The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-19

IuInl6n0Q Oy the reconnaissance OF tho railroad
ROUTES to the Pacific, we publish the report Of
a meeting hold at San Diego, in California
Al the citizens of that State are more deeply
interested than any Others in the construction
Of aonas road from the Atlantic States. we
should consider their opinion at least as i'm
partial. and their information more reliable
than that of any other locality. Their state
ment in regard to this communication with
China is very striking, and, in connection with
the coincident arrival of the late news from
China, by way of Liverpool and San Fran
cisco respectively, shows that even in its pre-
sent imperfect condition the route across the
Isthmus of Central America is shorter means
of REORGANIZATION for us than that across
the Isthmus Of Suez:
PACIFIC RAILRoAp.-A meeting was recently
held in San Diego, California, in reference to the
construction of railroad to the Pacific In
cluded in the record of the proceedings, as given
by the San Diego Herald, is report prepared by
Colonel j. Bankhead Magruder, United States
Army, which was unanimously adopted by the
meeting.
This report enters into an examination Of the
merits of the three proposed routes from the Mis-
sissippi:
First That from Independence, in Missouri, to
the Sacramento Valley, via the South Pass
Second. The route from Fulton, in Arkansas,
via Albuquerque, and through Walkers Pass to
San Francisco.
Third. That from Shreveport, or some point in
Louisiana already connected with northern rail-
roads, via Ell Paso and the south bank of the Gila
river to San Diego.
The first of these routes is summarily dismissed
as the most Objectionable of all by reason of its
greater length between the settled portions of the
Atlantic and Pacific States; the uninhabited and
for the most part unproductve expanse of the
country through which it must pass; and the ply
steal distractions to its outletin the Sacramento
Valley, presented by the Sierra Nevada, which is
covered in that section with deep snow for at least
four months in the year.
The second or middle route is deemed more
feasible, but there are many natural obstacles to
the construction of the road. These are canvassed
Mt great length in the report The Instructions
of sthe pass" are said to be difficult to overcome;
there great number of sloughs on the route,
in which herds of cattle have been known to sink
by their own weight; portions of the country are
periodically inundated in the rainy season; there
is scarcity and great difficulty of transportation
of material the route, and the lowest ELEVATION
| at which the Sierra Madre can be crossed north
of the ella river, is annually covered with snow
to depth SO great as absolutely to obstruct ira
vel. Other objections are urged against the adop-
ton of this route; but these the principal
| For the third route it is claimed that it has
the advantage of being six hundred miles less in
distance than the proposed middle route, while
it is more practicable than either of the Others.
The report says
sThe location is through a country of grelt
agricultural Importance and immense mineral
value, and will attract to itself the commerce
,c 1,r,- - fho Aictri nf
Mexico. 1t will bring into immediate settlement
and cultivation, not only the rich lands of the
valley of the ella, but those of the Colorado,
| from it's junction with the ella to the Great ca
non, which are covered with a fine growth of
timber, and admirably adapted to the production
ofcotton, sugar corn, rice, tobacco wheat, and all
the tropical fruits. 1t is also well known that
this route gold and silver mines Of great value
/ have already been found, and successfully work
ed and that they were only abandoned in con-
sequence of the hostility Of powerful tribe OF
Indians who infested that region Many valua-
BILE mines, however, are still in successful opera
ton in the more settled parts of the country,
which is rich in other minerals besides those above
enumerated.
sit is found that the climate is mild, equable,
and healthy, and also that this region is less
subject to rains than that of any other route
| across the continent, while it will have at its
western terminus one of the best harbors on the
| Pacific.
"The distance between San Diego and Canton is
also less than that from any other port north or
south of it on the whole Pacific coast San Diego
and Canton are situated nearly in prolongaton
of straight line passing through Liverpool and
New York. The distance from San Diego to
Canton is one-third less than that from Panama
to Canton, and three hundred or four hundred
miles less than that from San Francisco to the
same place; but the voyage from San Diego to
Canton can be made in less time comparatively
than is indicated by the difference, owing to the
direction of the prevailing winds
1sFrom this cause, the committee who prepared
the report of opinion that voyage from San
Diego to Canton and back can be made in five
sxths, if not three-fourths, of the time required
for the same voyage from San Francisco; that a
steamer can make the trip there and back from
San Diego in less time by five days than from
San Francisco; a clipper in shorter time by from
nine to twelve days, and ordinary sailing vessels
will accomplish it in from twenty to thirty days
less. 1t is further urged that San Diego is also
much nearer Australia and the Sandwich and
Society Islands, countries which in future must
fill prominent place in the commerce of the Pa
cific ocean,"
The proposed route of the road is thus sketched
in the report: ..
'sPassing through Ell Paso, it will strike Cookies
route neat San Bernardino, thence near the river
San Pedro, to a point on the ella river some
twenty miles above the Pmo villages; thence
down the left bank Of the Gila to its junction with
the Colorado of the West, and thence across the
desert to Vellecito. From this place railroad
can easily be constructed to San Diego harbor,
over either of two practicable routes. One by the
way of San Jose and Paa, and the other by the
way of Santa Maria and Santa Monica, the dis
| tance by either not being 100 miles,
| "The route south of the ella river is that
which is exclusively used by the southern emigra-
ton, and wagons are passing over it daily. The
settlements which would spring up throughout its
whole extent, and especially along the CHA and
Del Norte rivers, will by the time the road can be
completed be sufficient to prevent the aggressions
of the Indians upon the citizens Of Mexico, and
| rel;ove tho Govern,nent from the necsssity of