Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-23
The Routes to the Pacific.


Below we publish a letter from the st. Louis
Intelligencer ON the Routes to the Pacific, which
will be of interestto readers ct this time, VIXEN
thequestion of route is occupying so mncl public
attention. The Memphis Convention, in its
ton upon this subject, recommended among other
things, that it pass through country possessed Of
genial climate, which means simply that the
eastern terminus be fixed at some point on the
lower Mississippi river; saying nothing of the liza
bility of such location to all the diseases of a
southern climate, and which, of itself would de
prive three fths of the population of our country
from the use and benefits of the road altogether;
and this letter of Mr.. Carson is used by the South
as strong testimony in favor of their route, when,
we presume, it was not his intention to condemn
the Missouri terminus, and his condemnation OF
the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains and the
Truckie and Carson Passes of the Snowey
Mountains, will moi admit of that construction be-
ing placed upon it, for neither of these Passes
could be travelled by Rail or otherwise, for more
than six mon lis in the year, the snow falling in
them 10 depth beyond the possibility of man to
remove, besides an ascent, from the nearest point
on the Sacramento river to the summit of the
mountain at the Pass, of 100 feet to the mile;
but an eastern terminus on the Missouri at the
NOUN Oh Tue hHHSdS I1SeLS Iueu -huL.u6u
the genial climate of New Mexico, is the natural
line for the road, and the one which would be re-
commended by Mr.. Carson, or any other noun
taineer familiar with the country. From this point
other roads could easily be built, spreading out
through our vast domain, East, North and South,
creating common interest, and binding with
common feeling, every section of our country.
This line would, from beginning to end, pass
through a country celebrated for its beauty Of
scenery, and its heaIty and delightful climate, and
in many parts, for its fertility of soil.
SANTA Fr, March 81, 1858.
Sin: 1 find the following sentence in letter adj
DRESSED by you TO the Santa Fe Gazette:
Il see writer in the New York Tribune, who
processes 10 have visited Fort Laramie in 1849, and
then saw MI. Kit Carson, quotes that gentlemen
as in favor of the South Pass. 1 have yentuled
to doubt the statement that Mr. Carson prefers the
route through Utah; and have claimed him as a
friend TO the New Mexican route. wish he would
write TO me as soon as may be, and give me his
opinion, with all the testimony which his valuable
experience and ssgacty on such subjects can sup
ply.''
You are perfectly right in claiming me as
friend to the route through New Mexico. con.
slider it far far preferable TO the route through
Utah Territory. know but one ronte across the
confident which can be travelled winter and sum-
mer, and over remarkably level country, and
within fifty or sixty miles of Santa Fe, and from
thence as direct to the California Mountains as the
nature of the country will .allow. The pass
known as Walkers Pass through the mountain
is good one, and has no abrupt ascents or de-
scents. There is another pass higher up, which is
nearlyif not quite as good as sWalkersl' That
comes in somewhere about one of the -Four
Creeks and DR.. Nagle of Santa Fe, has mention
ed to me the fact that reliable and intelligent
man, an old mountaineer, and whose statements
/ know are to be depended upon, having passed
from the Vegas of Santa Clara, and after making
his course due west, reached the Tulare Valley,
passing over country, which to use his own
words, you can drive ten mule team anywhere.
There is no manner Of doubt that the trail from
Albuquerque by Zuni, along the head waters OIL
the streams that run into the ella, and then
ing the big river, about the Mohave, and so on,
is the easiest road that can be found. The only
objection know of is, that gleat part of the
country along there is very barren, in fact so bad
that the wolves can't make living, and then it
comes into the Tulare Valley at its very southern
extremity, and you have to run up 800 or 400
miles TO strike the bay of San Francisco-so that
ifyou make little more northing it would be bet
ter. Mr.. Fremont had always expressed wish to
me TO examine the country along the southern
limit of the basin, and if his explorations had not
been stopped, that would have been his next en-
terprise4
ON the other hand, do consider the road
by the South Pass as almost impracticable. have
no faith in it. The snows lie early and late in
both the Rocky and Snowy mountain countries
1t easy enough the ascent of the Snowy noun
tains going up from the eastern side, but ON the
west it falls right off, and it is like going up
ladder to get out of the California valleys 10 the
top Of the mountain any where / know OF so far
north. As to the SHOWS you folks that live in the
States know nothing about them. Why, sir, it
SHOWS harder and longer, and faster and more of
it, high up these California mountains than per-
haps any other place in Gods world. 1 am not
alone in my opinions on the subject about which
you have written to me. ANY old mounaineer
that knows anything about it will say that the
Southern route through New Mexico is the best.
1 am, Sir, yours very truly;
G. CARSON.
To WIN. S. ALLEN, Esq, ST. Louis.
AIR. wEpsrER,s MEMoRr.-The New York Ex-
rress says n delicate cam 1irnant h.. h.. !.