Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
SENATOR GwINs REPLY TO COL. BENTON.
TO THE EDITORS.
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER II, 1856


pubish a notice from Col BENTON of the remarks made
by me in the Senate the 18th of this month"; the
reference Of my bill in aid of the construction of rail
roads in California leading from the shores of the Pacific
across the mountains in the direction of the States upon
the Atlantic
This assault upon the character of the papers read by
me to the Senate is perfect surprise. What those
writers said of Walkers Pass had been measuraby
ticipated and substantially said by Mr. BEALE and Mr.
HEAP, who, under COL BESToss auspices went over his
favore route and whose observations published
from time to time by Col BENTON himself in your paper
Mr. Heap and Mr. Beae and devoted friends of
Col BEYroxhe latter amid the fearful disasters at the
Colorado, boldly declaring to him that rather than
.Jring modification 10 you could die trice" The fol-
lowing is their account published by COL BESToS in
the National Integencer of October II, 1853 only two
months ago:
a of the greatest regret and dsappoint
ment Beale and myself that after having followed the
route you traced for from Wespor the Nohape
rere compelled TO abandon intention of entering
California through Walkers Pass On reaching the NO
hare animals completely broken down, and
many Of the foot Our main reliance for subsst
the game able to kill, which
sisted Of occasional sage rabbit Our only remaining
provision pnole which reduced to few spoons
full day; yet, had our mules been able to travel We
would have followed out your plan to the end but their
condition rendered this impossible [
We shall leave here in few days nd visit he Talare
valley, entering it through the Teel Tayhoae) Pass
which also affords convenient pass INTO the valley from
the east We entered the valley of Los Angeles through
the Cahon Con Cascoa Cahone Pass, at the head
Of the Santa Anna.
'There equally good passes through the noun
tans into the great Tulare valley, viz Walkers Pass
the head of Kern River, which affords
into the valley somrha to the northward OF its
upper southern extremity, and the TETON (Tayhone)
Pass which lies at The point Of junction of the Sierra Ne
rcda and Coast Range THIS the Pass through Which The
raey usually entered either from the Great Salt Lake
Desert from the paley Of Los angeles 1t has frequent
ly been called Walkers Pass and most people make this
istdke Lake Buenaptd, Kern Lake is about fifteen
miles the norhward Of this pass and it is emphatcal
~ at the head of the Tulare valley.
Walkers Pass is little known here Lerour evidently
meant The T9on TayhOn Pass phen he spoke Of Walkers
This extract proves tAe anxiety Of these to " fol
low the route traced out for them by Col Benton but
sswere compelled to abandon it. ave would have fol-
flowed your plan to the end but their 1.-THE mules
condition rendered this impossible" Hence they took
q better route. Mr.. HEAP says further:
The Desert retained its level and monotonous charsc
ter until arrived at the Mohaye river at P. NJ, our
animals almost perishing from hunger and thirst"
All troubles regarded scarcity of water and
were now at end aud from this point our journey
level country offering impeachment rhateUG 10
good road as far as the settlements in California"
Mr.. Heap further says of Mr.. Beale and himself that
it their intention to have selected
1.-Two or three of the to accompany the
desert lying between the Mohave and Walkers Pass in
the Sierra Nevada; but found that Of all animals
there FIVE that could travel twenty miles in
day. and, the intervening country entirely destt
tate Of 0dt and grass, compelled reluctantly to
rehnquish this object"
Let understand this matter in its geographical de-
tail The Sierra Nevada extends nearly from north to
South until reaches Walkers Pass this point
and pursues westerly until it forms junction
with the Coast Range 1t does our at Walkers
Wal
ker and the TETON Pass and these about 500 feet
high The lowest point yet found is the spot where
the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Range form junction
and that is 100 feet high it is six eight miles
from the TETON To enable Eastern gentlemen appre
ciae the magnitude of the scale upon which Cafor
MIA mountains constructed they will please reco
ect the fact that the height Of the Aeghanies where
crossed by the Cumberland road s43 feet above the
level Of the sea.
A few words in this connexion. Opposite Wal
kers Pass Of the Sierra Nevada and nearly of it,
there passes through the Coast Range of noun
tainsoRe called Walkers Pass and the other San Fran
cisco Pass Going from the city of San Francisco to
South California by the San Joaquin and Tuare valleys
the traveller goes through the TETON Pass the plain
of the Sierra Nevada, and after travelling SOUTH
crosses the Coast Range to Los Angeles.
If the traveller from San Francisco would 60 to Col.
BESToss Coochaope Pass, to Albuquerque,
the Southern by the Ga he would 60 through the
TETON Pass. Mr.. HEAP tells Col. BENTON
"Tha (he Toon) is the Pass through uhich The valley is
usually entered either from the Great Salt Lake Desert
from the paIleycf Los angeles" "Lerou1 eudenty
The Tyoa Pass WhsH he poke Of Walkers"
This evidence is as pointed that submitted by in
the Senate, and is only less weghty because Messrs
HEAP, BEALE, and LERoux neither measured heights
nor distances. They could only conjecture either.
Why assailed for submitting evidence merely con
rmdory Of what Colonel BENTON has himself published
undertake say especially after the Secretary
Of War has expressly and officially informed Congress
that the question Of practcability is seed Speaking
Of Walkers Pass" Secretary DAVIS in his annual
port says:
Recent information from Lieutenant Williamson es-
tdbshes the fact that the Pass naprGctcabis for rail-
ray"
This fact ascertaned after an actual and elaborate
survey and after mere horseback reconnaissance
settles the matter beyond the power Colonel BENTON
disturb 1t; unless, indeed he show that the in
sruments bad or we're unskilfuy or ai,eiy used
That this is his object and that he finds more conve-
nent attack the earlier and incomplete accounts sub
mtted BY me than the positive aud ascertained
officially announced by the scientific Secretary Of War
not unlikely, for he begins thus
"TLis is the given Of that Pass Walker 81 by
two Government officers and read in the Senate Of the
United States TO infuencen fact to govern great
national measure Now wish to oppose these judy
ens pronounced upon that Pass the description given
Of il by Mr. Fremont above nine years ago. when there
was no question about rival railroad routes"
After giving long description Of the Pass by Mr. FIRE.
MOTT who merely rode the mountains without
curaely measuring the distance ascertainng whether