The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-02-24
NATIONAL HIGHWAY.

II banner, leCcIstu HUN tnc SoiiiS 6on
) who wrote the one contained in our last
: The writer has no pecuniary interest II
!, the matter, but gives the convictions OF al
exceedingly well informed mind with regar'
to the practicabity of a national ka''roae
: across the continent
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 80, 1853.
: Dear Sir,
lam emboldened TO address
, YOU again on the subject Of the great Iron
Highway to the Pacific Ocean, and to In.
woke the serious attention Of the people Of
Iowa 10 the route proposed BY Senator Gwin
Of California.
The map indicating the route recon-.
mended in the Bill now before the National
Senate, makes Dubuque the eastern termIn-
Us Of the proposed Northern branch OF the
Contemplated avenue crossing the Missouri
at Council Bluffs. The Southern and
Northern branches are intended to unite
in the valley of the Rio Grande, to the
Southwark Of Santo Fe, and thence west
ward 10 San Francisco. The "Main
r Trunk" will cross the Rio Grande near
latitude 35; thence by the valley Of the
Rio Zuni TO the Colorado, and, still con-
! ,inuins West across the river and desert.
in the same latitude, through Walkers pass,
ia the Sierrt Nevada, TO the Pacific slope,
and then Northward through the principal
cities Of California and Western Oregon,
to Puget's Sound.
Ihave examined the map accompanying
,, Gwn's bill with great care, and so lar as
lii relates 10 the proposed Northern branch
to the Upper Mississippi, ] am fully per-
suaded that the road should, after crossing
the Missouri at the Bluffs, go straight TO
Davenport, in lieu Of tending North to
Dubuque.
i Unless greatly err, the route proposed
through eastern New Mexico and Nebraska,
would cross, not only the main Arkansas,
bu, also Solomon's Fork, Republican Fork,
and Smoke Hill Fort ofthe Kansas, thereb,
suhiec,ing The government to an enormous
expenditure Of money IL The construction
of bridges or viaducts. Coal exists on the
upper waters Of the Arkansas and on the
lower waters of the Kansas; but am not
aware of its existence on any portion Of
the proposed route Of the Northern branch
of The railroad from its junction with the
/, Main Trunk to the Missouri river, and
the country we are assured is destitute OF
timber. West of the Sierra Madre, in the
Navajo country, coal exists and probably
extensively, even in the valley OF the Zun
river. To reach the Colorado, the route
being doubtless the most direc. as well as
the most eligible from the valley of,he Rio
! Grande. You will understand that my re-
j marks apply exclusively to great South
ern Highway, designed TO connect the
! South western States with the Pacific
frontier.
With regard 10 the Eastern, Middle, At
lsntic, Western and Northwestern States,
the great trunk or avenue should traverse
a more northern line than the route lndca-
ted by Mr.. Gwn.
!, In a few short years both lines would
find full employment. The travel and
I freight ON bot routes would literally remu-
nera,e the government for the cost Of con-
struction. would therefore advocate two
separate roads TO the Pacific, because am
abundant convinced that both will be
needed. Tho Northern road, instead of
diyercipr to the Southwest from Council
Bluffs, should maintain nearly due West
course, crossing the depression in the
Rocky Mountains, via Dridger's Pass, iatl
tude Al 33, and thence westward by the
route suggested by Captain Stansbnry to
Utah valley, beyond which point survey
should be made across the Great Basin, in
a South western direction, 10 the Sierra
I Nevada, in the hope Of discovering pass
north of the pass discovered by Captain
Walker Of Missouri. But if no available
route across the Sierra should be found
north of Walkers Pass, then would con-
Iijnue the road down the eastern base Of
the Sierra to the proposed great Southern
Trunk,'' and use said road thence through
California to Oregon. would cross the
Basin as suggested, rather than follow the
Wahsatch mountains south from the Utah
valley. Should OWNS project be adopted,
will your Senators and representatives ad-
yoca,e Dubuque in preference 10 Dayen
port, as the eastern terminus ofthe Northern
Branch! Gen. Jones probably would, but
bis colleague, in my opinion, ought to favor
your city.
Starting from Dubuque, point beyond
the coal basin, should apPrehend difficulty
lin reference to the necessary supply oftue'
TO drive the engines. Nearly four tons OF
coal can be packed in the space that one
cord Of wood will occupy. This with me
would be serious natter. Bat is no. wood
positively scarce on the proposed trail
through Iowa? and if so, would it not have
10 be carried great distances, thereby lum
be.ing and encumbering the train? feel
deep interest in this matter, because am
entirely satisfied that the avenue should
commence at Davenport in preference to-
Dubuque. As before remarked in pre-
vious letter, the line of road from Daven
port TO Council Bluffs would follow nearly
due ives, course, while the other route
would divsrge, in crossing the State oi Iowa,
nearly degree Of latitude. Again--the
|cous,ruction of viaduc, across the Missis-
sippi at Dubuque would doubtless cause
vastly greater expenditure OF money than
similar work would ifthrown across the
Mississippi at Rock Island. Where you
car avoid unnecessary curves III construct