The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-28

COLONEL bENTON.-Iu0 IeSttr VI aOn hlcn&rO
Rush to Colonel Benton. which we lay before
the readers Of the HERALD this morning, is q
fine specimen Of familiar epistolary letter
writing It furnishes no new information upon
the Pacific Railroad, it discloses nothing Of past
history which was not known before but 1t
is, nevertheless, highly agreeable and inter-
esting letter. From the distinguished public
reputation Of the writer as well as from the
conspicuous and elevated individuality Of Old
Bullion, however, this letter derives its particu-
lar interest.
But this epistle is calculated to exert some
practical influence in behalf of the Pacific Rail-
road. by stirring up a more general spirit Of
enterprise in behalf of the great work And
Mr.. Rush's recapitulation Of the tremendous
highways constructed in various parts of the
world. including the continent of America, by
the ''old fogies" of past ages, is well adapted
to excite that general spirit of enthusiasm
which alone is essential to give us an iron road
from New York to San Diego within the next
five years. We say five years, for if fifty
thousand men may complete it in ten years,
why may not one hundred and fifty thousand
finish it from stem to stern in five years.
The great primary difficulty is the route for
the trunk line; for, unquestionably, the first
object is single through line to the Pacific.
Several routes have been designated, and ex-
ploring parties have been officially detailed to
explore them.
The most northerly route Is that of Colonel
Stevens which contemplates making Puget's
Sound at the northern extremity of the United
States on the Pacific. the terminus. We appre-
bend that this will be found too far north, too
much among the SHOWS and labyrinths of noun
tains and difficult rivers, rocks and detiles. and
too long for the purpose. in view Of through
ticket in the shortest possible time, and at the
least expense.
The second route is the general overland
emigrant route from st. Louis. The grades of
this route are feasible; but the scarcity of
timber, the depth of the winter SHOWS in the
Rocky mountains, and the bowling desert of
six hundred miles of the Great Basin west
from the Salt Lake, are formidable embarrass-
ments.
The next route, further southwark is Col.
Benton's route. 1t has been unexplored. and is
unknown save by mountain trappers, and the
opinions of Col. Fremont and Col. Benton; but
from all that is known Of it, it is less practicable
for railroad, though perhaps shorter than the
general overland emigrant route to California.
The next route, stin further southwark. is
Senator Rusk's route, striking into the Rocky
Mountains, from Albuquerque. on the Rio
Grande, thence to the Spanish trail across the
desert, thence around the butt end of the Sierra
Nevada, or Snowy Mountains by Walkers Pass,
and thence across the open country to San
Diego. This route is comparatively available
in going round, instead of crossing over the
Sierra Nevada. as do the other routes indicated;
but it is no more exempt from the granite and
volcanic distinctions and deep SHOWS Of the
Rocky Mountains, and the deserts beyond them
than the rest
The most available route of all from all the
information upon the subject. is that from FL
Paso, or near that point on the Rio GrsnGe,
through the Mesilla or disputed district to the
south side of the mountain ranges along the
ella, and across the open, country Of the Next
,can States of chihuahua and Sonora to the
mouth of the Colorado, thence across the desert
to San Diego.
BY this route, the Rocky mountains are
.aNoided-their deep SHOWS and impossible
casa0nes are avoided comparatively cham
paigne country is trayersed to the Colorado
and thence to San Diego; the mighty chain Of
the Sierra Nevada are left far to the right, the
road passing over successive ranges Of low hills
and valleys to the ocean.
From report presented at the late Pacific
Railroad meeting at San Diego at which Col.
Magruder, Of the United States army, presided,
it appears that the distance from Ell Paso to San
deg 0 is eight hundred miles, and estimating
the cost at 100000 per mile, they say that
railroad between these two salient points may
perhaps be built for twenty-four millions of
dollars. But this is only half the work A
thousand miles remain between Ell Paso and
the nearest available point on the Mississippi,
which, at the same cost per mile, would require
thirty millions more, or fifty-four millions to
complete the road from the Pacific to the Mis-
sissipp by this route.
But its advantages over all the other desig- |
mated routes are manifest. A glance at the
map will show that throughout its whole ex-
tent it avoids the mountains, and the deep
SHOWS of the mountain passes of the other
routes. 1t also avoids the Great Desert Basin,
which for the five, six or seven hundred miles
across it. must be supplied with all the mate
rails, iron, lumber and provisions required
from the Mississippi Valley or the Pacific termi-
nus The Ell Paso route avoids this desert, and
by taking the open country, to the south Of the
CHA, traverses region bountiful at least in
its supplies Of grain, grass and beef
It is in view of this Pacific Railroad. and Of
these advantages south of the ella. that the
disputed Mesilla territory becomes an import
ant acquisition. Hence too, the expedicncy of
acquiring the aforesaid margin Of open country |
on the southern side of the ella to the juno
ton Of that river with the Colorado. We are |