Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-04-07
Pacific Road Route

racine hOau ROUTE.
In Col. Benton's recent letter OF the SUBJ
ect of the Pacific Rail Road, we find the
following, which will throw much light on
the subject. Col. Benton thinks Mr.. LE-
Roux one of the best informed men on this
subject, living-not excepting the renowned
KIT Carson:
STATEMENT OF Mr.. LERoUx.
At the request of Col. Benton, I Antoine
Leroux, native Of St. Louis, of Missouri, |
and now an inhabitant Of Taos. in New
Mexico do make the following statement in
relation to the Pass at the head of the val
ley Of the Del Norte, and Of the country on
each side of the Pass; and also as to the best
road from Missouri to California. And first
tel how got acquainted with the country.
In the year 1890, when WIS in my 18th
year, joined Gen. Ashley and Mai. Hen
ry in an expedition oF hunting and trapping
10 the Upper Missouri and Rocky Noun
tains; and after near two years in that part
went 10 Taos. in New Mexico, and 1rter-
wards married there, and have made it nv
home ever since; and from that place car
ried on the business of beaver trappcr for
about fifteen years. generally on the waters
Of the Great Colorado of the West; and
have trapped the whole country,every river,
creek and branch from the Gila to the head
Of the Grand River fork of the Upper Col
, oralo. an1 out % the Great Salt Lake. and
on the waters of Wah-Satch Mountain, and
!. out to the Virginia river, and have been
, four times to California, and guide to great
many American officers employed in Mex-
E co, and know the country from New Mexi-
co 10 California. e,...g..
will now describe the Pass.
. At the head Of the valley del Norte there
is broad Pass about eight miles wide
o called by the Utah Indians Coo-cha-iopc and
h by the Mexican Spaniards Puerto, and
. which signifies in both languages, TH'
Gap or the GGfe and has been known tc
i the Spaniards. ever since they settled II
# New Mexico, and By the Indians always
y, 1t is made by the Sierra San Juan, whicl
comes up from the south on the west side Q
the del Norte, and gires out there; and b,
d the Sierra Blanca which comes i'll from tht
10 cast like it was going to Join the San Juan
n but turns off north round the head OF til,
~ Arkansas and towards the Three Parks. ant
~ is eight miles wide. Here between thcs,
= two mountains is the Pass which goes ou
o level from the valley of the Del Norte, an,
10 looking like continuation of it,) whicl
IN leads to the upper waters Of the Great Col
20 orado Of the West. The Del Norte doe
not head in this Pass, bit in the San Juar
,s Mountain little south Of the Pass, wher
re there is also summer Pass, but none fo
II the winter, on account Of the snow in it,
i There is small creek in the Pass Gale
r by the same Damc, Coo-cha-tope, wh.c
h. comes out from the END Of the San Juan, an
e. gees about eight miles east towards the d,
r Norte, but stops in a small lake out Of whic
i. little stream gets to the Del Nortc-whic
" shows how level the country is. The Pas
O. is heavily timbered with large pine tree
in and with pinon; and there may be SON
he small oaks. but am not certain. There
,o not much snow in this pass, and people s
l. through all the winter; and when there
-. much snow in the mountains on the .GJjqW
route, (Which is the Old Spanish trail
No. California; the people Of Taos so round ii
-, way, and get into that trail in the forks
:, Grand and Green rivers. Thee arc trai
,d through it, but after you get through the
49,. are many trails, some going TO the Abiqu
road and some up or down the country
- This Pass is laid down on map saw
81, the War Office, made by Lieut.. Parke al
Mr.. L. Fl. Kern, and is there named aft
= me, because gave Lieut.. Parle inlormatit
49, about it. 1t is the only map have Sc,
l. that shows that Pass, and the best one
have seen Of that part OF the country, al
with little correction would be perfect.
.,. A. for the country on each Sida Of f
go; 1d>N. Will uesCTlUG H. ana on lle east 81
first.
r. There is a large valley to the east abo
IA so or 80 miles wide, and near 100 mil
- long, reaching from the Coo-cha-tope to t
- Taos settlements at the little Colorado
l.. Tie Del Norte runs through this vale
~. which is the widest and best valley in Ne
o. Mexico, and can hold more people than
~ New Mexico besides. 1t is all prairie e
- crr' on the creeks, and on the river. and
the muuntuin sides, which az, well wopda
1t is rich soil and covered with good gra'
u,. and wooded on all the streams. The Spa
iards call it Ell Vale de San Luis, and
=, was formerly famous for wild horses a
In ~ IL