Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-10
From the Placer Times and Transcript, July Is.
Survey of the Southern Route for the At
lantlc and PACIFIC Railroad.

Colonel Gray, who leaves for Washington
this afternoon, takes with him the notes of the
survey which has just been accomplished under
his command, and by the direction of the Pa
ci6c Railroad Company, organized last year
under an act of incorporation from the State OF
New York.
The expedition set out on the lst day of
January, from San Antonio, for the purpose of
an examination as to the practicabilty of a
railway by route from the eastern border Of
the State of Texas to FL Paso, in the vicinity
of the parallel of 80 degrees, and thence west
ward to the Gulf of California-and 10 San
Diego or across the Sierre Madre range Of
mountains.
Fort Chadbourne was found to be in latitude
80 degrees and minutes, (about two anda-
half miles north of the parallel of 80 degrees
and some three hundred miles east Of Paso del
Norte. 1t is nearly in a direct line west Of
Vicksburg, in Mississippi, and is the point at
which Gen. Rusk and Gen. 0rville Clarke left
off their examination last year, in their expe-
dition from Red river and Eastern Texas.
The site of this fort was selected by General
Persifer F. Smith, about two years since, and is
represented to be fine section of the country,
with excellent timber, stone, and water, and a
splendid grazing region. 1t is on branch of
west of Fort Chadbourne, on the head branch
Of the Colorado and the commencement of the
great staked plain or Plano Estacado. A line
due west from fort Chadbourne was pursued by
Colonel Gray, until striking Marcy's trail lead,
ing from Fort Smith, in Arkansas, to the
Horsehead crossing Of the Pecos-thence to
the sand hills and across the staked plain
striking the Pecos River some forty-fve miles
above the point where Captain Marcy crossed.
A good route was found across from the sand
hills, together with an excellent ford on the
Pecos, and the distance for wagons and trains
TO FL Paso lessened some sixty odd miles.
From the Pecos a line nearly on the parallel Of
3l.30 north latitude TO the Mesa, eastwardly TO
the town Of San Elizario on the Rio Grande,
passing some twenty-five miles south OF the
peak Of the Guadaloupe mountains, was deemed
most practicable from the examinations and
report Of Captain Ankrim; thence along the
Mesa northwestardly to the Moline del Norte
to the crossing of the Rio Grande, two miles
above the town of FL Paso.
This line lies wholly within the State of
Texas, and is the one contemplated under the
recent charter given to the Atlantic and Pacific
railroad Company Of New York, OF which Levi
S. Chatfeld (late Attorney General of n. y
is president, and Hon. J. X. Walker director
The length Of the line through Texas will not
fall far short Of 500 miles, for which the State
has donated twenty sections to each mile,
making 10000 square miles of territory, or
l0,240,000 acres Of land. Under the act Of
the legislature Of Texas making this grant,
which passed and became law in December
last, belt Of country extending from the east
ern limits Of Texes to the Rio Grande, the
Western boundary Of the State, and lying be-
tween the parallels Of 30 deg. 30 min. and 80
deg. north latitude, is secured from any further
locations either by head rights or otherwise,
until the company building the railroad shall
have made their selections; and iflandS enough
are not found within this district, then the
company can locate elsewhere on any Of the
public domain Of the State.
A large portion of land passed over BY COL
Gray is represented 10 be Of an excellent char.
acter, fine for grazing, and upon the streams
and branches good for cultivation. At So an
acre, which is not large estimate in the vi
cinity of the road, the whole amount for the
eight hundred miles through Texas would give
S5l 100000. This sum will more than build
the line through Texas.
We learn further from III Paso, il is contem.
plated that the road will be continued through
portion Of Chihuahua and Sonora, with the
Pacific coast, and giving an entire railroad
communication from California to the Atlantic
States. From Opelousas, in Louisiana, road
is already being constructed towards Shreve.
port, on Red river, and line from st. Louis
towards Little Rock, in Arkansas. Captain
Pope, Of the typographical engineers, left Fl
Paso in March last, at the same point on the
Rio Grande at which Colonel Gray took his
departure, and he is examining a route through
TO Preston, on Red river All these points, it
is supposed, viii connect with the main trunk
in Texas.
We learn that the people OF Sonora and Chi.
huahua are most anxious for the railroad, and
will do anything in their power to aid and assist
its completion.
At III Paso, the Padre Ortiz, one Of the most
prominent and influential men in chihuahua.
was,yice president Of large railroad meeting,
held on the American side Of the Rio Grande,
and is exerting himself in every way to cause
the road TO be built through chihuahua, in the
vicinity Of the town Of III Paso. Every kind.
ness and facility was shown Colonel Gray and
his party by the Mexicans.
From the Rio .Grande,' Colonel Gray pur
sued due west course striking the river and