New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-11-24
A QUESTION SETTLED.

II has long been understood that the n0rthernm0st
route to the Pacific must have great advantage over
the Central the Southern one from the that tits
very much shorter. BY that way we shall not only
reach the great Western ocean sooner than by any
other but when there much nearer to the ORR
entail World whose commerce thought by some to be
a very extensive and profitable affair. 1t is not only
much brieer journey from Lake Superior to Pugets
Sound than from st. Louis or Memphis to San Fran.
cisco but from there we can reach Yedo or Canton
with two days less steaming This fact has caused the
Northern route to be regarded with respect even
by those who are most anxious that some other
line should be fixed on. But still a very serious
doubt has rendered its advocates somewhat I'M
certain and backward. It has been surnised that
possibly no good pass could be found to con-
duct the road through the barrier of the Rocky Noun
tains, and it has been feared that however excellent
and favorable the country both sides of that great
RIDGE it might be necessary after all to renounce this
line and to settle either on that advocated by Col.
BENTON, or that Of Texas.
This doubt has now been extinguisbed Gov
ernor STEVENS at the head OF the Northern
Exploring Expedition reports that there are seye-
raj good passes Of them combining every desdera-
tm and that there is no hindrance to the construction
of the road over the line he has trayersed His letter.
which appears in TIE TRIBUNE this morning is highly
explicit on this question The entire line has been In
vesiigated by bis own party going west, aud by
that of Lieutenant SAXTON, who started from
the Pacific and came eastward and though il cannot
he said that the whole country has been explored on
both Sides and every mountain pass examined, so that
the best possible line can be exactly laid down for all
the distance not doubt remains that the Northern
Route is perfectly feasible and indeed sngulary favor
able for the execution of this great highway.
And not only do the mountains nerpose no obstacle
but the country from Lake Superior to the Pacific is
described as exceedingly fertile and adapted for set
Element. The is not encouraging for either of
the other lines. The Central line runs zg-zdg and
raverses barren districts where fuel and water do not
abound The Texan route lies along the ella, whose
craggy gorge cannot be used for railroad bed or else
it crosses the border of Mexico and makes a long
stretch through region not our own. Meme Of these
ncony eniences attach to the Pugets Sound line That
runs with great directness through highly proiuc-
tive territory well wooded and well waered, and has at
its western terminus one of the noblest harbors
of the world. The sole objection that can be raised
against it is the accumulation of snow usual in
northern ATTITUDES in winter On this head i'm
portant facts will no doubt be given in Gov.
Steyenss official report, which will be in Washington
in season for the opening OF Congress. But
certain it is that the greater portion of this route
there are 10 such SHOWS as fall the railroads in the
central part of NewYork and that at the worst there
is nothing more troublesome than is constantly expe-
rienced on the railroads of Maine. We all know how
much these roads obstructed in winter; when the
snow drifts upon them appliances always at hand soon
clear the track and the circulation is never delayed
beyond day On the Pugets Sound road it would not
be n ore serious and at any rate there would be no
such terrible depths of snow there Col Fremonha had
to encounter in wMexco in 1850.
The clearing up of all doubts relative to this line is
not the only good done by the Expedition It has set
tied many other questions with regard to the natural
features Of that vast and hitherto unknown region and
has opened to knowledge and interests splen
did portion of the national dominion to which have
been strauqCra.