Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-16

snow storms, sometimes accompanied with hail
and heavy thunder; but the snow remained ON
the valley grounds only q few hours after the
storm was over. II forms not the least imped-
iment at any time Of the winter | was pre-
pared to find the Sierra here broad, rugged,
and blocked up with snow, and was not dsap-
pointed in my expectation. The first range
we attempted to cross carried us to an eeya-
ton Of 5000 or 5000 feet and into impossible
snow, which was further increased ON the 10th
by considerable fall.
There was no object in forcing passage,
and accordingly turned at once some sixty or
eighty miles to the southwark, making wide
sweep to strike the Point Of the California
mountain, where the Sierra Nevada suddenly
breaks off, and declines into lower country.
information obtained years before from the In
dams, led me to believe that the low mountains
were broken into many passes; and, at all
events had the certainty Of an easy passage
through either Of Walkers passes.
When the Point was reached, found the
Indian information fully verified: the mountain
suddenly terminated and broke down into
lower grounds, barely above the level Of the
country, and making numerous openings into
the valley of the San Joaquin. entered into
the first which offered taking no time to
search, as we were entirely out.of provisions,
and living upon horses which led us, by an
open and almost level hollow, thirteen miles
long, to an upland, not steep enough to be called
hill, over into the valley Of small aflluent
king together way where wagon would not
find any obstruction for forty miles.
The country around the passes, in which the
Sierra Nevada here terminates, declines con-
siderably below its moro northern elevation.
There was no snow to he seen at all on its
eastern face and none in the pass but we
were in the midst Of opening spring, flowers
blooming in fields on both sides Of the Sierra
Between the point Of the mountains and the
head of the valley at the TETON, the passes
generally are free from snow throughout the
year, and the descent from them to the ocean
is distributed over long slope Of more than
two hundred miles. The low dry country and
the long slope, in contradistinction to the high
country and short sudden descent and heavy
SHOWS Of the passes behind the bay Of San
Francisco, are among the considerations which
suggest themselves in favor Of the route by the
head Of the San joaquin.
The above results embody general impress
sions made upon my mind during this journey
1t is clearly established that the winter condi-
ton of the country constitutes no impeachment
and, from what has been said, the entire prac-
ticability Of the line will be as clearly inferred
A fuller account hereafter will comprehend de-
tailed descriptions Of country, with their abso-
lutte and relative elevations, and show the
ground upon which the conclusions wero based
They are contributed at this time as an ele-
ment to aid the public in forming an opinion
on the subject Of the projected railway, and in
qualification of my great desire to do some
thing for its advancement. It seems treason
against mankind and the spirit of progress
which marks the age, to refuse to put this ono
completing link to our national prosperity and
the civilization of the world Europe still lies
between Asia and America: build this rail-
road and things will have revolved about
America will lie between Asia and Europe; the
golden vein which runs through the history Of
the world will follow the iron track to San
Francisco, and the Asiatic trade will finally
fall into its last and permanent road, when the
new and the modern Chryse throw open their
gates to the thoroughfare of the world
| am, gentlemen, with much regard, respect
fully yours, j. c. FREMONT.