The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-04

and civilized popustion, from whom obtained ~
abundance Of good provisions, over which w greatly ~
joiced.
We have subsistsd for . month on mule and horse
flesh, and for the most part Of that time half quar-
ter rstens But asI have reached this place with al my
men, feel satisfied shall take notes OF the country
from this town to Albuquerque on the Rio Grande as
level and much travelled wagon road exists between the
two places and familiar to the people Of New Mexico
II has been described by Others and is we'll known to pre-
sent NO difficulties to the construction of railroad
Sept lo.-At Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before laying
aside my pencil for the Of which have fancy
shall set DOM few ideas that prominent in my
recollection.
set out in the first place. upon this journey simply
to crafty owp curiosity, to the practicabhty OF
of the much talked Of routes for the contemplated
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Having previously travelled
the southern ella route felt anxious to compare 1t
with the Albuquerque middle route Although con-
ceive the former to be every way practicable now give
1t as opinion that the latter Ia equally whilst it
has the additional advantage Of being central and
seryiceabs to the Union believe the route Travelled
ia far enough south to be certainly free from the danger
of obstruction by SHOWS in winter.
The route in jn its length may be said to pass
high plateau, or generally level country for the most
part thicky studded with prairie AIMS detached
elevators seldom linked together to deserve
called a chain of mountains Numerous mountains we're
at all times in sight but being for the most part isolated
peaks, detour Of few miles would always superseds
the necessity of crossing them To the south of route
from the Great Colorado to Zuni the country
level than the north and for the crater part Of the
distance valley extends nearly due and the
Colorado. The existence Of many mountains along
the must be considered reference railroad
very fortunate circumstance instead of iisa vantage
is the moaDtans alone which furnish the timber and
failing water. The plains only deserts and bar
spots if they to be called after the fashion of
the day viii n exist in all that vast region Of country
which lice between the ella the south and the British
ions on ORTIZ and the Rio Grande on the east
and the Sierra Nevada of California on the west The
plateau table lands must of furnish the track
upon which the road is to be laid but the mountains
acent must furnish timber to make it, and the water
for the of and animals employed in its construc
| ton and for the use OF the depots afterwards.
II Is well for the country which ! passed that
these mouI tans exist without them it would be
reality vast ard repulsive desert 1t would be dis
advantage for rail- Dad to have to them, al
though not difficult to cross 1t would much increase the
| expense But saw nothing that rendered il at all
probable that they would have to be crossed. On the
/ contra y, am satisfied that railroad may be al
most mathema'ically direct from Zun to the Colorado
aud from til. nee to the TETON Pass, in California the
pecton the Pass to Sa Francisco should leave the
Tuar lake the west should pass through the coast
range of mountains say in the neghborhood Of San
Juan and thence to San Francisco and by branch to
Stockton
The west side of Tular lake is unfit for road on ac
count of its mry nature The section of the route from
querque to Independence to st. Louis, Memphis is
equally plain by two three well known passes through
Certain slight devations from the track which pur
sued woul improve the route For inst ance it would
better to leave my trail to the north at point say
hundred and eighty miles east of the Sierra Nevada and
inter ct it again some fifteen miles west of the Colorado
On the east side of Colorado the road should pursue
rectly for sevent five miles and thence
take an east southeast course for nearly two hundred
miles at the foot and the south side Of the
inhabited by the Garrotero Indians Tn northeast
fQAffteen miles, in prairie between tans and
range of mountains which extend to the ella
From this point the road should eastery the Colo
RADIO Chquito river and thence northeast Zul The
distance fro the end of the Garroero mountain
Zupi is about two hundred miles. This route as nd
cate It, viii pass at all times in sight OF ny trail, and
through as pIacticah Die country any railroad
of the same distance in the United States.
The proposed route by the Sangre de Cristo north of
Taos take practicable at ALL be very BILE
account of the vast elevations the road to
and the large quantities of which fall and remain
there so long during the winter months This route has
also the additional disadvantage Of crossing two rivers
the Grand and the Green, either of which would be
costly to bri ige as the Colorado
route has been somewhat spoken of just north OF the
CHA, with the view OF having route wholly Aneri
ground This am satisfied is altogether of the
question: account of mountains alone If other OBJ
lection existed The ella proper passing in part
through Sonora Objectionable several accounts
sides its situation. In the first place there Ii timber
upon the plains nor upon the volcanic mountains that
are along the way
considerable part fths route, too lies over coun-
try destitute of vegetation which when dry white
powder resembling -four, in which the feet Of and
imals sink several inches. This clay, when wet
is the most reacAeous of quagires Some parts of the
road are also very sandy. Don Ambroso Armjo, who
took sheep to California last year. lost many eleven
hundred mopg the sand hills west of Colorado by sink
ing in the SAND, and being by those behind.
nother serious objection To the ella great
tent OF Toe miles without wood or water
have DO interest in recommending Of these routes
more than another took sheep and wagons to Casr-
that way 10 California again with sheep Upon the
route which have jutt travelled encountered many
hardshps and dangers and y with serious pecunary
loss vet ray it is the best for railroad would be
excellent for ordinary travelling but for the Indians
large portion Of the trail which passed-say some
two hundred ard fifty miles west from the Rio Grande-
is for the most part admirably adapted to farming
stock yaising.
The Gazette says:-Mr Aubry will start in few days on
return trip to California. He drives twelve or fifteen
Thousand head Of sheep.
We understand also that several other citizens of our
territory viii accompa ny Mr.. Aabry-among them Don
Jose Francisco Chave Judge Otero Don Perea
Mr.. Montoya, and others The party will dive out in
all upward, of fifty thousand head Of sheep and we re-
gret to learn that among them will be large aumber Of
ewes and stock sheep.
We have said on former occasion that it was from
the sale of sheep and wool that this country is
destined by nature to derive her wealth in future and
doubt the policy therefore, of farmers parting
with the few stock sheep that remain in the coun.
try.
The sheep driven from New Mexico this year. if sold at
th prices they have heretofore brought in CALIFORNIA;
will yield over half million Of dollars If the territory
well stocked Nth sheep it was twenty years
hundred thou and could be annually Sold which
would yield our citizens the handsome little sum OF eight
hundred thousand to million OF dollars each year.
This fact aloIe should admoni,h our farmers to be
cautious how they part fifth the few stock sheep they
now have.