New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-04-13
LETTER From COLONEL FREMONT TO
COLONEL BENTON
From The N.,snsl IateIlIs-ueer.

Nassnal tnfeli<rncer
l. gives rs great pleasure 10 insert the subOinet letter
from Col Fremont not only because il contradicts the
exaggerated reports Of deaths sustained by his parry and
assures Of the intrepid explorer own safety asr ms
two months bold journey through the mountain wi in
mid winter hut because his success seems fully 10 have
established the favorable nature of the central route for
a railroad ia winter h vel as summer:
%PARAwAN. IRoN County. Utah Territory,
Thursday Feb. ., 1854 (
MY DEAR SIR. have had the good fortune to Iseet
here our friend Mr. Babbit the Secretary Of the Terri
tory who il on his WAY Washington in charge Of tho
mail ard other yery interesting dispatches the Importance
Of which i urging him forward With extreme rapd'ty
He passes dire fly on this morning anu nave barey
few moments 10 give you intelligence oil our safe Hrva
and Of our General good health and asOnabe success
in the obfci of cur expedition.
This winter has happened to be one OF extreme and
unusual cold Here the citizens inform me. il has been
altogether the seVercs since the settlement OF this valley
Consequently far the SHOWS are concerned the main
condition Of our exploration has been fulfilled we en-
tered the mountain regions The uerfano River on the
81 of December and Issued from II here the 9TH OF
this month arriving here yesterday afternoon We went
through the Coochatope Passon the lh December win
four iuches-nOt feet take notice, but nchesof snow
on the level among the pines ard in the shade on tbe
summit of the Pass This decides what You consider the
great question and tuflls the leading condition OF my OK
ploraors and therefore 90 no further into details IN
congratulate YOU on this veri6caon OF your judg
men and the good prospect holds out OF nna success
in carving the road By this central line Nature has been
bouut to this region In accommodating here, within few
miles of where writing, vast deposits of iron. aud
coal and timber all OF the most eActhent Gnu
gre al and powerful interior State will spring up immeti
aey in the steps of the Congressional action which should
decide 10 carry the road through this region In making
nv expedition TO this point nearly parallel OF lat
ituIe shortening the usual distance from Green River
10 this point by over hundred miles In crossing to the
Sierra Nevada | shall go direct by unexpored route,
aiming to stroke directly the TCoD Passes ~ the head
If the San Joaquin Valley through which in 1850 drove
from two to three thousand head Of cattle that do
livered 10 the Indian Commissioners. shall make what
sreed possibly can going light aud abandoning the more
elaborated survey of my previous line 90 gain speed
Until within about ahundred miles OF this place we had
daeuerreotyped the country which passed, but
were forced abandon all heavy baggage 70 save the
men and shall not stop to send back fOr The Della
wares all came in sound but the whites Of my party
all Exhausted and broken up and or less frostben
lost one Mr. Fuller OF st. Louis, Missouri who died on
entering this valley lie died ike man. horse back
In his saddle and will be buried like soldier, the spot
where he fell .
hone soon to see YOU in Washington. Mr. Rabbit ex
meets 10 see Won before the end Of March Among other
documents which he carries with him the Maps and
Repcyt Of CAPT GuRRis0Rs party.
Sincerely and afectionstoly.
JOHN C. FREMONT.
Col BENros Wsshinsion.
Z s. This is the Little Salt Lake settlement and was
commenced three years since. Population 400 and
but one death by sickness since the settlement was made
We have been most HOSPITALITY received Mr.. Rabbit
has been most particularly kind and has rendered mo
very valuable assistance.
Valley Of the Parara about miles tho
ween l3 degrees Longitude elevation above tho
about Ct0f