Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-14

is gradual for some 40 miles. On the West, il
decends TO Green river, or the upper Colorado,
a distance Of 80 miles. From the summit level
il is an inclined plain, sloping 10 ST. Joseph and
Kansas on the East, while on the West the in
clinatiOn is TO the Upper Colorado.
| The country from the rolling divide, on the
head Of the Republican fork, to TIE head Of the
Yampah is varied, consisting Of wide grassy
undulating plains, wooded hills, and swelling
mountains, through which wind lovely rich val
1 leys and delicious streams. There are oil the
inducements TO emigration and settlenent-wood
IN abundance--fne water-productive soil and
bounding health in tho dry, pure atmosphere.
| The valley of the Colorado 10 desoatc ex-
cept on the immediate maSgins of the streams,
and group of detached mountains east OF
Browns hols; yet it is rich in CUal-this mineral
being found in many localities and ia large
bodies.
The route from the pass, proceeds down The
Yanpah; to . point near che junction OF the
North and South forks Of that stream; thence ii
Pursues Western course, passing by immense
beds Of coal, and By the fertile range of the
| Vermillion mountains, (and which are not ind-
Gated on any map) TO Green river. Thence
there are three routes that can he pursued one
by Fort Bridger-ons by the Winta and Utah
Lake, and the other or more GENITAL, up Henry's
| fork, and by the head Of Weber river 10 the
Great Salt Lake City.
There it would pass through the rich and
populous valley of the Great Salt Lake, and
pursuing course South OF that Lake, it would
cross the dry bed Of the great inland Sea, which
forms the Great Basin, by way of the rich Val
ley of Fountains TO the head OF the Humboldt I;
thence down the Humboldt to the southern Or
egon read; thence by Mud Lake and through
the Sierra Nevada by MOBILES Pass, into the
Sacramento Valley.
From the Colorado to the Great Basin, at the
Salt Lake City, the country is in many places
rich and susceptible of cultivation. In the
Timpanogas group of the Wahsatch mountains
there are many delightful valleys, with fine
grasses and good water.
There are but few obstacles to the construc--
ton of the road, and from the Salt Lake City to
the base of the Sierra Nevada, beyond Mud
Lake the plain is, with but few exceptions, one
unbroken level. Then commences Mobiles
Pass, by which you enter the rich Valley of the
Sacramento, without perceiving that you have
passed the Sierra Nevada, so gradual is the elc.
walton and descent
From tins point the route lays down the VAL
ley of the Sacramento, through the heart Of the
rich mines and the rich country to BeniGa
which is better place for its terminus than San
Francisco.
The route is more direct, and much shorter
than any other proposed, the distance being
from ST. Joseph or Kansas 10 Benica the
bay OF San Francisco, about one thousand eight
hundred and thirty miles.
1t would benefit larger population than any
other. 1t would be great artery flowing from
the heart of commerce in the Atlantic, Middle
and Western States, which would pour forth u
tide Of our products and manufactures on the
coast of Asia, and return, bearing the riches,
gems gold, spices and silks of the east. 1t
would pass through a country where there are
facilities for the construction of railroad-a
country with soil and minerals, and capable Of
sustaining a producing population. 1t would
have magical effect in developing the resour-
ces Of the great West and peopling the green,
untrodden praires and beautiful valleys towards
the setting sun.
Upon this grand subject we should unite our
energies, concentrate our strength, without To-
cal chickering's or party prejudces. 1t rests on
high on lofty ground-above party-above
place, and towering over all selfish cOnsidera-
lions. 1t is subject in which we should span
the continent by one stroke Of policy, group the
States in one view and behold them linked by
an iron banda pathway of commerce from
ocean to ocean, along which the great tide Of
wealth should pour with equal benefit 10 ala
subject on which the patriot should be heard be.
fore the people, as we'll as the brawing dema-
gogue, who rides it as a hobby in pursuit of
Office.
The route indicated, am confident is practi-
cable. have traversed it myself from a point
opposite to the head Of the Republican fork to
the point where it DIVORCES from the Humboldt.
| passed through the mountains in the summer
of 1880. with the Cherokee Indians and some
emigrants from Arkansas and Missouri. The
pass prior TO that time was apparently untrod-
den by the white man. We had some 40 wa
CONS and pursued our course without impeachment
or difficulty. had in view the practicabllity
of constructing the Railroad, and particularly
noted every feature of the country, and noted
them at the time in journal, and feel war;
ranted in the assertion that the route from the
eastern base of the Rocky Mountains TO the
western base of the Sierra Nevada in the Sacra-
msnto valley, will not present half as many
obstacles as the route from Baltimore TO Wheel
ing. and can be constructed at much less cost.
The road should be national-the result OF
national egislation-made by the treasure of the
nation, and kept and guarded by national
agents. Thendtional domain should be the ba'
sis offhe railroad Stock. Upon this stock i
should be built, and built NOW. There will bt
no difficulty in raising money on such a securi
ty as the public lands. Thenit should be unds
the national control and no more toll or tau
should be cxacted for passengers or goods trans
ported than will pay the agents and employee
= and keep the road in repair, This would b,
, merely nomirsl-would not be felt as burden
while it secured iAcalculable benefits 10 tn
whole Union.
We know the danger of monOpOlies. w
L.. IL III n,, ma Tor lie hennhI of the few a