The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-11


which rise among the mountains the crest, and flow
eastward and southwark in channels sunk beneath the
general surface level OF the plains.
In latitude AZ deg the of The Platte IL has
an elevation OF about 5000 feet above tide. and in The
same latitude on tho Mississippi about 900 feet. To-
wards the sources OF the Arkansas latitude 80 deg it
has height OF 1000 feet. and in the latitude on
The Mssisspp 275 ieet These elevations give
age declnaion eastward, 10 the whole plain, OF about
lee, per mile. and souihward OF about 2t feet,
The crest OF the plateau, and nearly the whole OF lis
western portion 10 The Pacihc, is occupied by great
mountain system, the continuation OF the Andes Of South
America. Ii has variable breadth, narrowes within
possessions, The Gla, latitude 32 deg where
has width OF abouI 500 miles, and ailans its greatest
expansion in the parallel of 40 deg, where il occupies
space OF about 900 miles. On this mountain base. as
mas been said before situated seIes oil elevated
peaks, RIDGES and Those the eastern side
nearly continuous for about 800 miles, and known by
the name OF the Rocky mountains; those on the west
eTn side are perhaps less continuous though equally ell
evaed above their base and designated the Sierra Ne
vada, Coast range Cascade mountains, &c. The whos
space between these extreme ranges occupied By high
peaks and n various directions by series OF ridges, in
cludDg elevated valleys and forming great basins hav
ing no outlet TO The sea The most important OF these
Salt Lake basin, having an elevation OF d. 100 feet
This mountain region is moi, as is frequently supposed.
single clan, but system extending from little east
Of the crest of the water shed to the shores OF the
PacEc and Occupying about onehalt OF all the space
bel Ssen the mississippi and the Pacific ocean. The po
son OF this belt OF mountain region stretching from
north sonh gives rise To peculiarly OF climate and
soil. Fertility depends principally upon the degree OF
temperature and amount OF moisture, both OF which are
much affected by Increase OF elevation, and the latter
also depends on the direction OF the wind The upper
or current OF the trade wind flowing backward
towards The northeast, gives prevalence OF westerly
winds in the north temperate zone, which tends TO spread
the moisture from the Pacific over The western portion OF
continent. s@ge tENl
These Winds however ascending the western slope of
The mountain ridges, deprived of their moisture by
the diminished temperature ui the increased elevation.
and hence that the plains and valleys the eastern
side of the ridges generally ached and barren. and
that Le mountain syslem--ihe highest chain OF which,
known as The Rocky mountains, by presenting, as II
were, screen against the moisture with which the
winds from the come laden, has for its eastern
margin sterile belt, which probably extends along the
whole range, with an average width OF about $50 miles
These general views. derived, as they have been. from
imperfect data may Se serve give idea OF The
immense magnitude oi the work necessary 10 construct
railway from the Atlantic 10 the Pacnc No work for
artificial communication has ever exceeded II in extent
and physical difficulty. It's execution however, Is with
in The means and power of tho American people. The
degree OF practicabiy, and the comparative economy
and eligibility OF routes cannot be determined without ac-
curae instrumental surveys. An in the selection
of the may involve the useless expenditure of many
Millions aud the ultimate value OF the work; for this
choice should depend alone apparent ease oil con-
s,ruction also upon productive character aud gem
ersl OF the country through which II passes
From The foregoing sketch 1t will be perceived tha! the
lines OF exploration must traverse three different divis-
regions OF country, lying parallel 10 each Other
and extending north and south through the whole OF the
that of country between the Mississippi and the east
edge OF The sterile belt. having varying width oil
from 500 10 800 miles The second the sterile REGION va
ryng in width from 200 10 800 miles and the thrds The
mountain region, having breadth OF IRON 500 10 300
miles. fN
Explorations show that the surface Of the first division.
wh few exceptions falls IN gentle slopes from ITS west
boundary 10 the Mississippi al the rate OF about SIX
fee, the mile, and that offers material obstacle TO
The construction OF railway is therefore Yves. Oh
this that the difficulties 10 be overcome The concur
ring testimony OF reliable observers proves The second d.
that called the sterile REGION 10 be 30 inferior
n vegetation and character OF soil that has received
and
construction OF railway through this region III be al
tended with obstacles which, though not nsumounlabie
will be scarcely less difficult 10 overcome than the ele-
valions in the mountain passes oi the next division
Report also gives the character o extreme sterty 10
yet IN the conflict oil opinion this subject, and amid
the variety OF accounts which have been given OF IT,
doubts have arisen in the minds OF many as to the posi-
bty OF The existence oil such extensive regions within
our possessions unsuiied 10 the purposes OF man 10
settle this question, with which the construction OF araii-
way intimately connected, the parties have been in
struced 10 collect all the iacls which mag have bearing
the capacity OF these regions 10 support human lie
II necessary, before determining what routes
should BE- explored, TO examine the information which
had already been obtained Only three parties had ex
tended their explorations with proper instruments fem
the Mississippi 10 The tide. waters OF the Pacific. Tho
first aad most northern was by the way OF what s called
The South Pass and the Sierra Nevada the second
through Santa Ee the copper mines, and along the iia
and the third by the way of the Zuni river and the Colo
RADIO.
Other surveys have been made with barometrc levels
detached portions OF the region to be explored The
far goes and gives just ideas Of the elevations and
other obstacles 10 be surmounied. Much valuable and
reliable information has also been furnished by the Mex
ican boundary survey.
The eyploalio.s CT Lewis and Clarke who crossed 10
the Pacific, and those ot Col Long while they throw
much light on the general geography and topography OF
the country and served indicate the routes 10 be
exp oed do give prohes of the regions parsed over
Reports from travellers who have gone over the cont.
nen entirely without instruments are m vatious aad
conflicting the routes themselves and even Of the
same totally different accounts are gwen. Any in
formation other than that based accurate lnstrumen-
tai me asurenen though may be oil importance ia
indicating routes TO be surveyed. - OF little value IN de-
termnipg the question o railway II IL necessary for
this purpose have we'll determined facts anA not vague
impressions. x
The expedition Of Lewis and Clarke showed the
probability OF considerable indentaon in the crest OF
the shed OF the continent near the or'y SEVENTH pa
aIlei OF north latitude, and indicated the po.siony oi
ail way ia this from The hesdwales Oh ne
tributaries o-ihe Missouri across TO those OF Iiafkes
rver.
The party first organized under The act OF Congs.s
was The one to explore this line, which claimed the csr-
attention from the known severity and lenGn OF the
winter and the necessity OF commencing operations ear
y in the year 1t placed charge OF 0ovefnof Sse-
vens Washington Territory who was directed 20 ope-
rate from St Paups, eligible point on the Upper
ssissipp towards the great bend oil the hd,ssour
river and thence the table land between the tributaries
of the Missouri and those OF the Saskatchewan, 10 some
eligible pass In the Rocky mountains. second party,
comm anded by Capt Mcclellan under the direction OF
Governor Stevens was directed to proceed Al Pu-
act sound and explore the passes Of tbs Cascade range.
meeting the eastern party between that range and the
Rocky mountains.
Taken in geox raphcal order the survey directed