New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-07
Letter from Kit Carson Route to the Paeiae-south
Pass.

From ST. Louis (Mo) Democrat April O.
The following letter, for a copy OF which we are In
debed to the editors of The Ineigeacer, WILL consider
ing the source from which il comes, be read with inter
est at this time, when the question of the most eligible
Railroad route TO the Pacific is occupying so large
share of the public attention:
SIR find the following ia letter addressed
by you to The Santa r. Gas'ne,
, e Fort srsmo IL 1919 end ,hsn sn there saw Mr Kt cas
thar gentleman " in favor OF The south Pea. have ssnss
claimed him friend the New Mexican wisS
with all the testimony which his valuable eSPeeaeo and Sseiy
such subjects supply.
You perfectly right in cs,mng me AZ friend 10 the
route through New Mexico consider as far far prefer
able to the route through Utah Territory know but
route across he eonpent which be Travelled winter
shd summer ana over a remarkably level country and
that one must the Rio rande del Norte within so or
% ues santa F6 and from thence direct to the Calf
~, 'uS Mountains as the nature Of The country viii allow
, ne pass known Walkers Pass through the
tans good and has very abrupt ascents des
cents There is another pass higher up which nearly
not quite IS good as Walkers That comes in some
where about one of the -Four Greeks and DR. NaSe OF
Santa Fe, has mentioned TO the fact that reliable and
intelligent old mounaneer, and whose statements
know TO be depended upon having passed from the
Vegas OF Santa Clara and after making his course due
west, reached the luare Valley passing country
which, to use his words you could drive ten mus
team through anywhere. There is manner OF doubt
that the trail from Albuquerque by Zn along the heal
waters ofthe streams that into the CHA and then
ing the big river about the Mohaye, and on the
know of is that great part of the country along there
very barren, in fact bad that the wolves cant make
living and then into the Tulare Valley at It's very
southern extremity, and you have to up 800 400
miles to strike the bay Of San fanclscOsO that you
could make little more norhiDg it would be- better. Mr.
Fremont had always expressed wish TO me to examine
the country along the southern limit OF the BASIN and his
explorations had not been stopped that would have been
his next enterprise
On the other hand do consider the road by the South
Pass az almost impracticabe have faith Ia IT, The
lie early and late in both the Rocky" and Sno wy
mountain countries IL is easy enough the ascent OF the
Snowy mountains going up from the eastern side but
the west falls right off, and il is like going up ladder 10
get out Of the California valleys 10 the top Of the
taDs any where that know Of far north. As to the
SHOWS you folks that live the States know nothing about
them Why sir II harder aud longer and faster and
more of it, high up in these California mountains than per-
hsps any other place in Gods world not done In
my opinions the subject about which you have written
TO Any old mouhtaineer that knows anything about
vi say that the Southern route through NewMexico ID
the best
am. SIR yours very Truly