Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-11-03
Col. Benton's Letter to Citizens of Mis-.
souri-Pacific Railway Route.
WAsHINeroN CRY. Oct. IA, 1853.

WAsHINGToN Cry, Oct. ID, 1853.
CITIZENS: have not been able to ac-
cept any of your invitations, but have not
been neglect(ul of your interests in the great
subjects which absorb your attention, as the
public press has fully shown, l have been
able from this place to shed light over the
Union on the question both of the road and
of Nebraska, which must have lis effect
upon all candid and disinterested minds
That expedition Of Beale and Heap, and
that map of Indian cessions and reserva-
tions in NEBRASKA, have flowed from my
labors at this place, and they are decisive of
the two great questions which interest you.
The map shows that the greater part Of Ne
braska is free from Indian title, and as free
for settlem ent as any lands 10 which the In
dian title has been extinguished; and much
more free than other pats in which The IN
dian title was never extinguished, Gas in
New Mexico, Utah, California and Oregon,)
and in none of which is there any talk Of
driving off the settlers, or suing them for
tresspasses. The letters, from Beale and
Heap show that the route is all that Frc-
mont and Leroux described it TO be, and
that the passes through the mountains are
various and easy-a choice of several at
each mountain-and all good, practicable
for wagons and carriages, in state of ma
ture, and abounding with wood, water, and
soil for cultivation, and only wanting the
hand of the farmer to make fine settle
ments.
The explorations Of Fremont left hut two
sections Of the central parts Of our conti
nent between the Mississippi and Pacific to
be cxamined-one from the mouth Of the
Huerfano to the east fork Of the great Colo
RADIO, Commonly called Grand river;) and
the other from the meadows Of Santa Clara
to Overs river and at the eastern base Of the
Sierra Nevada. The first of these sections
has been well explored by Beale and Heap.
and the better on account of the accident at
the Grand river fork. That accident de-
tanned Besle himself three weeks which he
spent, not in idleness, but in hunting with
the Utah Indians, who, though at war with
the Mormons, and yielded TO his ascendant
over the savage mind, and hunted and ex-
plored the country with him every day. II
also turned Mr.. Heap back TO Taos, and
gave him double trip across the interven-
ing country, Ga distance OF 400 miles, J
which he improved to vary the route, and
by the direction OF Indians went through
another pass, nearly as good as the Coocla-
tope. days travel shorter, and through a
good country for settlement and cultivation
The only impediment on this route is the
swelling Of the steams in the spring wher
the snow melts; but that is only for shor
season, and will be obviatcd by ferries q:
soon as the travelling begins on the route.
The second section; from the meadows O
Santa Clara to Ovens river, at the base o
the Sierra Navada, near Walkers Pass, wa
not examined by Bea'e and Heap. but las
? been well travelled by the Mormons ano
= emigrants, and that section proved tc be al
t that it was believed to be by Frem'nt' l
is most important section Of the road go
t ing nearly west to Owens river, thereo,
e cutting of the large elbow which the Span
ish trail makes down TO the southwest, ant
/; also getting clear of the g'eat Sandy deser
on the Me-hah-ve and tie Lower Colorado
j and in place of it, going through success
SIGN of fertile valLes, well watered an
, grassy, and abouniing with forests OF I'll
cedar, pine, and other growth, and gettin
e TO Walkers Pass in about half the distance
II Fremont fixed the points astronomlcally
d and found Carson's river and lake only abol
four and half degrees Of longitude west {
d Santa Clara (about 240 miles, and th
n latitude OF 37!, cutting both places, that
TO say, passing through the meadows
Santa Clara, and cutting the river about Il
n middle. whose course is nearly from nort
=. TO south and emptying into lake Of its ow
n, This discovery completes al that was wan
a ing on the centra! route. II gets rid oil u
u sandy desert on the Mo-hah-ve, and
10 place of a desert gives fine vailies for CT
or tiyation and settlement, and very mild in c
re mate, the ground being without snow ev'
in January. We are now able 10 say Il
eh there may be continuous and broad sett'
at ments on this line from Missour! to Ca
,ir fornIs.
We If there were 10 sinister, or selfish inil
Sc ences at work, should consider the lo'
ton of The road to be fixed in the 10
, mind, and the central route the unanimc
-, - choice; but, unfortunately, that is MT
8" case. A sectional road, partly throu
y Mexico, and over country in which
=, - Carson says a wolf could not make his
ing, seems to have become the fixed det
So: - H. So,,th aud q cnropapv "a