertile Valley of h San Joaquin
which the road thence would follow down Injunction with
the Sacramento or to point the bay rha route de-
fleets TO the south about much the Other does the
north but aeoures good way and finds obstacle from the
Sierra turning that mountain erc has sunk down nearly
the level of the country Among the proceedings
the California Legislature resolutions in favor
Of bringing in the railway at this pass.
The third line which the middle and direct line and that
to which gave decided preferences is less known
than either of the ohers but believe ly in its practica
bty and only the principal obsGle to be overcome
the Great Sierra ITSELF which woad strike its
That obstacle is considered nsurmontahe, in the
present state of railway science sufficient from the
direct pass is known us ndcatd by the line upon
the map which labor would render pracabe Other passes
also known the north and SOUTH AID if tunneng be-
necessary the structure Of the motns such to
allow tunnels to be used with the greate advantage. Mar
row places are presented where opposite ges approach each
other an wall Of some two three thousand feet often
paraes points which may not be n quarter half
of mile apart its base 1t will also be remembered that
the Great Basin east of the Sierra Nevaa has general ee
walton of over four thousand feet tina the mountain would
approached the east at that elevation and the west
the slope WIDE though descending the level of tide
water.
The foregoing remarks embody all the general information
able to give upon this line. Tn first section of it,
from the Missouri frontier the head Of The Del Norte
pored and needs further reconnaissance 1t is ready for
the location of the road by practical enginee The second
and third sections require further exploration determine
not upon paccabity but upon the preference due
over the others.
party of three hundred men, skilfuly directed with the
assistance of three four practical road Mixers would be
sucient to lay out the whole route and cer and open
common road in the course of the spring and summer
be passabe for wagons and carriages as rapidly
rayersed Of the common roads in the United
The obstacles which have not mentioned are the winter
impeachment OF and the temporary from the hostility
Of Indians The latter can be surmoune BY military
tons, sending military patrols to clear and scour N p
The less formidable than would lie supposed
the elevation Of the central part the route
Ihey are dry and therefore more readily passed through
are thin in the valleys, and remain them only during
very brief winter The winter my expedition was one
Of unpreeedenedly deep and early SHOWS yet in the Valleys
OF the Kansas and Arkansas it thin in the Valley Of
Huerfano and in the Valley of Del Norte at the end
OF November but few inches deep Even in this severe win
YER on the 9th Of December at the greatest elevation crossed
oy the eastern section of the nebeing narrow pass
between the Arkansas and Del Nortehe snow was only three
eet deep the Thermometer at midday. The wea
er these high mountains and deep valleys
ter adapted to such localities extremely cold on the noun
tans while temperate in the valleys have seen stoming
Tor days together on the mountains way be destructive
TO all animal life exposed to it, while the valley there would
be pleasant sunshine and the animals feeding on nutritious
grass Beyond the Rocky mountains the cold less and tho
SHOWS become less and more transient obstacle
These are my views Of route for the IA
mon one IS first wanted from the Mississippi Pacific
IL iuhls in my opinion, all the conditions Of route for
national thoroughare:
st 1t is direct The almost straight line from
"a
is about the the is between these parallels or
nearly between them the whole way.
I'd 1t is central TO territory. IL through the territorial
centre west Of the Mississippi and its prolongation At
anc would be central the States of that river
IL is also central TO business and population uns tho
greatest commercial point in the Valley of the Mssspp
with the greatest commercial point the Pacific
3D. 1t combines the advantages making and preserving
the road-wood, water, and soil for nhabation and Guilt
walton.
4th 1t is healthy route No diseases Of any kind upon
III and the vaetudinaran might travel il ia his vehicle
I fa ~
and recovery Of spirits
IL not only fufs all the conditions Of national route bat
y Is preferable to any other. IL is preferable the South
& rom oeinS near four degrees further south, free
from open plains and free from the crossing great rivers
us course parallel with the rivers there being but one hc
upper Colorado directly crossing it, line There are passes
az he mead q the Arkansas in the Three Parks
them but none equal 70 this by the Rio del Norte.
In conclusion have to say that believe In the praeca
bty OF this work. and that every national re-
CURES 70 be done and be done once and as national
work, by the United States.
Your obliged fellow-citzen,
J. c. FREMONT
These two documents-the letter Of Col Fremont and
the statement of Mr. Leroux-esabish the facts which
are necessary to give the route place in the pub
tic mlnd, ana to enute 1t TO examination under the
act OF Congress- and in the time to satisfy oil in
qurers that this great work is not only practicable but
easy ana on the exact line which every national conside
ration would require to be upon and with every advan
age Of facie construction and universal use Central
10 he Unon and embracing the business centres of the
Atlantic and Pacific and the Mississippi valley States
on straight line with San Francisco and st. Louis and
connecting at this latter point with the concentrated
steamboat navigation Of the Great West and with the en-
tire railroad system from the Misssnni n tho Atlantic
straight and smooth, not a mountain to be climbed a
river or swamp TO be crossed Hill to be tunneledwood
water and soil for continuous settementcoal known to
oe on many points OF the line, the whole rayersable in