The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-14

Description Of railroad BY the South Pass Of IA
Rocky Mountains, and Nobes Pass Of The Sierra ksrada
fato California and Oregon

Rocky Mountains and Noblfs Pass Of The Sierra Nsrada
isto California and Oregon
The country living between The Mississippi and Fort
Laramie, it wei known. offers obstacles 10 the
construction OF railroad, either by The valley OF the
Platte by other lines thoroughly explored The grade
being light and uniform the entire distance
From Fort Laramie westward through the Black Hills,
The South Pass ibe Great Basin, and the Sierra Nevada,
the character OF the country ~ bal mperfeciiy under
stood and il is believed by The writer that the ni1ma-
non collected By hun during tp maze from California
into valley Of The Aslsspp Tor lie express purpose
Of exploring railroad route along tbe Ire Indicated
may be Of sufficient value 10 justly the attention Of the
public aad particularly ell those Interested in the subject
OF a railroad 10 The Paclhc.
In leaving Fort LARAMIE the hrs, difficulty TO Be AVOID
ca il The Black Hills BY crossing the principal FORK OF
the Platte and taking the valley OF the river on it, aortb
ern side these hills be eniIrsy avoided, except at
points where the spurs run down TO and cross
the river Al these points The river canons and some
cutting woeld be required, but only to very ineonsd
cradle extent
The route would then conass sp ibe north side Of The
Platte land then follow The valley OF The Sweet Water 10
The summit OF the South Pass.
In crossing The summit OF ihe South ra-s The eugrsbi
trail should Dc let 70 The SOUTH and the branches
OF the Sweet Water coming IRON the nsrth followed,
the base 81 the Wind River mountains
from thence a direct line, crossing Green river hear
The New Forks; and thence passing through range OF
bend Of Bear The passage through these noun.
The line indicated i cesli ore and would
require little, II any, heavy cutting
From Soda Syringe leaving The emigraht trail 10 lie
north, and passing about 30 40 milss down The valley
OF Bear urer, all the Suake River mountains be
avoided when BY winding around The southern base Of
those mountains 10 Cry Rocks perfectly practicable
hne exists which avoids The mus serious distinctions
on the whole line IRON Fort Laramie 10 the Sacramento.
From City Rocks. by leaving the emigani trail 70 the
/ north, passing entirely south Of The mountains yng
west OF City Rocks perfect viii be found 10 he
soaihern end 81 Thousand Spring valley when The
route would again strike the emlgrsn raii.
By crossing the emgraBi trad and leaving Il 10 The
south. pursuing nearly, passing through
Canyon, in divide beiween the Thousand Spring valley
and the head-wateTs Of the Humboldt, and thence on
air lice TO northern bend oi the Hlmbnidt ryer The
route presents no difficulties, and mostly level plain.
Then, making slight DETECTION 20 the soah, 70 avoid
come mountain spufs, good and very direct route with
bot slight Inequalities q surface u found 70 The nurheTn
From thence there Is direct line fhrougb level coun
try The northern end Of Honey lake, which lies at the
easisrn tase OF ne Sierra Nevada
From Honey lake, taking spar lying north Of Susan
river, very uniform grade With rise al no place
Than erhy feet Gard probably fifty feei) 20 the mile,
fuund for thirty miles when you strike valley known
tie Sussn Rver valley, which site commencement Of
q series RI valleys continuing through The whole
ii tie Sierra With very slight difference OF elevation.
From Sssaa River valley The roale would pass between
The lakes al he head Of thai river enoe close b The
norhern base oi the I" Black buiie which - about the
summit ~ the Sierra, thence BY the northern base OF
[" Mount Tom." la Eson's butte, crossing tributary
OF NIL creek ard thence easy grade INTO ihe Sac
ramenio valley. striking the Sacramento river al me
Dorhera border q the raoohe Of MAJOR p 3 Reading,
and near The mouth Of Cow creek
From point the summit 81 The pass IN The Srerrs,
there practicable thc valley c the DHpqna,
and thence by The WI~sme;ie 10 the Columbia river
No instruments used 10 tbs exploration bot the
writer i conhden that the whole line 81 foUe there
will be grade of than SIXTY feet to he mile. and
" no instance anything like uanelling of heavy rock
cutng required except al feu points, The road - al
/ ready graded by The hand OF Nature.
No hesvy bridging will be required siong the entire line.
and officially appears to be the way oil The
ton OF road except the unsettled OF The county
In starting from the Sacramento valley there i fertile
country heavily timbered with pine and cedar all the way
through the Sierra as far Honey lake
The Boney Lake valley ~ ore Of TIE most beautiful
10 be found aHyw here and varlo points throug b
the mountains there - an abundance Of water power
On he direct line Of he route from the Sierra Nevada
TO the BHmboat there = unber 70 b. found without
re-orins TIE adjacent mountains. and hauling from
4 1--WE 10 twenty miles.
Al the head Of The humhoIdi here - timber sufficient
FOR the purposes Of the road sod from thai point d
hculfy 10 xmher will al me way 70 The neigh.
borhcod OF Forl Laramie.