Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-11-22
Ter theories in that region.
Respectfully, gentlemen,
Your obliged fellow citizen.
r. II. BENTON.
FoRT MASSACHUSETTS,,
IN. N.Y. Aug. 2s, 1853.


tcresled in the middle route for the
great Pacific Railroad, and believing
that any Information with regard TO it
would be acceptable; no matter how
humble the source from which it comes,
| have determined TO state what | know
about it. This information is from ira.
yelling the route just behind Capt. Gun.
nison. left Virginia the first Of April,
went to Missouri and Illinois TO pur.
chase sheep for the California market.
After purchasing ! started TO take them
by old Salt Lake, the Humboldt River,
&C., feeling assured that would have
TO winter at Salt Lake. | had gotten
the sheep as fur as ST. Joseph's, (Mo.)
Having some business in St. Louis, !
met with Capt. Gunnison, and learned
from him that there was d better route
by way of Utah Lake, and that be was
going TO open it, and that from what he
knew about il, it would he much better
for me TO take it.. After thinking a good
deal over it | determined 10 take It, as
there was very large number of stock
on the old route, and good prospect Of
getting TO California this season. | read
your address with great deal of inter.
est; and, feeling assured these statements
about the route could be relied on, left
Missouri at Westport, on the 18th Of
June, with large number Of sheep ami
some cows-Mr. Crockett, Of Virginia,
a partner with me. At Wcstport met
with the two Mr. Ross's OF Iowa, with
their families, going the old route; they
also determined TO accompany me the
new route. After travelling a few days,
fell in with the two Mr.. Burwell's, Of
Franklin City, Virginia, with large
number OF cattle, who also were per.
suaJed TO join me. We travelled the
Santa Fc road twenty-five miles above
Fort Atkinson, keeping on the we'll.
beaten track to thirty miles above Bcn,'s
Old Fort, and crossed the Arkansas
River at the mouth of Opishka Creek,
crossed over TO the Hueriano, up that
stream about twenty miles, and crossed
the Sierra Blanca mountains through
Capt. Gunnison's Pass, obout twelve
miles south Of Leroux Pass, TO this fort
The distance given by Capt. Gunnison,
is G93 miles from Wcslport Missouri.
! | have travelled over the mountains OF
Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee,
over several of the passes of the Sierra
Nevada in California, and have never
Seen better or more easier pass for car.
riases and wagons than the one found by
Capt. Gunnison, through the Sierra
Blanca, ust opposite Fort Massachu.
sets, and distant from it fifteen miles.
travelled the old route to California in
1St9, and eau speak of the two routes
from actual experience, having gone ov.
cr both with wagons. look upon this
route as far superior, and feel confident
that as soon as it is known, will, and
must, be the great thorou ugh(are from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. On this route
there is an abundance of grass and wa.
ter, so much that stock will travel and
keep fat; the large majority of our sheep
are as fat as any mutton in the Philadel
phia or Baltimore market, and very
large number of Mr.. BurweIl's cattle
are fine beef; and | have never seen any
stock after having travelled so far lock
hall so WE'LL. Both Of the Mr.. Ross's
have carriages, and as ye, nothing has
in the least given way. can say with.
out fear of contradiction that this is one
Of the finest natural roads in the world,
combining everything necessary to sus
tain stock, and am confident that if its
advantages are full y made known to
Congress, that it will be adopted for the
great Pacific Railroad. On this line al.
most the entire route can be sottlel, as
all the land from Missouri to Bent's
Fort is rich and very fertile, equal to the
best lands OF Missouri and Illinois, and
no land can beat the Sierra Blanca for
grass; even to the very summit it stands
as thick as the best meadows; many
acres would NOW at least four tuns per
acre. Then comes the large and beau.
ti(ul Valley St. Louis. said to be one OF
the most fertile in New Mexico; indeed,
fine land is upon the whole route, and
the climate such that stock can live all
winter upon the grass. will here state
the route think best for emigrants to
travel: Leave Wesrport, Missouri, take
the road to Uniontown, then to Fort
Center. then take Capt. Gunnison's
trail, which leads from the Kansas 10 the
Arkansas, near the mouth Of Walnut
Creek, up the Arkansas, above Bent's
Old Fort, ,hirty.two miles; then up the
Huerlano, through Capt. Gunnison's
Pass, TO Fort Massachusetts; then TO lit
tie Salt Lake, Walkers Pass, Sierra
Nevada; then down the valley OF the
San Joaquin to Stockton or San Fan
cisco. There are settlements dt different
points all along this route, where emi
grants can get supplies, none further q
part than two hundred miles. After
leaving Missouri you pass first Council
Grove, next the Fort on Walnut Creek
next Green Horn, next Fort Massachu
setts, Little Salt Lake, Santa Clara, Ne
+ gas de Cazatcra; at each of these sup
plies can be had. | feel confident wher
}, Capt. Gunnison makes out his repor
that this route will be adopted. The pas.
through the Sierra Blanca is so low ant
gradual that railroad can be made ov
er it, and the grade will not exceed fift,
feet to the mile. Capt. Gunnison is do
, ing his whole duty, and we'll deserves