The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1853-08-20
A Pacific Railroad.

\ meet ug was recently htia III san Dle.
go, California, IN reiereuce to the cons,ruc.
ton of Railroad To- the Pacific. Included
IN the record OF the proceedings, as given
( by the San Diego Herald, Is u repor, pre-.
pared by Col. j. Baukhead Magruder, |
| :. Army, which was unanimously adopted
1 by the meeting.
| This reports enters into an examination
of the merits Of the three proposed routes
from the Mississippi;
Frst-lha, from Independence, in Mis-
souri,, TO the Sacramento Valley, va. the
South Pass.
Secoud-'ihe route from Fulton. IN Ar
kansas, via Albuquerque, aud th.ough al
ket's Pass to san Francisco
Ihird-'Ihat from Shreveport. or some
! point Ia Louisiana already connected with
I Northern Railroads. via FL Paso and the
South BanL OF the ella River to San Diego,
The drst OF these routes is summary
tisaissod as the MOST Objectionable OF ALL
by reason OF its greater length between the
settled portions of the Atlantic and Pacific
States; the uninhabited aud for the most
part unpfoduetve expanse Of tie country
through which It must pass and the physI
cal distractions To It's Quite, in the Sacrn
men,o valley, presented by the Sierra Ne.
vada, which Is covered IN that section with
deep snow for at least four months in the
year.
The second or middle route is deemed
more feasible, but there are many natural
obstacles to the construction OF the road
These are canvassed Mt great length in the
report The Instructions OF the pass y
are said 10 be difficult, to overcome, there
are great number OF slough. on the route
in which herds of cattle have been known
to ,lnk by their own weight; portions OF
the county are periodically inundated IN
the RAINY season there is scarcity aud
great difficulty OF transportation OF ma,eri-
al 90 the route, and The lowest elevation at
wh ch the Sierra Nadra can Doe crossed
,orth ol the CHA river is annually covered
with snow to n depth SO great AS absolutel,
to obstfuet travel. Other objections are
urged against the adoption OF this route
but these are the principal
For the third rout 1t Is claimed that it
has the advantage OF being six Hundred
miles less ia distance than the proposed
middle route, while it Is more practicable
than either OF the others The report saws
! be location is through country Of
great agricultural Importance and immense
mineral value. aud will attract to itself the
commerce of a large portion OF the mining
districts OF Mexico. /, will bring into ia.
mediate settlement and cultivation. not on.
~ ,he rich lands Of the valley Of the ella
but those oi the Colorado. from its junction
with the t'lla To the Great [ anon. which are
covered with a fine growth OF timber and
admirably adapted TO the growth Of cotton,
sugar, corn, nee, bacco, wheat, aud all
the tropical fruits. Il Is also well known
tina, on this route gold and silver mines of
great value have been found, aud success
fully worked. and that they were only
abandoned in consequence of the hostility
OF powerful tribe OF Indians who infested
that region. Many valuable mines. how,
ever, are st.li IN successful operation IN the
more settled parts OF the country, which is
rich IN other mineral, besides those above
Il Is found that the climate is mild, equa
Bile, aud healthy, aud also, that tins region
Is less subject to RAIN. than tina, OF any 9th
or route across the continent while II will
have at It's Western terminus one Of the
best hafbors on the Pacific.
The distance between San Diego and
Canton Is also less than tina, from any other
port North or South OF it on the Pacific
coast. san Diego and Canton are situated
yearly IN prolnneaiion of straight line
passing through Liverpool and New \ ork
The distance from San Diego TO Canton is
one third less than from Panama TO Canton,
aud 300 or 400 miles less than that from
san Francisco 10 the sane place bu, the
voyage from San Francisco 10 Canton can
Ice made IN less time comparatively than il
indicated b, the difference, owing 10 the
direction ct the prevailing winds.
From tins cause the committee who pre-
pared the report are Of opinion that yoy
agc from san Diego 10 Canton. and back
can be made IN five siNths, It not three
iourths ri the time required for the same
voyage from San Francisco that steam.
or can make the tap there and back from
San Diego, in less time by five days than
from san Francisco = clipper in = shorter
time by from uiue T. twelve days. and or
binary sailing vessels viii accomplish 1t IN
from twonl, 10 thirty day. less Il Is iut,h
or urged that san Diego Is also much neaF-
er Au-traila and the Sandwich aud >ociet,
Islands, committees which IN laiurr must I'LL
q Prominent place IA the commerce OF the
Pacific ocean.
The proposed route OF the read is thus
sketched Ia the report
Passing th'ough ~ psso. i, vii strike
Cookies route near San Hefuafdne. thence
near the river Sap Pedro, tns point on the
ella ryet. some twenty miles above the II
mo village thence down the lei, bunk Of
the GlA 10 iis junction with the Colorado
OF the West and thence across the desert
to Nallecito. From this place n railroad
can easily be- constructed to san Diego
harhor, over either of two particular routes
bue by the way OF san Jose aud pala. aud
tho other b, the way Of Santa Maria, aud
Santa Monica. the distance by either not
being over 100 miles.
The route, south OF the G,la river. is that
which is exclusively used BY the southern
emigration, and wagons are passing over 1t
daily. The settlements which would spring
~ throughout its whole extent. especially
along the CHA and Del Noete rivers, will
by the time the road can be completed. be
sufficient to prevent the aegressous Of the
Indians upon the citizens OF Mexico and ~
heve The Government hom the necessity OF
keeping the troops on that line. and which