The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-11
fHg CENTRAL ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.
No. IS WALL STREET, Jan. 5, 1854
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

0kVtDe0 w mo Dy the experienced ana taeneu Op0'
grapher Of Captain Gunnison's surveying party, Mr.
Kern, who was recently massaored by the Indians.
This is private letter, and written to assist in
my investigations for the purpose of writing tres.
tse on the subject Of Pacific railroad Believing
thai whatever information it contains belongs to the
public, send it to your widely circulated journsl
It may be the more valuable, as the documents
Of he surveying party were lost, as I understand.
with the ife0f this intrepid and excellent officer Of
the party.
would draw attention to the important fact Of the
lIIs elevation Of the Rocky Mountains on this
ute, so graphically described in the heading OF Mr.
ems letter.
In the observations on route No. 4, as he desiU.
ytes il, Mr.. Kern does not speak by his own expe-
tnce or observation as in the case of the other
routes. He had not, believe, been over what is
known as the Texas and Ell Paso route, and, there's
fore, while should rely on what he says of routes
fer the authority OF A. B. Gray Captain Marcy, COL
Graham, and others who have been over the Ell Paso
route, and who describe il as the most available.
Permit me to say, further, that there is one con-
EderanoA In judging of which Is the best route Mr.
Kern has omitted-that is its political bearing. Let
the Pacific Railroad go through the South the cot
TON region, where nature points 1t should, and will
do more to develope the South, and consequently
preserve the equilibrium OF the two sections of our
country, and therefore the Union, than all that Con-
grcssionM legislation can do in a century. The
NOItu hnu NtTLuWeSb Will ADVANCE naturally and
irresistibly to preponderating and dangerous ex-
tcnt over the South without the Pacific Railroad.
Southern road will tend to preserve the balance, and
the Union-s Northern one only to destroy them.
Respectfully, w. B. PnhLIrs.
CAMP 42-SUMNIr OF rHE Rocky MOUNTAINS,
some 500 feet above the clouds, and
$500 above the rest of mankind
AUGUST, IL, 1853.
DEAR PaLLr-At last have small chance to
write-you must not think have been neglected.
fos have not. Ny work is so heavy that am ct
it from A. N. until P.M Sunday Is always
day Of rest to wagons, mules, teamsters soldiers
and every body else, but me-and this is really tho
first opportunity that has presented-and have to
steal IL, clearing of among the big fir trees under
the prctsxt Of locating that which ia done already.
30 far a. country 10 concerned, this is decidedly
the best route have been on, but the grades will
not be less than so feet TO the mile from the Huer-
ano, and tunnel, perhaps mile in length, will be
necessary TO overcome the extreme elevation. The
summit level so far is 1000 feet above the Albu.
querque route, and then 1t Is impossible from Decsu-
Der to April, on account Of the snow. At present it
u raining below me, whilst am catching big hail
stones, and some of the higher peaks that are Just
emerging from the Clouds are lined with snow
You must excuse the pencil writing, for have no
opportunity to use pen and ink-and the ideas DO
good, but little odds the gsrb that covers them.
The routes most practicable for that of the pro.
posed Pacific Railroad, are as follows, beginning at
the North -
l-Starting from Council Bluffs on the Missouri
thence to the Nebraska Pla tie to the South Fork
then up that to Lodge Pole Creek following that
to Stansbury Pass; thence by the Camas Prairie to
Fort Bndger, thence down Bear river to the Great
Salt Lake, and from thence either by the Little Salt
Lake and Spanish Trail, through Walkers Pass, and
DOWN the San Joaquin Valley, or by Humboldt river
10 Carsons river, through the Sierra Nevada to San
Francisco.
2-sartisg from westport or Independence and
following the usua Santa Fe road to where it crosses
the Arkansas; then, stu up that stream above Bents
Fort 70 the mouth Of the Huerfano; then following
the general course Of the latter TO the foot Of the
Rocky Notwithstanding these through either the
Sangre dc Cristo, R0bidoux, or Williams Pass to
the valley of the Rio del Norte then up this through
me Cooohatopee Pass TO the waters Of Grand river.
along that through Walkers Pass to the San JOAQUIN
Valley, down it to San Francisco.
3-Starting from Port Smith, thence to the CAM.
dian river-then along it as far IS lon lO4 80 sec
thence, Tin nearly the same lat. IS deg.) to Anton
Chico on the Pecos, thence by the usual travelled
wagon road to Albuquerque on the Rio del Norte,
thence 70 luni and the Moqui iages; thence cross
Across il and on TO Walkers Pass and the San Joa.
quin valley, 70 San Francisco
From San Antonio to Ell Paso on the Rio del
Norte, thence along the Rio ella to its mouth thence
across the desert through or near Warmers Pass to
San Diego.
In the selection of a route the principal points
under consideration directness, avoidance Of
heavy grades, supplies Of materials for construction
and labor lands for settlement avoidance Of obstruo
ton by snow, and central position.
/. Directnees.-Each route presents nearly equal
facilities for the attainment Of this object as far
the Rocky Mountains But beyond them, the Sierra
Nevada presents an obstacle almost nnconquerabls,
except at its southern extremity. This pass, being
called Walkers Pass, lying near the thirty fifth
Route No. has the most northern latitude, its
greatest DETECTION being high as the forty second
parallel.
No defects as far as thirty eight degrees thirty
minutes.
No. s defects to thirty-fve degrees forty.dve
minutes.
A glance at the accompanying map will present
much clearer idea than quires Of description
ii. Avoidance Of heavy grsdes.-As none Of the
Hes 1e Sn p he grades Be Vna
uired, by attitudes given by barometric observa'
bLs.
The summit level on route No l is about 300
yet; on No. O. $500 feet; No. g. $500 feet, and
b No. 4, 900 feet.
These summit levels, except the last, lie in the
ain chain OF the Rocky Mountains; that one is
lind in the Sierra de la Mimbres, lying west Of the
Bio del Nore. The approaches to the first three are
over an average grade OF seven or eight feet to
the me to the latter it is not more than four ees
In the mountains there will be found the heaviest
gradients, some running as high as 100 feet to the
mile, besides tunnels being required to overcome
the heavier ones.
Route No. 3 forms an exception to this, as the
summit il obtained from For; Smith, by grade
not heavier than eight feet 10 the mile This sum
NIT once attained, and it is retained with but slight
exceptions as far "a liz deg. west longitude from
Greenwich. These exceptions to be found on
the plain between Anton Chico and Albuquerque,
between the Del Norte and the waters OF the Big
Colorado Of the West and aga between the waters
of the same river. The heaviest Of these grades Is
not over thirty feet 10 the mile, and that for not
more than ten niles.
Ill Supplies Of materials and labor.-Except the
Albuuueque route no route furnishes other timber
than cotton wood which, Of course il utterly useless
for the purposes OF construction. That route sup
piles good cedar pine and oak for some 400 miles OF