Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-11

Joseph It's latitude, according TO Fremont 81 degrees
Its longitude ll6f elevation above the $50 feet
is described by Fremont mountain meadow, rich in
bunch grass and fresh with numerous springs Of clear
water all refreshing and delightful TO look upon the
dow, about mile wide and ten miles long bordered by
grassy hills and mountains Of them rising two thou
sand feet and still white with down the level
the Vegas, May 12 while the weather was hot in tn,
desert from which he had issued. From this point
pretty stream called the Santa Clara, fork Of the Re
Vgen, iiyer Of the Vrgn,) issues to the SOUTH anG
reaches the Great Colorado OF the west and has good
cultivation ON the lower part of it. From Las Vegas the
trail bears southwest reach Los Angeles and makes
elbow which 1t will be necessary off to go nearly
due west to Walkers Pass This desert is above three
degrees OF longitude in breadthfrom 15f to ll61-and
is generally sterile and deficient in grass and water and
though daily camping grounds found and the great
annual of many thousands of horses from Cali
fornia to New Mexico were accustomed to travel it,
Col Fremont was sure of finding direct way across IT,
ana saw at distance range of mountains lying east and
west along the southern base of which he expected to find
wood, water, and soil.
g. Walkers PAss.-This is the south end of the
Nevada, in lat 35 and long 1884, and opens into the
head OF the beautiful valley Of San joaquin and certain
y short of Paradise, there is nothing sweet and
beautiful than the entry into that valley at this Pass
Fremont thus describes it as first by him the 18th
of April 1916:
fresh and vedant floral and sylvan more alive
with birds and animals bouneously watered than we
had left in the San Joaquin The filled with fume
if we entering highly cultivated country and in
stead OF green our pathway and the mountain sides
flowers, was he
valing color. Gooseberres nearly ripe We were in
the midst of advanced spring Snow in sight on the
butte of the mountain which rowned down upon us on the
right; but we behed it with feelings of pleasant security
rode along between green and flowers with
humming birds and other eathered friends the traveller
enlivenng serene spring air. Taking into consideration
the nature of the Sierra Nevada found this Pass
celent for horses and with little labor or perhaps
more Perfect examination of the localities, it might be made
sufficiently practicable for wagons Its elevation
taken, half wild cayacade making troublesome to halt
before night when started
With this Pass the last obstacle is cleared on this route
to San Francisco. The Sierra Nevada is passed. the
AaHnfnl valley of San Inanun is entarad, cold re
gion Is almost reached steamboat navigation Is near
railroad is already projected you Tlare county
IN the midst OF settlements and say, AM IN CALI
fORNIA.
Thus not only the praccabity but the absolute ease
OF building the railroad to California is demonstrably
shown, and through country 1.-The way rood for con-
tinuous and populous settlements and on the very line
where every national and commercial consideration would
require 1T to be- and where there is not more snow than
IN the railroad tracks of New England and New York.
ana western pennsylvania and that dry and light and
readily yielding to the plough deep dry snow
is less impeachment to the than a thin wet one
have mentioned one step taken by Congress at its
late session towards the accomplishment Of this great OBJ
jectthe appropriation for surveys have to mention
another which will operate in favor of the Central route
the appropriation for exngushng Indian titles west of
Missour-and which will free the way from the ncum-
ORANGES of Indians and open the land to prescription
settlers was IN hopes to have been able to have added
third step in its favor and the important of all
that Of extending the protection of law and
to the whole country between Missouri and the Rocky
Mountains, by establishing the new Territory ON the
Kanzas and the Grand Platte and laying it open to set
uement this spring but the bill failed in the Senate
after having passed the House of Representatives by
more than two to not for of majority in the
Senate in its favor want Of time but because was
not brought forward in time The Territorial Committee
reported it promptly to the Senate in company with the
additional Oregon Territorial bill but not being called
up until near the close Of the session. fell before the
kind OF opposition which is then always fatathat of
threatened debate 1t will pass at the next session
have to regret that there appropriation for
the construction OF common road from Missouri 10 Cali
forna Mt this session do mean to regret the loss
of proposition to give land company to make and
protect such road the contrary rejoice the loss
of that proposition If it had passed il would have be-
come the prey OF Jobbers and would have ended in
cheat, oppression, fraud and monopoly. The way to
make the common road is for the Government do it by
an appropriation of money and leave its support and
protection to the working people who would settle upon
it under the pre-empton system This common road is
want and necessity for California and Oregon
emigration Forty fifty thousand go annually from the
frontiers of Missouri to these Territories travelling
without tree blazed sgnpost put up by the Federal
Government exposed every species of suffering and
danger and now actually marking the whole way by
the graves OF the dead The Federal Government paws
millions for steamers to England France Gormanv
Panama millions for the protection of foreign commerce.
upon every sea- keeps squadron upon the coast of At
rlca Tor the protection Of the negroes from kdnappers
but does nothing for road upon its own ter
rtoy from the Mississippi to the Pacfc-leaves its citi
to grope their way through the wilderness guided
by the graves Of their predecessors and adding TO the
number by their own. will try and do something for
this road next year. and have stages and horse
nails and telegraph lines put upon it for use at once
while building the railroad to which it would be great
help; for they would run together
In view of the magnitude of this work-n view OF our
dominion the public land from Missouri to Cafor-
main view Of the immensely ofrave and business upon
it. great at the start and to increase for longer time
than the pyramids have sood propose TO have the plan
of this road rather systems of roads on scale com
mensurate to its future destiny be that great as
propose to reserve tract mile wide for all sorts OF
roads rail and macadamized, and plain old English
road such have been accustomed to all our lives
on which the farmer in his wagon, his horse and
driving his CATTLE may 60 without tax fear with none
to over him. or make him jump Of the way under
the penalty Of being crushed We shall want tracks for
many railways, necessary in future me and all uncon-
nected and independent of each other. No monopoles
such mighty line Of travel and transportation Two
margins Of hundred feet each should be reserved for
independent and rival telegraphic lines.
have said the public lands the line Of the road
will build it. Ten or twelve miles each side will do it,
the presumption principle, 81 25 acre and the
mertorous settlers upon that principle will be the guard
protect it, the hands help to make it, and the Gull
tvaors to helpfurnish supplies to the aborers When
done should be Free that is tolls upon a road of
that length will not bear tolls except slight to keep il
in repair-a transit duty foreign commerce. slight
CHARGE such all nations exact from foreign commerce
raverslng its terrtorywoud be the proper source for
the repairs which would become necessary and thus Eu-
rope would indemnify for the use Of our road
CITIZENS Ii is thirty years since first began to write
and to speak this subject Of American and Asiatic
communications, and in favor Of " North American Road
belongs to conviction founded evdee that the road
would be made Immediately II aided By the Federal Coz
eRe erenuaAy Jy he progress of erents and the force Of
public opinion uout that aid" The time has come