The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-19


it. -Four thousand sheep wee driven along it this
spring. The country is fertile, well watered, good
for grazing and no mountain tn be crossed, or other
distractions to be met except heavy forest OF TIM
ber-a present impeachment, but future advantage in
the construction OF road and the settlement OF the
country. know most OF the persons from charac-
ter who wrote these letters or joined iu the meeting
and could vouch for their respectaaility but, as
Colonel Fremont is now here. AID knows many Of
them per onally, and speak of them as they de-
serve, ard can verify and illustrate the points and
have submitted the communications to him for his
remarks, and herewith send the whole to you, re-
questing their publication in the National lnteui
gencer. Respectfully, gentlemen,
Your obliged fello. citizen,
THOMAS Fl. BENTON.
WAsHINGToN July s, 1853.
DEAR SIR IL have read with unusual gratifca-
tion the account which you handed me of the pro
ceedings Of public meeting recently held at Taos,
and which you accompany with request for some
remarks from to the character Of the men who
composed the Committee OF Resolutions. do 50
with pleasure, and the more readily AS it affords me
a fit occasion to offer my acknowledgements to the
chairman OF the meeting for the very honorable
mention he has made of myself.
With all the men Of whom GU ask me to speak, |
have been for long time more or less acquainted,
with some by the common report OF the country,
and with others personally and intimately 10 the
companionship Of travel over the region to which
they have 40 earnestly invited the public attention.
Judge Beauhien is = highly intelligent and edu.
Gated man. for many years citizen of New Mexico,
where he has spent, believe the greater part Of his
life. For the last ten years have been accustomed
to hear him spoken Of as one of the leading men Of
New Mexico, enjoying influence and consideration
among his fellow citizens. His long residence and
facilities for information-and which also were in
cidental to his business commemorative given
amp means and reasons for forming an opinion
upon the subject referred to him.
Mr.. Hatcher has spent the most active years OF his
life in the fur trade usually in charge oftridng posts
for Bent or St. Vrain, generally in remote and iso-
lated positions. In the prosecution of his business
trader and trapper he has made many laborious and
extensive journeys frequently foot the coun
try lying between the upper waters Of the Arkansas
and Red rivers and the Pacific coast, and is especial
~ familiar with the tributary region OF the ella. He
is unusually intelligent and well-nformed man, of
extraordinary peraonal activity and energy and OF
remarkable ridity, which his peculiar life has
given him frequent occasions TO signaliZe.
With Mr.. Maxwell have been intimately &C
quanted since 1912, in which year he accompanied
me in an expedition TO the Wind River Mountains
He ia man Of quick and intelligent mind, a good
traveller and good Judge Of country OF frank and
honorable character and daring courage and hardi
hood which have distinguished him in some hazard
GUS and bloody encounters with the mountain In
dams His occupations have led him also to make
to, with which he has conse qudntly familiar &C
quainance. What he says would always command
my confidence.
Mr. Quinn is prominent citizen of New Mexico
late Charles Bent.
It woulo take me beyond the limits of this note
ard would lie perhaps invdious for me to go further
into particular descriptions OF those men, whom
happen to know better than others of the committee
They ore oil Of character and enterprise-men
who have been sified and singled out from among
their fellows by their pronounced energy Of charac-
ter and peculiar fitness for the singular pursuits into
which they have been thrown. Collectively they
possess a rare combination Of practical ideas and
thorough knowledge Of the subject referred to them
which enables them tn pronounce upon 1t with full
understanding. Their opinion is the experience Of
their lives and will doubtless receive from the c0un
try the respect and weight which due to the test
mony Of honorable men speaking with thorough
knowledge OF what they say.
In compliance with your request to give my own
views Of the best route for the road, have TO say
that all subsequent information has strengthened me
in the conviction that it is the one undertook to ex
plore in the VIII ter of 1857 end in which was
baked by deporable mistake OF my. guide. st:
Louis and San Francisco | consider the national
points the Pacific and the Mississippi, aud that
the road ought to be on the nearest and best line be-
tween the two. With the view of finding pract
cable route through the Rocky mountains, or near
the line of these two Cities searched along the west
and haze Of the Rocky mountains south OF the ESQ
cale) South Pass, out to the head Of the Arkansas
and found several passes which were described in
my reports, and over which am informed emgrant
trains with all their membranes OF wagons, car
Tiapes, and stock now pass; but my information led
me to expect better pass. and near to the line, at
tie head Of the valley OF the Del Norte; and although
missed 1t through the mistake OF my guide, yet it
is low proved by the concurrent testimony Of many
good aud credible witnesses to be there.
My own explorations left but two sections in the
lire TO be examined to satisfy my own mind com
pletely-one from the head OF the valley of the
Del koIte the valley Of the Upper Colorado to
Las Vegas de Santa Clara, or some point in their
neighborhood; the other from Santa Clara west TO
the Sierra Nevada. All except these two sections
had sufficiently examined to satisfy myself that here
the line for road on the shortest line between
St. Louis and San Francisco; and to examine these
two sections the object of my winter expedition
Of 1s4S. Circumstances have prevented me fir ,m
completing what was then undertaken; put nfor-
mation received in New Mexico, after my disasters,
from many inhabitants Of that country, aud from
Ler0nX himself and the statements now furnished to
you by the respectable public meeting at Taos, prove
that tie way is good, and nearly direct on the first
sectit from tie head Of the Del Norte to the Little
Salt Lake ur Las Vagas de Santa Clara. (Note-
This Little Salt Lake is lake Of seven miles long by
broad and exactly at the point where the great
Spanish trail quits It's northeast course, and turns
southeast IT, o. To New Mexico) The second section,
fom santa Clara to the Sierra Nevada, crosses what
il called the desert, but which has vegas Chat
Of it, affords level routes and l judged from
range of mountains which ] running
east and wet. that a route might be found
due wc,t to the neghborhood of Walkers river, at
the east base of the Sierra cutting off the elbow that
il made by following the Spanish trail southwest to
Los Angeles, and reaching the valley of California
by pass which we believed TO exist between
Walkers and Owens rivers, in latitude about 3Ss.
now see in o letter from Carson that this pass il
| found, and we have been always confident that it
would be found. But the precise point at which the
Sierra would be passed pierced yet remains to he
deter mined ana presents no extraordinary difficulty.
Walkers Pass and the Lake Pass Immediately north
Of are good but further ont OF the line could
| be desired Other practical passes may be found
more exactly suitng the direction Of the line at
| all events good place tor tunnelling Mountains
fhnrn
lase and in this very part Of the Sierra, between
! ATTITUDES $40 and $50, was on the crest Of one
several thousand feet high at the base of which on
the west lay small lake, SO that 1t seemed to
| be under us.
winter exploration Of these two sections Is what
now deem TO lie desirable, and believe 1t would
prove that the are not greater Instructions
there than in New England and Western New York.
The computed distance between the State lines OF
Missouri California this route, twelve hundred
miles Respectfully, &c. JOHN q. FREMoNT.