Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-04-21
Atlantic ana Pacific Railroad.

route Tor railroad 10 the FSclnc.
He commenced by stating that ours was cen.
trail position, taken in connection with che great
roads leading from the east, and concentrating
at Terre Haute in Indiana; and Terre Haute bo-
ing on the same parallel Of latitude with st, JO-
seph, they all point in this direction, A COM
parison Of maps would show that between the
route leading from Terre Haute through St.
Louis TO Kansas river, and to point as far west
as st. Joseph, there is a difference Of 200 to
$50 miles that difference being in favor of the
route through Hannibal. He however insisted
on the people rsrraining from opposition to the
route through st. Louis. II that was the best
route it would be adopted, for the commerce of
the world, in crossing the continent, would ul-
timOtely seek the shortest route, and capitalists
would see that in advance,
In his opinion the best route was from
ST. Joseph across the beautiful and fertile
country bordering the Platte river; up that
river to the South Pass; thence in a south.
westerly direction to the Great Salt Lake
Valley; thence little south of ives, to
the Middle Fork of Feather River or Jami.
sons Greek; down Feather River to the
Sacramento Valley, aud thence to the Bay.
No obstruction Of importance is met be.
tween the South Pass and Feather River,
or Jamison's Greek, the valley Of which
leading through Sierra Nevada Mountain
10 the Sacramento Valley, is entered by
the traveller without being aware that he is
passing through the mountains, except by
the ranges that rise up on either side, The
only difficulties worth considering are about
twenty miles OF canons, composed Of soft
sand stone, which can be cut away as easily
rs hard clay and gravel.
Although Benicia can thus be so easily
reached, yet San Francisco and her repre-.
sentative Mr., Gwin, are opposed to a
Northern route, because the CONFORMATION
Of the country is such that San Francisco
cannot DO SO well reached by northern
route, The route laid down by Gwin is
several hundred miles longer than would be
the route just described,
Another route was referred to, bearing
of north of west from the Salt Lake val.
ley, called Shasta, or Mobiles Route, On
this route there is said to be very little gra-
ding necessary, in order to pass through
the Sierra Nevada, many teams being re,
ported as having passed through there
without locking wheel; thence down the
Sacramento valley TO the Bay. This route
is said TO be $50 to us miles further than
the Feather river route, and about $50 mile,
nearer the mouth Of Columbia river, whep
the road takes south to go to the Bay o.
San Francisco.
Shasta is about one and a half degrees soutl
Of the south Pass; and the latter is about tw,
and a half degrees north Of St. Joseph.
This route no had never passed through, bu
had his information from such sources that h,
could rely upon the statements.
To obtain the labor at small cost; to settle
up the country along the route, and thus rails,
the price Of land and to furnish homes for In,
homeless, he suggested the enlistment, ike sol
diers, Of the thousands of INDECENT foreigner
constantly handbag in this COMPLEMENTARY
in,say $4,000 men furnishing them ratiOns ans
clothing the same as are nO~ paid to the resu
ar srny having officers, &C.; and At the ent