The Empire County argus., 1854-04-29

FURTHER FACTS IN REGARD TO THE EXPLORING
EXPEDITION OF Col. FREMoNT-The Atlantic and
Pacific Central Railroad route, proposed by Benton,
Fremont and others, beginning at Cairo at the
mouth OF the Ohio river, extends west on latitude,
81, (Which latitude it would in no place be neces-
sary to leave for more than 80 miles, to Parowan
on the Mormon road, q distance of 1000 miles.
From Parowan S. S. w. to the Kern River Pass, in
the Sierra Nevada, in latitude 36, is 400 miles, and
from Kern River Pass, $50 miles distant North
West, is San Francisco Or it may be, that from
Salt Lake Valley the best route will be to begin
latitude 40 80 at Salt Lake City, and thence
ming due West to the Humboldt, with that stream
to the Bend thence in direct line to Mobiles Pass
in latitude Al, and thence S. S. w. to San Fran
cisco.
During the last summer Mormon named Red
ding discovered important cutoff on the Califor
MIA road from Salt Lake. The old route began
with desert, went far to the North, and had in
many places but little grass and water. Redding
discovered straight road, with no desert and with
plenty of grass and water, running due West from
Salt Lake CITY to the Humboldt and making the
journey shorter by $50 miles. He valued his cut
off so highly that he applied to the Territorial Leg
isature for permission to collect toll, but it was
refused
The people at Parowan treated Col Fremont very
hospitality The town of Parowan has about 400
inhabitants The houses are built of adobes, with
shngle roofs, and the town is surrounded by an
adobe wall, as protection against the Indians
Col. Fremonts party made the greater part OF the
road on foot They started from TIE frontier, from
Bents Fort, from Parowan and from the camp OF
the Horsethief Indians at the foot of Owens Range,
with full supply of fresh horses but each supply
except the last gave out. The grass was dead
along nearly the whole route it had lost Its strength
by the washing of the rain and snow; the horses
became weak rapidly under the cold, and thin feed,
and it was absolutely necessary to retain some of
i IL .,,o4,, aF (NoI
Fremont The men, though they reposed full con-
tidence in their leader, yet doubted whether they
would succeed in making the trip in mid-winter
over mountainous country considerable portion
of which had never been trodden by white man.
They never knew in the morning how far they
would have to travel to grass and water the search
for which was rendered more difficult frequently by
the necessity of finding wood in the same place
when the weather was cold. Col Fremont used
tents until he arrived at Bents Fort where he obtain
ed Indian lodges or tents of tanned buffalo skin.
The food for q great portion of the way was horse
meat. Whenever horse gave out, if the game
was not plenty he was slaughtered and his strn-
CIV and lean muscles were divided out with the
strictest economy
Col. Fremont had daguerreotype instrument
. with him, and took large number of views which
will be transferred to paper and be published with
the notes of the journey. These views will carry
in themselves conclusive evidence of the correctness
ofthe report jim regard to the topography timber &c
of the more important localities.
good many Yute Indians seen from Bents
Fort to Grand River. They slowed some DISPOSE
ton to steal horses but not otherwise hostile
They were engaged at the time in a war with the
Cheyenne Indians, who are living in the Parks at
the head of the Platte, Arkansas, and Colorado
Col Fremont will remain in this city about month,
and then return to Washington.
While upon this subject of railroad surveys we
may say that T. w. Landers, typographical engi-
neer who the head of engineering staff in Gov
Stevenss extreme northern exploration, appears to
think that the central route MY, after all, be the
best for Washington territory About the Goth of
March, Mr.. Landers began the reconnaissance of
route from Puget Sound direct to Salt Lake, dis
tance of 1000 miles, and he and his party are now
in the mountains. Landers desires to conclude his
survey early, so that he may have his report con-
cluded and in Washington city in July. The Ter
ritorial Legislature approves of the reconnaissance
and has adopted resolution requesting Congress
to make appropriation to pay the expenses Of the
expidtion