The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-14
PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
ne Editor Of he san Francisco Herald:

TO The Editor 81 he San Francisco Herald !
AS Lieut. whppe has left for Washington TO make his
report the Secretary OF War the estimates and prac
ucaby of the above route deem II but an act OF JUS
oe in his absence to correct some statements made by
writer in the Echo du Pacifque Of the lth instant
Between the San Francisco mountains and Mount San
Benadno distance of about 500 miles the writer says
the country is mountainous and uninhabted and hardly
capable Of cultivation with he exception Of three or four
spots where military posts might be established" In
another sentence he writes "The great difficulty III me
these 800 miles is the transportation OF mate
rails and persons rather than in the work TO be done
There is neither wood coal provisions for men or
mules and often want Of water for distance OF thirty or
fifty miles, wish to correct the erroneous impressions
that will be tax by every who has never been over
this route on reading this with regard to wood
water and grass For the distance Of forty miles along
the base of the San Francisco mountain and at Aztec pass
20 miles still further west there is pretty timber for
railroad purposes could be desired and enough to sup
ply nation Throughout the whole course of Bill Will
ans fork and also along the Mohave creek as far as we
s % 81 HSS assat
Even along the Colorado alamo grows but 1t can
be cultivated there greatest abundance Between the
Colorado and Soda lake. the point where first touched
the Mohavo creek in places considerable quantities OF
dar and pnon exist Between Aztec pass and the noun
tans at the head of the Mohave distance OF little over
$50 miles, timber for railroad purposes will have to be
transported There plenty at both those points and to
supply the road from each end and would require but
| about 10 miles transportation.
With regard to water there were places only where
had to travel about 80 miles for it The first was I'M
mediaely after leaving the Colorado and the second be-
tween Little spring and Soda lake. the first water of the
Mohave AT every other point we found water within from
| I TO 10 miles.
In relation grass Excepting in the region of the Col
orado had plenty of grass the whole route good
mules will amply testify Some of the mules sold for
one hundred dollars at Los Angeles that they must
have been extraordinary animals indeed to have travelled
five hundred miles without particle Of grass toatng at
the time mountains' cords and barrels of geo.
logical botanical and geological specimens for the benefit
of the scientific corps They had the entire dis
lance excepting few fanegas bought of the Mohave In
dams With regard to military posts and settlements,
state that for hundred miles around San Francisco
mountain everything that the earth yield to the
sites of man beast with, perhaps the exception of coal
viii be afforded At Turkey and Pueblo creeks, and the
Valley de China into which they open about hundred
and twenty miles further west immense grazing grounds
and the other necessares for large settlements will be
found At White Cliff creek and many other places in the
valleys Of Bill Wiamss fork and its tributaries there
also places nearly good The valley of the Colorado
the Moaye villages is notorious for the richness OF its soil
and salubry of climate Thousands of River Pauts Mo-
HAYES Cuchans and other tribes of Indians live exclusively
by cultivating the soil in the rudes imaginable
From Soda lake to Colon Pass distance OF some hun
bred and thirty miles the valley Of the Mohave creek wdens
out in nearly dozen places forming admirable points for
military posts settlements
In conclusion may add that Lieutenant Whipple with
untrng energy and enlightened zeal that deserve the
highest credit his accord has made
side explorations in the region here spoken Of by which he
will be enabled TO deneate correctly Typographical
map the peculiar features of this hitherto little known
gon distance of twenty TO forty miles each side of the
actual route Of The train. q.
San Francisco mountain is about three hundred miles west
of Albuquerque the Chquto Colorado ahordng the
of the Rio San Francisco Of the tributaries
of the Gila 1t named by Captain Sgreaves who
pored some further north about two On
\ maps it is named Cosnino Peak.