The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-05
The Gaeas Paca6e Rali1oad-1hs Northern
Route.

The Gaea& Pacl6c RallrOAA-1hs Northern
Route.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
NEW YORK HOTEL, June IS, 1853.
notice in your paper of this morning an ar
ticle on the Pacific Railroad, in which you make
mention Of and dismiss the Northern route, (the
survey Of which WAS commenced at st. Paul, by
Colonel Stevens, some few weeks snce,) in the fol-
lowing brief and erroneous paragraph:-
The most nortbery route 10 thai Of Colonel Stevens
which contempates making Pugets sound, ct the north
terminus We apprehend that this will be found too
far NORTH too much among the and LADY Of
mountains and difficult rivers, rocks and denes and too
long for the purpose in view Of Through ticket in the
sh rtest possible time, and at the least expense
1t is true that, with editorial astuteness you only
apprehend that this will be too far north, &C.; but
your apprehensions are those of the great majority
Of people whose only knowledge Of the subject is
obtained by glance at the map" and from read
ing papers of such universal circulation as the
HERALD for this reason, viz that the opinion OF
the people generally coincide with yours, and will
receive confirmation and prejudice from the para
graph above. / deem it important to offer some
statement of facts in regard to the northern route
to the Pacific.
In remarking upon the southern route yon say
out its whole extent it avoids the mountains, the
deep SHOWS of the mountain passes Of the other
routes" Allow me, in the start, to correct this
statement, by saying that glance at any map now
published of any of the routes proposed can con-
yey but the most crude, imperfect, superficial. and
oftentimes erroneous impressions, in regard to the
country OF its susceptibities for the purpose ofroad
making.
The southern the middle, and northern routes, and
every Of them and any other routes across this con-
tinent must cross mountainous country and in this
respect that route is best which has least distance
through the mountains, ard in which the mountain
passes are most nearly in the proper line 81 direction
and offer the lightest grades. The two ranges OF
the Andes, or Rocky Mountains, which mark our
western territory approach each other towards our
northern boundary. The head waters OF the Column
bia, the Saskatchewan, and the Missouri, are all
found in this vicinity, and interlocking with each
other and in other place on the soil OF the United
States is the distance across the mountain ranges
so short as in the latitude OF Pugets Sound. From
ST. Paul westward COL Stevens will pass through an
undulating prairie country interspersed with groves
Of timber and lakes, until he passes by the head
waters of the Red River of the north, when he will
find the vast buffalo plains which extend through to
the head waters of the Missouri and Columbia with
scarcely an impeachment. The 'labyrinths OF noun
tans therefore will be by actual survey resolved
down to the shortest possible crossing in the United
States and the clue to that labyrinth will be found
already marked out by the Columbia its branches.
Now for the difficult rivers" From st. Paul to the
heads of the Missouri there are no rivers OF any con-
sequence to cross except the Missouri itself which
it Is proposed TO cross twice. and at such points that
no common road would consider the difficulties as at all
formidable, much less impracticable On the western
side of the Rocky Mountains there Is but one
stream Of any magnitude ks fork Of the Co
umbis.which it is presumed will not be more diff
cult to follow, or to bridge, than the Colorado, the
ella. or the Rio Grande.
A"glance at the map" will give you an idea of
the comparative distance between points whose lati
tude and longitude are which very short
examination of the map will, think, convince you
is by many miles the shortest to the Pacific, and by
many hundred miles to the coast OF China and the
empire Of Japan, towards which we are looking with
such avaricious gaze. If the northern route to the
Pacific be " too long for the purpose" we may re-
nounce all hope or intention of making road. for
shorter cannot be found. Nor either of the
southern routes be built so speedily or so cheapy, as
the northern. The northern route can be commenced
at no less than four different points, all of which
be approached by steam navigation. From St Paul.
the west end Of Lake Superior, it can be- worked
westward from the crossings OF the Missouri to which
men ara materials can be taken by steamboats, from
st. Louis-it can be worked in both directions. and
from Pugets Sound it progress eastward. This is
matter worthy of consideration, when the country,
and the events of the times demand the most speedy
completion OF the road.
There is now railroad connection from New York to
Chicago and railroad projected and chartered from
Chicago, by way of Madison, to st. Paul and thence
to the western part of Minnesota. This road is in
running order to GAINESVILLE, under contract to Mad
son. and is being surveyed from Madison to st. Paul
II st. Paul be the point of commencement for this
road, it is the iniatia point Of survey, it will be
easily accessible by the Mississippi.
The Mississippi is navigable for frstclass boats
during the spring and summer and fall months,
which will serve to convey such materials and
supplies as are not to be had on the spot Again,
the Mississippi and Lake Superior road from st.
Paul to the west end of Lake Superior connects
with the rich iron, and copper, and lumber region
north Of st. Paul. This road when built, will
connect the Gulf Of st. Lawrence and all the lake
ports with the Gulf of Mexico. The Sault Ste Marie
Canal which is commenced and will be completed
in two years, will afford uninterrupted navigation
from the Atlantic ocean to the middle Of our con-
tisent. This fact, if rightly considered, will be
found Of little importance to the building of this
road As to the bugbear of snow in high ATTITUDES it
may be well to acquaint ourselves with facts instead
OF depending upon theories and maps. 1t is a fact
that the SHOWS of New England and Canada have not
rendered railroad travelling mpractcabe. It's fact
that much less snow falls in Minnesota than in the
same ATTITUDES in New England, and that the winters
usually remarkably dry and free from cloudy weather
are sometimes destitute of snow as to leave the
frozen ground too bare for seighiDg for weeks at
time The same remark is applicable to the country
lying between the great lakes and the Rocky Noun
tains above latitude A. OF the comparative depth
OF snow falling on the western side OF the noun
tains in this latitude the writer is not positively
informed but it can hardly be greater
quantity, or more serious obstacle to railroad
building and running, than the SHOWS to be met
with on the southern routes. In the passes of
the Sierra Nevada SHOWS have been found thirty and
forty feet deep in July and August, Notwithstanding
their apparent favorable southern location. The fact il
that parallels OF latitude do not determine the amount
Of moisture deposited the time of falling Western
PEOPLE regard the building of two if not three roads,
as necessary to the welfare Of the country, and we
of Minnesota are persuaded and not irratonally as
we think that the northern route is the shortest,
cheapest, most easily and quickly made. and more
advantageous to the commerce Of the whole country
and of the world than any other. We also believe
that the interests of New York are more Immediately
connected with the northen route than either Of the
Others although whichever may be built first will
undoubtedly empty great portion of its treasures
into the lap of the Queen of Commerce. We wait
mpatiently for the examination and report Of Col.
Stevens to be compared with the reports upon the