The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-10

HE UNlUN
I Another Letter frsm Col Rentsn.--TAe Gen.
trail Route - The Pacific.
GEsrLEnrs: | send you letter, jus, received FROM
For Massachusetts, il the valley Of San LUIS. bead Of
pectedy as II Il had fallen om the clouds, and could mol
have been acceptable il had been from any other
SPOT on the globe Il !. written BY Virginia ems,ant to
Calliornia-one who had been there before, and now
made one OF party OF emgrants, all removing, and Ia
king with them large herds OF sheep aud some cattle for
the California y market They travelled upon The lin line
said. by The actual fact OF the easy travelling OF then
wagons, and the condition OF their sheep and cattle
markets and that alter travelling upwards OF one thou
sand miles from Illinois, and seven hundred OF II IRON
the Missouri frontier The country is rich and beautiful
and the valley OF San Luis and the mountain grass all
that LeIoux aud Fremont described il be- Only think
OF that grass-thck meadow TO the top Of the noun
lans and many acres good Tor four moved tons, and
plenty all the winter sustain stock without food or
shelter. The letter is exactly such one az would wish
10 geta plain statement OF what was actually seen by
an emg rating company, moving IN BODY, without any
system theory 10 establish, dnu LOOKING LOT he Deh
way TO get TO California
I The pass which they mention, through which Captain
Gunnison went, is one OF i've IN The Sierra Blanca lead
ing from the Arkansas plains into the valley OF San Lus
three oil which excellent and one OF them higher up
and from seventy 10 eighty miles nearer than The other
two by besg in the straight line 10 the ,ocha
ope in the Rocky mountains. or the Camera which IS
it, and nearly good Instead OF no IN these
mountains, there multiplicity OF them-so many and
good that the traveller has choice IN the variety, and
! is only puzzled 10 decide which Is best.
Fort Massachusetts. where this letter Is dated, Is just
the spot where Fremont turned our OF the valley
by his guide tue winter OF 1913 and lSd9 and when
he found the pass almost without snow through which
the Utahs passed from the Del Nore to The Arkansas,
and which was so level that he could only by careful OBJ
/ servaon detect the point OF The dividing waters
/ In brie Messrs. Editors. now feel embroidered to e.
peat Fremont has often told methat ia the central
part OF The Rocky mountains Covering The Three Parks,
tho hoad ,yotu of NnnIh he and
the Del Nofe, and the headwates OF the East Fork Of
the Great Colorado OF the West,) exactly in the line from
ST. LOUIS 10 San Francisco, and about half way between
Them. there sgood country enough 10 make mountain
State double the size OF all the Swiss canons put TO-
gether, and presenting everything grand aud beautiful 10
be found in Switzerland, without the drawback of gIa-
cers and avaIanches, and consequently without It's cold
He has gone verify his winter theories in that
Respectfully, gentlemen, your obliged fellow citizen
| THOMAS II. BENTON.
FoRr MASSACHUSETTS. IN. Nd
1 August IS, 1853.
DEAR SIR: Knowing that you feel interested in The
middle for the great Pacific railroad and believing
that any information with regard to il would be accepa.
BILE, matter how humble the source from which j,
comes, | have determined TO stale what know about il
This information from travelling the route Just behind
Captain Guanson left Virginia the FIRST of April,
Missouri and Illinois to purchase sheep for the Cali
fornia market. After purchasing. started TO take them
by Old Salt Lake, the Humboldt river. SC, feeling
sured that would have TO winter al Salt Lake. had
gotten the sheep far St. Josephs, Missouri Hav-
nsoD, and learned from him that there a better
route by way of Utah Lake, and that he was going
10 open it, and that from what he knew about il, II
would be much better for me TO take it, After think
ing good deal over il, determined to take it, there
was very large number OF stock the old route and
good prospect of getting 10 California this season.
read your address with grea, deal Of interest and feel
ing assured these Statements about the route could be
lied on, left Missouri at Wesport the 18th of June
with large number OF sheep and some cows-Mr
Crockett of Virginia, partner with me. AT Westport
met with the two Mr.. ROSES, OF Iowa. with their fami-
lies going the old routes they also determined to
pany me on the new route: After travelling a few
days fell in with the two Mr. Bufwells, OF Franklin
city, Virginia, with large number OF cattle, who also
were persuaded TO join me- We travelled the Santa Fs
the wellbeaen track TO thirty miles above Benrs Old
Fort, and crossed the Arkansas river at the mouth OF
stream abou. twenty miles, and crossed the Sierra Blanca
mountains through Captain Gunnison Pass about twelve
miles south of Leroux's Pass. TO this fort The dis
lance given by Captain Gunnson 693 miles from West
port. Missouri.
have travelled the mountains OF Virginia Penn
syvana. and Tennessee over several OF tns passes Of
the Sierra Nevada in California and have seen
better or more easy pass Tor carriages and wagons
than the found by Capt Gunnson through the Sierra
Blanca, just opposite Fort Massachusetts, and distant
from il fifteen niles travelled The old to Cal
ornia in 1919, and speak OF the two from
uaI experience, having gone over both with wagons
look upon this route as lar superior and feel confident
that as soon as II IL known will and must be the great
tboroaghfae from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. On this
route there is abundance OF grass and water much
that STOCK Will travel aud keep lat the large majority
OF sheep fat a. any mutton the Philadelphia
or Baltimore market; and very large number OF Mr.
Burwes cattle fine beef and have any
stock, after having travelled far look half 40 we'll
Both oil the Mr. Roses have carriages and yet
has in the least given way can say, without, lear OF
contradiction, that this OF the finest natural roads in
the world combining everything necessary to sustain
stock and confident thai. il its advantages fully
made known 10 Congress il will be adopted Tor The
great Pacific railroad. On this line almost the entire
route be settled. all the land from Missouri 70
Bents Fort s rich and very fertile equal TO the best
lands OF Missouri and Illinois, and land best the
Sierra Blanca for even to the very summit stands
as thick ~ the best meadow; many would nov
al least four tons per Then the large and
beautiful valley ST. Louis, sald be OF the most fer
tile in New Mexico. Indeed, fine land 10 upon the whole
route and the climate such that stock live all winter
upon the grass will here state the roule think best
Tor emgrants 20 travel Leave Wesport, Missouri take
The road 10 Unio0town, then to Fort Centre then take
Captain Guon'sons trail, which leads from the Kansas
10 the Arkansas, near the mouth OF Wanut creek. up
then up the Huerano, through Captain tunnisons Pass
Pass Sierra Nevada; then down abe valley Of The San
ments at different points all along t,A route where
hundred miIes Aiier leaving Mssouri You pass frs,
Green Horn, Fort Massachusetts,. Little Sail Lake
can be had. feel con6dsnt when Captain Gun nison
makes out his report that this route will be adopted The
pass through the Sierra Blanca il low and gradual
hat hn A. cuI H..