The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-19
TAs Western Exploring Expsd1taoa.
RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PAcIPIC-CAPTAN GUN
NIsoN's PARTY.

TAs Western Espaesing ExpsaAtaoa.
RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PAcIPIC-CAPrAIN GUN
NIsoN's PARTY.
From the St. Louis Intelligsncer June 10
Captain J. W. Gunnison, who, with his surveying
party, has been in our city for several days past,
making some of bis final arrangements for his de-
parture to the line assigned him, left yesterday for
Kansas, and will be on the plains about the 25th q
this month.
The route which Captain Gunnison has been d.
iected to explore and examine is that which has
usually received the name of the Central route, and
is to extent the same which has been trayersed
by Col. Fremont, and is 30 highly extoled by Mr..
Benton Its line follows the course OF the Kansas
by the Smoky Hill fork Of that river 10 near its
source; thence across to the Arkansas, and up the
bank OF the Huerfano, continent OF that river, to
its source in the mountain range called Sangre de
Cristo, where it is supposed pass suitable for .
railroad may be found south OF those known Robi
doux and Williams passes At the western outlet
of this pass is Fort Massachusetts, established there
last year by Col sumner near one of the small trbu-
taries OF the Rio del Norte known Is the Trnchara.
From the point occupied by this fort, the party may
course down the Trnchara strike the Del Norte near
the Conejos another little stream which emptes into
the Del Norte from the west and If possible traverse
the country north Of the fine river San Juan viii; Oh
flows into the great Colorado OF the West The
choice of this route is recommended by the great
saving of distance il effects over that toward the
north through the Coo cha to pc pass. IT. however,
the San Juan cutoff should not be deemed practica
BILE, the party will proceed northwardly from Fort
Massachusetts up through the pass known as Coo
cha-tope. Having gone through this defe, their
course will lie west to the waters of Grand and Green
rivers. These rivers, which are large form the Colo
rado After crossing Grand river, the course will lie
enthusiastically to the old Spanish trail from Abb
quiz which will be followed westwardly till it strikes
Green river, at crossing not far above the junction
of Grand and Green rivers Thence course will be
followed, south of the Spanish trail, still westwardy
to the Vegas of Santa Clara, which is the furthest
westerly point embraced in Capt. Gunnson's instruc
tons. From Santa Clara the survey will be extended
northwardly to the Great Salt Lake, embracing an
examination of the country surrounding famous
spring known az the Ojo de San Jose, and the Dor
ders OF the Little Salt Lake. From the Great Salt
Lake it will be continued eastwardy to the range of
mountains in which are the South pass, and pass
south of it known as Stansburys pass, and thence
down the Platte river to Council Bluffs on the Mis-
souri,
1t was on a part of this route that Col. Fremont,
in ls4S-9 met with such terrible disaster-losing
all his animals and one.thrd of his men, who perish
ed of starvation and the intense cold OF the mountain
Gus region into which they had been misled.
Capt. Gunnisons party consists Of the following
persons
Capt J. w. Gunnson, Typographical Engineer
Lieut.. E. G. Bechwith, Commissary and Quarter.
master.
RN. Kene, Photographer and Craftsman.
J. II. Peters, I. l.. Romans, Assistant Engineers.
DIR. Scheel. Surgeon, Chemist and Mineralogist.
Frederick Creutzfeldt, Botanist and Taxidermist.
James A. Snyder, ASST tant Craftsman.
At Westport the party will be joined by an escort
from Fort Leavenworth, Of thirty Of the mounted
rifles, under command Of Capt Morris.
From the composition and organization of this
CORPS there is reason to expect that the route as
signed TO it will be faithfully examined and fully de-
scribed. Capt. Gunnison was associated with Capt.
Stansbury in the party which was occupied in the
examination of the Salt Lake basin, and is the
author of some highly interesting sketches of that
region of country, and of the peculiar people who
inhabt it. With some portions of his present route
he is, therefore familiar He has deservedly high
standing in the Typographical corps.
