The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-29
COL. FEEa0NTS EXPLORATION CT TIE CEN
TRIAL RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.

TRIAL RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.
To the Editors of the National InteRigenccr.
GENTLEMEN: While the proceedings in Con-
gTess are occupying public attention more par
ticularly with the subject of q Pacific Railway,
desire to otfer to your paper for publication
some general results OF recent winter expedi-
ton across the Rocky Mountains confning
myself TO mere results in anticipation of full
or report, with mars and illustrations which
will necessarily require some months tn prepare.
The country examined was for abous three
fourths of the distancc-from the Missouri
frontier at the mouth Of the Kansas river to
the Valley of Psrowan, at the foot Of the Wah-
satch Mountains, within the rim Of tie Great
Baein, at its southeastern bend-sioDg and be-
tween the Ssh and 39sh parallels of latitude
and the whole line divides itseif naturally into
three sections, which may be conveniently fol-
lowed IL description.
The first, or eastern section, consists of the
great prairie slope, spreading from the base Of
the Sierra Blanca to the Missouri frontier,
about 700 miles; the second, or middle section,
compT ehends the various Rocky Mountain
ranges and inter-lying valleys, between the
termination of the great plains at the foot Of
the Sierra Blanca, and the Great Basin at the
ParoTan Valley and Wshsatch Mountains
e,
about $50 miles; the third or western section,
ccmprehends the mountainous plateau lying
between the Wahsatch Mountains and the
Sierra NeUadd, distance of about 400 miles.
The country examined was upon a very di-
rect line the travelled route being about $50
miles over an airline distance of about 300
miles
The First Secti0n-Four separate expedi-
tons across this section, made before the pres
ent one, and which carried me over various
lines at different seasons of the year, enable me
to speak of it with the confidence Of intimate
knowledge Ii is a plain Of easy inclination,
sweeping directly up to tie foot of tie mount
aims which dominate it as highlands do the
ocean. It's character is open prairie, over which
summer travelling is made in every direction
For a railway or winter travelling rad
the route would be, in consideration Of wood,
coal, building stone, water, and fertile land,
about two hundred miles up the immediate val.
ley of the Kansas, (which might be made one
rich continuous cornfeld) and afterwards
along the immediate valley of the Upper Ar
kansas, of which about two hundred miles, as
you approach the mountains, is continuously
well adapted to settlements, as well as to roads
Numerous well-watered and fertile valleys
broad and developer up among tie mount
aims, which present themselves in detached
blocks-ouiiers-- gradually closing in around
the heads of the streams but leaving open ap-
proaches to the central ridges The whole of
the inter-mountain region is abundant in grass
es, wood, coal, and fertile soil. The PueblOs
above Bent's Fort prove it to be well adapted
to the grains and vegetables common to the
latitude, including Indian corn, which ripens
well, and to the support of healthy stock,
which increase well and take care OF them
selves summer and winter.
The climate is mild and the winters short
the autumn usually having its full length of
bright open weather, without snow, which in
winter falls rarely and passes off quickly In
this belt of country lying along the mountains,