The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-07-24
Interesting and Important
from Captain Marcy.


from Captain Marcy. = sa'
-..... NEW YosK. June 5, 1853.
~. 3, y ,mpanee with the rsqaes. OF several dele.
.ie convention about 10 assemble al Memphis, 1
= zee. am induced 10 oder The following remarks
he subject OF a Pacific railway. asa a#s
as subject, which is one OF pre- eminent aud absorb
interest TO the mercantile world, and Is probably DIES,
hnsd Y produce greater revolution ~ commerce than
any other scheme that las been originated in modern
times, will undoubtedly occupy promnent position
among the subjects that will be submitted TO the consid
Grafton Of the convention. tl.s ss-s r. ~ ~
Having for several years past given this matter my at
tention. collecting facts personal observation and
from Others trust ihs,ihs information herein comma.
nssed will not be regarded BY The gentlemen oil The
vention as wholly without interest as &H
The gigantic project OF connecting The Atlantic with
the Pacific BY great national railway is advocated BY
all parties and sections OF the United States, all agreeing
in tie opinion tina, should and will be carried into effect
no very distant period The chief obstacles that seem
TO be presented al the present time those which arise
from local feeling and interest. In the selection oil
route for work Of this description there several
considerations which is manifest should bear upon the
issue. rH
In the first place, i, should be located upon the most
central and direct feasible route, that which will
subseTve the and interests OF the greatest number
OF our citizens Ia the second place. the distances be-
tween the temini materials found for the construction
and maintenance Of the road in the district through which
il would pass. well tie topography and general
physical geography OF The country along The rouie are
among the items which would have inlaence in the
determination Of the question In the third place, con-
ceive TO be highly important that route should Ut pos
ed by deep SHOWS Upon the route which passes the
Great Salt Lake, and indeed, upon all the routes which
cross the range OF the Sierra Nevada mountains, Inc
snow lays upon the ground for great portion Of the
year.
1t will be SEE therefore. il admit the practicabliy
OF constructing railroad through a country exceedingly
ragged and mountainous for several hundred miles, like
that spon the routes which pass the Sierra Nevada
mountains that in consequence OF The deep snowr, II
could only be made Of during part OF The
In evidence OF hs have been informed by two gentle
men Of intelligence and undonbed veracily that in the
month OF August they encountered snow from yenty to
fifty feet deep in these mountains upon the continuation
OF the south pass route. 1850
The most jealous champions OF this route appear to
have abandoned the idea OF lis practicaby for rail-
way, and the climate and features of the couEtry north
OF the South Pass Of such character as to preclude
the probability OF hndns suitable pass through the
mountains IN this direction, they now seeking Tor
route further south Up to this time there has not 10
my knowledge, been any welau,hentcaed information
OF route which would admit the passage OF wagons
between latitude 40 degrees and the valley OF the ella
river am aware that several mountain have given
accounts OF passes within these limits but SO far as
concerned should, IN The absence OF further evil
dence, exercise great caution giving cIedence 10 such
statements. The representations of some OF these men
may be correct in every particulars but II such is the
fact these Passes have been discovered since lS49 AT
Santa Fe in The summer OF that year, consulted with
several OF the best mountain guides IN New Mexico, who
had frequently passed the country lying between
the Pacific and the Rocky mountains, aud undoubtedly
possessed intimate knowledge OF The country than
any other men living, and they all concnned in the
opinion that there was no pass known by which wagons
could reach the Pacific nearer than the CHA river
II is said that route has been discovered within few
years pas. crossing The mountains through what called
"Walkera Pass" This leaves Rio Grande at place
called Albuquerque. about forty miles south of Santa
Fe, and the 35ih parallel OF latitude
hundred and fifty miles south OF The Gala
Our government has recently orcered an examination
OF This ronie and We will soon be IL possession OF
,bentic information concerning IT. Should It prove as
good has been represented by the mountain travel
Ter who discovered it, believe will be the most north
sry feasible Ionie for Pacific railway (unless the one
Recommended by Col. Fremont and Mr. Bsale should
nrD IN
The measured distance from Albuquerque TO ST Louis
j. eleven hundred and ioriy-hye miles and from the
point 10 Memphis, via Fort Smith, is ten hundred
and eighty miles imagine there will be but little d6
Gully the surface OF the country concerned in
constructing railroad from Albuquerque 10 ST. Louis
The which myself discovered and marked out in
lS4o, commences at Fort Smith, Arkansas and follows
the valley OF the Canadian upon the south side OF
that stream for (eoo mes, when it leaves the river
and traverses a rolling prairie country 10 very d.
rect course for Albuquerque and Santa Fe On leaving
Fort Smith This road passes gently undulaing dis
rct, covered for the most part with heavy timber.
casionaly inierspersed with small pIaes, which afford
the very best OF grass for eight monhs in the and
niersected by numerous perennial spring brooks howng
productive soil, which renders altogether one
al the very best agricultural sections This character
continues for hundred and eighty miles from For,
Smith, TO the 99h degree oil wos, longitude where
the road energies from the wood lande, and strikes the
plains where there ia but little timber, except the im
mediate borders OF the watercourscs The soil becomes
thin and sandy, and owing to the periodical drought OF
the summer season. cannot be made available for agr
culture without the aid OF the artificial irrigation there
~, however, sufficient wafer upon this portion OF the
route 10 the purpose OF railroad all seasons, and
the wood is sufficient for fuel tor long time. imme
diaiely leaving "Cross Timber" the Goth me-
ridsn OF longitude the road strikes ridge which rep
arates the Canadian river from the Washa, and con-
tnues upon 1t TO the OF The latter stream
a distance OF about three hundred miles this d.
vdinz ridge in very direct for Abuquer-
que il firm and level, and makes one OF The best
natural roads have From the head
OF the Washita The road continues near the
valley Of the Canadian for one hundred miles, oc
casional| crossing small sffuens which furnish the
traveller with water. The arabic soil upon this route
extends very The same distance west apon the
Missouri route what called the Santa Fe trace be
routes that they regarded the one leading from
possessing fewer obstacles 10 the construction OF q
railway than the other. Should the that
il about being made prove the impraccabiy OF carry
ing the road through Walkers Pass" ii will be neces
sary 10 90 still further south In the oil isao
was directed TO escort company OF emgrants from Fort
Smith to New Mexico, their way TO California Upon
our arrival at Santa Fe ascertsned that there
route known by which wagons could penetrate the range
oil Sierra MenIbres mountains, north of The ella river
IL therefore became necessary for the emsans TO urn Il,
the souib and travel three hundred miles down The Rio
Grands. before they reached point departure from
the river II then occurred TO that IL a could be
found from this point direct for Fort Smith, it
would be much shorter than the had made along
the Canadian. accordingly left the Rio Grande nj .
place called Donna Ana" add was entirely successful
IN my efforts 10 discover and establish a good road
between The two points before mentioned This road
for 900 miles from the Rio Gfande iraverscs el-
evaied prairie country, interseeted by three ranges
OF mountains. upon which there is much good pine
nbss We were enabled, however, to pass al the bases
al sh..c, I,, IL