Washington telegraph., 1853-11-30
Return OF Gen. Ruslx's Exploring
Party---The Southern Route for
a Pacific Railroad.


a Pacific Railroad.
We learn from the Austin State Gazette
that Gen. Rusk and his party, recently, on a.
tour Of exploration Of q route across Texas
for railroad to the Pacific. arrived in that
city on the 9th ult, all in good health
They were met q short distance from the
city and escorted in by number Of the cit
liens.
Gen. Rusk was invited to public dinner
by the citizens, which was to take place On
the 5th inst
AIr. Harrison. editor Of the Nacogdoches
Chronicle, who accompanied Gen Eusk, fur
nished to the Gazette the following account
Of the exploring expedition. 1t j. very in
teresting, and gives a. favorable report of
the country traversed as the friends OF the
Southern railroad route to the Pacific could
wish for.
Cen Rusk and party left Nacogdoehes On
the 29tli Of August, on q tour OF exploration
rs our readers are aware, of route for the
Pacific railroad, across tho country from the
Sabine and Red rivers in the direction OF
El Paso Oh the Rio Grandc, as nearly a.
might be on the line Of the 32d parallel
They have been out two months. and have
made thorough exploration as far as the
Colorado, upwards Of two hundred miles
above here in northwcsterly direction
The route Travelled by the company was from
Nacogdoohcs by the way Of Henderson and
Tyler to Dallas; thence up the Trinity on
the West side to the mouth of the Clear
Fork at Fort Worth thence up that stream
to its head and across into the valley of the
BRACES. striking the latter river at Fort
Belknap. about fifteen miles above the reg
ular junction of The main Brazos with the
Clear Fork On leaving Belknap their
route lay UP the Clear Fork, and thence in
southwestcrly direction to Oak Creek, 4
tributary Of tie Colorado.
From Oak Greek the party returned BY
the way re Pecan Bayou and Fort Croghan
TO this city.
Of the country through which the compa-
nv passed within the settlements, il il unne-
cessary to speak particularly ; but that above
General Ru~k and Mr. Harrison de-
scribed in the most glowing terms. For
fertility Of soil, snoothness Of surface, and
beauty Of scenery, tile countE through
which they travelled j. not to be surpassed
by any region Of simila. extent in Texas or
elsewhere. The spreading prairies, rolling
vallies and level bottoms, on the streams,
are as rich as the heart Of man could desire,
surrounded with forests Of postoak timber,
of the best qnality, the whole distance
such timber will lie peculiarly adapted to
making superstructnre and ties Of railroad
Every where water of the purcst kind il
abundant. and a. grazing country it il IN
surpassed by any in the world
Notwithstanding 'Old Bullion asserted
that wnf could not make living on the
Southern route we assert with perfect con-
fidence, from the statement Of Gen Rusk
and those who accompanied him on the ez-
petition. that more productive section Of
country can scarcely be found in the Union
than the one in question.
At Oak Creek, Gen. Rusk met a COM
pany from III Paso who had explored care
fully the remainder Of the route. and re-
ported that for all the purposes Of cheap
and expeditions construction Of railroad
that portion Of the route was equally a. fa-
vorable a. the portion explored by General
Rusk
The return of this party. all in excellent
health. i source Of joy 10 the citizens Of
the State generally. Gen Rusk il in the
highest spirits in regard to our prospects Of
securing the Pacific road over the route he
has inst explored He says he has enlisted
''for the war''-that l., until the Pacific
road is built through orr State His cxer-
tions in behalf Of this noble, this grand enter
prise, cntitlo him to the appellation Of "The
Father Of the Pacific Road as well rs to
the undying gratitude Of the people Of Tex
as, and of the South generally.
The advantages Of this route to Texas,
and the Importance Of the right sort Of ac-
tion on the part Of the Legislature, at an
early day Of the session, must De obvious
to every one; argument on the subject would
be useless.
The company saw three bands Of the
| Comanchcs-one under Sancco one under
Yellow Wolf, and one under Buffalo Hump.
These Indians were perfectly friendly
The party gave them beef and other pres
ents, and they promised to bring in the wo-
man and two boys taken prisoners recently
by the Lipans.
The party express themselves under ma
ny obligations to Mai. III. w. Merrill, com
manding at Fort Belknap; Mai. H TT. Sib-
ley, of Phantom Hill, and Capt Wood, Of
Fort Croghan, for their kind attention.
"Jusr A. THE TwTG l. BENT" &c