Mr.. kerne was with Col. Fremont in his expedl-
ton to the head waters of the Del Norte already
mentioned, and has, Of course vivid recollection
of certain portions Of this line. He has been across
to California through Walkers pass on lower route
by Zuni, by the waters Of the Little Colorado, and
by the heads of the San Francisco to the Great
Colorado, about forty miles below the .stupendous
craftsman to Capt Sitgreave's expedition, report
of which will be published at the opening OF Con-
gress. Mr.. Kerne unites to his knowledge as engi-
neer great excellence as sketcher from nature and
as craftsman. The keeping up the field notes and
the preparation Of the map will devolve on him.
Messrs Peters and Romans are both good civil
engineers. Dr. Scheei comes highly recommended
to Capt. Gunnison by Drs. Engelman and Wizlzenus
as q student under Liebig, and well qualified for the
station asst ned to him. Mr.. CreutZieldt was with
Col. Fremont, and is just the man for his place.
After what tue government has done in dispatch
ing such corps over the route so stoutly con-
tended for by Mr. Benton it is matter for regret that
the public ear should still be dinned with complaints
and outcries that this route has been neglected.
Much has been -aid about the GOODNESS shown TO
Lieut.. Beale. Lieut. Beale has been navy of1lcer
He is not an engineer. And his business as Super
intendent of Indian AfIirs, was to proceed with all
practicable dispatch to the headquarters OF his
agency where, judging from his own report of the
condition Of the Indians there is imminent necessity
for his presence. He was neither by his profession
entitled TO head surveying corps nor by the ext
gences Of the Office he holds was he warranted in
stopping on his way to his agency, to make surveys
for railroad to the Pacific. In short to be per-
fecty plain if we do not misunderstood the extent
of the calls upon him as superintendent, his bus-
to take the first boat for the lsthmus and In
that way place only thirty days between himself and
California instead of haZardng the loss Of sixty, or
rather ninety, days by journey overland.
Capt Gunnisons party will be allowed ample time
for the completion OF all necessary reconnolsances
and surveys Capt Gunnison is neither protege OF
Col. Benton, nor Of any person opposed to Col Ben
ton. AN accomplished engineer, sound.judging
and strictly conscientious man, his explorations his
examinations, and his reports will be relable-for
they will he the work Of a man entirely qualified for
the duty imposed upon him, and incapable OF render
ing anything but the most faithful account Of the
manner in which that duty has been discharged We
trust that we shall soon see an end put 10 the H.
tempered and unfounded accusations OF which the
War Department and the administration generally
have been the object in relation to the survey OF this
route. We think thai sense Of common, ordinary
Justice excuses this Journal for saying thus much,
even though it may be regarded as rebuke to GER
tain presses which profess to be rerd to the admin
stration with which they are finding fault
we SDall, ab any rate, as tue Iestut VI
Gunnson's survey, get proper knowledge OF the
capacities Of this route. BY such survey only can
the people be put in possession of what ought to be
known In respect TO any Of the proposed routes. The
disposition to wait for such information should be
universal. Nobody-surely nobody, no matter what
his station, who has never set foot on the Plains
should presume to PREJUDICE the question OF routes
OF course all Ms:ourians mnst contend for every
Missouri route which has any fair claims to consi-
deraton. But Of those Missouri routes
should without positive knowledge in the premises,
be elevated above the heads of the others. At least
among MissoGrians let all the Missouri routes have
fair play.
NORTH PACIFIC RAILRoADExPL oRArIoN-rHE GREAT
WORK COMMENCED.
from the So. pauls Democrat, June
Gov. Stevens and his party had been encsmped for
some ten days on the margin Of Lake Amelia, a beau
tfu spot about three miles back Of Fort Sneling en-
gagged in making the necessary preparations for their
arduous enterprise. During last week four small par
ties were sent in advance 10 Sank Rapids, and on
Monday last Gov, Stevens ard the main body OF the
SnyrprittiOn struck carnn ard followed.