Washington telegraph., 1853-09-07

! abundantly watered, and covered for the
most part with heavy growth of musquii
wood. From thence we entered the Cross
Timbers upon the ridge dividing the waters
| OF lied river from those of the Trinity.
where we found a level and most excellent
road' passing over country similar in char
acter to that upon the Albuquerque route,
east of the Gross Timbers.
After careful and attentive considera-
ton of the different routes that have been
explored, cannot resist the strength of nv
conviction, that the one leading from the
Mississippi river, at Memphis or its vicinity.
v1a Ell Passo or Donna Anna, and thence
down the Gila river to its intersection With
the Colorado river, and across to San Diego
possesses advantages over all others vet dis
covered The arabic soil upon this route
extends three degrees of longitude further
west than upon any of the more northerly
routes. There is very extensive coal
field at Fort Belknap, and where the road
would cross the Brazos river, and the vast
tract of land covered with musquit timber,
which for its durability is admirably adapt
ed for railroad ties, and would furnish any
amount of the very best fuel, are not foundup-
on the other routes. And this road is entireIy
within the parallels of north latitude(32, So
it would not be obstructed by snow which
seldom falls more than three inches in depth.
As far as the Rio Grande it passes over no
elevated mountains or deep ravines, and is
the most direct across the continent of any
yet discovered.
l have not myself passed over the portion
West of the Rio Grarde, but / am inform-
ed by Mr.. A. b. Gray, who was attached,
as astronomer to the Boundary Commission,
and made careful survey OF this country,
that there will be no difficulty in construct
ing road from the Rio Grande to the Gih,
and thence down that stream to the Color,.
do and San Diego, ard that it can be mace
entirely within what he conceives to be
the territory of the United States, with the
exception OF one bend in the Gla river
where, without incurring great expense it
will be necessary to pass over Mexican Ter
ritory for twenty miles. 1t will be seen
by glance at the maps of the country, that
Red river, of Louisiana, from its mouth to
Fulton, Arkansas has course nearly North
and Soutt,tfIar at this pofnJ fr makes sud-
den change in its direction to nearly East
and West, and continues this course to its
sources. The dividing ridge. which hassbe-
fore been spoken of, terminates near Fulton,
and is for three hundred miles West SO per-
fectly smooth and level that but very little
excavation would be required in making Il
grade for railroad. The distance from
Fulton to the Rio Grande is eight hundred
miles. from thence to the San Diego on the
Pacific. about eight hundred an fifty more
from the point of departure upon the Mis-
souri, river through the South Pass to Sac
ramento City is twenty-five hundred and fif-
ty miles; from thence to the Pacific at San
Francisco is hundred and sixty more,
making the entire distance twenty four hun
dred aud ten miles. while the other from
Fulton to San Diego is only sixteen hundred
and fifty miles Ii the two routes are con-
tinued to St. Louisiana Memphis. the form
er will be twcnty-seven hundred, and the
latter about nineteen hundred and fifty miles
in length. From Fulton, Arkansas, the
road can be built to Fort Smith without diff
ficulty, or to any point upon the Mississippi
which may be found to be a proper terminus.
In consequence of severe illness with
which | have been afflicted for several days
past have not been able to devote as much
time to this communication as | could have
desired IF the facts which are thus hastily
thrown together. are of any service to gen.
tlemen who have the subject of Pacific
Railway at heart. shall feel abundantly re-
warded.
l am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
r. B. MARCY. U. S. Army.
To the Chairman of the Memphis Con-
vention, Memphis, Tenn.