The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-14

THE New GOVERNOR OF New MExICo-NEw
RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PAcIFIC.-It is some
what remarkable that any man should quit
such position as that ola Senator of the United
States for that of Governor of territory. and
that territory the ring-streaked and striped,
pe-bald Spanish ndian-and- Yankee
mixed territory Of New Mexico. Yet Scion
Borland. Senator from Arkansas, deliberately
abandons his seat in the Capitol at Washington,
to oficiate as the executive of a mixed popula-
tion of American soldiers, Mexican settlers
half civilized Indians, and cross breeds Of all
kinds fanked on all sides by the most ferocious
hordes of the most daring savages on the CONT
nent. True, he will be the Governor of ter
ritory larger than the empire of France,
full Of desert wastes and desert mountains
the wastes as blank and blstering as
Sahara--the mountains as bald and desolate
as Horeb and Sinai, with the recesses be-
tween them swarming with horse, cattle and
sheep-stealing Apaches and Jicarillas, while
the Camanches keep watch for the unguarded
emigrants and caravans over the plains. Very
true that Doctor Borland will also have fair
opportunity to realize something in his adobe
palace at Santa Fe as physician, and he may
also make something in the way of speculation
in the mercantile caravans which pass every
summer from st. Louis via Santa Fe to Chihua-
hua. There may also be prospect for pro-
fitable enterprise in the silver, gold and copper
mines which are supposed to exist in the neigh
boring mountains.
But were it not for these prospective perqui-
sites, we should think that DR.. Borland, in quit
ting the United States Senate for the Cover
nor's mud cabin Of New Mexico, had abandoned
a post of certain profit and honor for Wild
goose chase with his eyes wide open. In any
view, however. it is the most remarkable of all
the curious cases of officc-seeking and Office
taking that have occurred since the fourth of
March.
We understand that Doctor Borland will
60 out to assume the duties of his new
Office at Santa Fe, with government train,
about the first of June, from the frontiers OF
Arkansas. This train will also probably
be accompanied By one of the surveying
corps in reference to the proposed Pacific
railroad. 1t is said that Colonel Benton has in
view the return of Lieut.. Colonel Fremont to
take charge of the most southerly route for
this road. No better officer could be appointed,
could his services be obtained. But whether
the route will be pursued from Albuquerque,
over the mountains. to the Great Desert Basin
and thence by or somewhere near that of the
Spanish trail to Walkers Pass, at the south
end Of the Sierra Nevada mountains; or whether
it will strike south from or beyond Paso del
Norte, on the Rio Grande and take Cookies |
wagon route over the champagne country which
lies to the southwark Of the ella mountains, |
and consequently within the territories of
Mexico, remains yet to be determined. 1t is,
no doubt, by far the most practicable of all the
routes, for q comparatively cheap, easy and
quick communication by railroad with the Pa
cifc ocean, from our Atlantic borders; but as
the passage over the soil Of Mexico would re-
quire some further annexation, or the right of
way by treaty, the selection of this route may
be considered problematical. At all events,
the journal of Colonel Cooke shows it's entire
feasibility for a railroad and the route ought |
to be further examined
We are informed that Major Borland takes a |
lively interest in this project of the Pacific |
railroad, and, in this respect his appointment |
to New Mexico may perhaps turn out advan-
tageously to him, to the territory, and to the !
whole country. Let the work 90 on.