Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-01-12


Other surveys have been made with
barometric levels over detached portions
of the region to be explored. The infor-
nation thus obtained, though limited, is
specific as far as it goes, and gives just
ideas of the elevations and other obstacles
to be surmounted. Much valuable and re-
liable information has also been furnished by
tho Mexican boundary survey.
The explorations Of Lewis and Clarke,
who crossed to the Pacific, and those of Col.
Long, while they throw much light on the
general geography of the country, and have
served to indicate the routes to be explored,
do not give profiles Of the regions passed
over.
Reports from travellers who have gone
over the continent entirely without instru-
ments are as various and conflicting as the
routes themselves, and even of the same
route totally different accounts are given
Any information other than that based on
accurate instrumental measurement, though
it may be of'some importance in indicating
routes to be surveyed, is of little value in
determining the question of railway. 1t
is necessary for this purpose to have we'll
determined facts, and not vague impress
sons.
The expedition of Lewis and Clark show
ed the probability of considablo indenta-
tion in the crest Of the watershed of the
continent near the forty seventh parallel of
north latitude, and indicated the possibility
Of railway route in this region from the
headwater OF the tributaries Of the Mis-
souri, across to those Of Clarkc's rives.
The party first organized under the act
Of Congress was the one 10 explore this
line, which claimed the earliest attention
from the known severity and length of the
winter, and the necessity of commencing
operations early in the year. 1t was placed
in charge of Governor Stevens, of Wash
ington Territory, who was directed to ope-
rate from ST. Paul, or some eligible point on
the Upper Mississippi, towards the great
bend of the Missouri river, and thence on
the table land between the tributaries of the
Missouri and those of the Laskatchawan,
to some eligible pass in the Rocky Noun
tains. A second party, commanded by
Capt. Mcclellan, under the direction of
Governor Stevens, was directed to proceed
at once TO Puget sound, and explore the
passes Of the Cascade range, meeting the
the eastern party between that range and
the Rocky Mountains,
Taken in geographical order the next
survey directed TO be made was that in
trusted TO Captain Gunnison, corps topo-
graphical engineers. He was instructed TO
explore the route near the 3Sth parallel of
latitude, by the Huerfano river and Coochu-
to-papass, or some other eligible pass, into
the mountainous region OF the Grand Clara
and Ncollet's river of the Vegas of Santa
Clara and Nicollet's river of the Great Ba-
sin, and thence ncrthward to the vicinity of
Lake Utah. Reliable information, furnish
ed by persons who had been extensively
connected with the western exploration of
the government, gave such assurance that
no railway pass could be found north of
Kern river, into either the Sacramento or
San Joaquin valley, that it was not deemed
proper TO expend any part of the limited
means a. propriated in such search; and
having learned that the Mormons Of the
Great Salt Lake were making survey for a
railroad from their settlement to Walkers
Pass, Captain Guninson, whose former in
tercourse with their engineer would enable
HIM TO obtain whatever information he pos
sessed, was directed to procure a report of
that survey, thus connecting his line with
the survey ordered to be made near the 35th
parallel.
Postponing for future operations, if furth-
er surveys shall be ordered, the exploration
of q route from the Salt Lake across the
Sierra Nevada to the valley of the Sacra-
mento, Captain Guninson was directed &c
return from the Great Basin through the
Timpanago Canon, or other passes, and
across the Weber and Bear rivers, by the
coal basin, to such point of disbandment as
his discretion might direct.
The next line is that near the Both par.
allel which is in change of Lieut.. Whipple
of the corps of Typographical engineers.
He was directed to ascend the valley of the
Canadian river, to pass reund the noun,
tians east of the Rio del Norte, and ente,
the valley of that river at some point near
Albuquerque: thence to extend his explora.
tions west through Sierra Madre and tn,
mountains west of the Zuni and Moqu
countries to the Colorado of the west, ant
proceeding in the direction of Walker,
Pass, to continue his survey by the mos
direct and practicable line to the Pacif,