Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-12-02
From the n. Y. Tribune.
a Question Settled

I ~~~~~~S@A
/ 1t has long been understood that the north
ernmost route to the Pacific must have a
greatadvantage over the Central, orthe South
ern one, from the fact that it is very much
shorter. BY that way we shall not only reach
the great Western ocean sooner than by any
other, but, when there, we are much nearer
To the Oriental World, whose commerce is
thought by some to be very extensive and
profitable affair. 1t is not only much brief
err journey from Lake Superior to Puget's
Sound than from St. Louis to San Francisco.
but from there we can reach Yedo or Canton
with two days less steaming. This fact has
caused the Northern route to be regarded with
respect even by those who are lndtf anxious
that some other line should be fixed on But
still very serious doubt has rendered its adj
vocates somewhat uncertain and backward.
1t has been surmised that possibly no good
pass could be found to conduct the road
through the barrier of the Rocky Mountains
and it has been feared that however excell
ent and favorable the country on both sides
of that great ridge it might be necessary af-
ter all to renounee this line and to settle eth
er on that advocated by Col. BENTON, or that
of Texas
This doubt has now been extinguished.
Governor STEVENS, at the head of the North
ern Exploring Expedition reports that there
are several good passes, one of them combin-
ing every desideratum, and that there is no
hindrance to the construction of the road over
or the line he has trayeSed. His letter, which
appears IN THE TRIBUNE this morning, is high
ly explicit on this question. The entire line
has been Investigated by his own party going
west, and by that of Lieutenant SAxToy, who
started from the Pacific and came eastward :;
and though it cannot be said that the whole
country has been explored on both sides, and
every mountain pass examined, so that the
best possible line can be exactly laid down for
all the distance, not a doubt remains that the
Northern Route is perfectly feasible, and in
deed singularly favorable for the execution of
this great highway.
And not only do the mountains interpose
no obstacle, but the country from Lake Su-
perlor to the Pacific is described as exceeding
ly fertile and adapted for settlement. The
case Is not SO encouraging for either of the
other lines. The Central line runs zig-zag,
and traverseS barren districts when fuel and
water do not abound. The Texan route lies
along the Gila, whose craggy gorge cannot be
used for a railroad bel; or else it crosses the
border of Mexico and makes long stretch
through region not ours. None of these
nconvenlences attach to the Puget's Sound
line. That runs with great directness through
a highly productive territory, well wooded,
and well watered, and has at its western
terminus one Of the noblest harbors of the
world The sole objection that can be raised
against it is the accumulation of snow usual
III northern ATTITUDES in winter. On this head
important facts will no doubt be given in Gov.
Stevens's official report, which will be IN
Washington In season for the opening of
Congress. But certain it is that on the grea-
ter portion of this route there are no such
SHOWS as fall on the railroads in the central
part Of New ork, and that at the worst there
Is nothing more troublesome than is constant
experienced on the railroads of Maine. We
all know how much these roads are obstructed
in winter; when the snow drifts upon them
Appliances always ut hand soon clear the
track; and the circulation is never DELAYED
beyond day. On the Puget's Sound road
it would not be more serious; and at any rate
there would be no such terrible depths of
snow there as Col Fremont had to encounter
in NewMcxico in 1850.
The clearing up of all doubts relative to
this line is not the only good done by the ex-
petition. 1t has settled many other questions
with regard to the natural features of that
vast and hitherto unknown region, and has
opened to our knowledge and our interest a
splendid portion of the national domain to
which we have been strangers.