Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-06-19
cENTR AL PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTE.

CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTE.
Col Fremont publishes long letter in the National Ia
tcllisenccr descriptive of his recent exploration of IL
Central Pacific Railroad Route the Pacific, from whc
take few extracts OF interest Hc divides the entir
route into three sections l. Extending from the Nilsson
ri sonter 10 the base OF the Sierra Blanca, about 10
miles. .. From the Sierra Blanca to the first Mormo
settlement comprising the various Rocky Mountain ranges
about i5o miles. s. Tue mountainous plateau extending
thence to the Sierra Nevada a distance Of abou, 40
miles.
or the first section he SAYS:
For railway or a winter travelling road the rout,
would be, in consideration Of WOOD coal building stone
water and fertile land about two hundred miles up th,
immediate valley of the Kansas (Which might be mad,
one rich continuous comfcld) aud afterwards along tn,
immediate valley OF the Upper Arkansas of which about
two hundred miles, you approach the mountains, !:
continuously well adopted to the settlements well
roads Numerous we-waercd and fertile vslleys-broad
and developer up among the mountains, which presen,
themselves in detached blocks uines-graduay clio
sing around the heads Of the streams but leaving open
approaches the central ridges The whole of the
termounain region is abundant in grasses, WOOD coal
and fertile soil The Pueblos above Bcnts Fort prove il
be well adapted to the grains aud vegetables
the latitude, including Indian corn, which ripeus WELL
and the support of healthy stock, which increase well
and take of themselves summer and winter.
The climate is mild, ami the winters short, the autumn
usually having its full length of bright, open weather.
without snow, which in winter falls rarely aud passes oil
1
| ains, the falls early aud much thiuly
than in the open plains to the eastward the storms
crcgstc about the high mountains aud leave the valleys
Tree. In the beginning OF December We found yet no
snow on the Hnerfuno river, and informed by an
old resident, then engaged in establishing farm the
mouth ofth stream that seldom fell there
and that; cattle left in the range all the winter
through.
This character of country continued to the loot OF the
dividing crest and to this point journey resulted ia
showing very easy grade for road country
having all the elements necessary 10 the prosperity OF
agricultural population, in fertility of soil, abundance
food for STOCK wood and coal for fuel aud timber
ccssary construction.
The second Section is described in the following
manner:
At this place the line entered the middle section and
continued its open valley country,
admirably adapted for settlement the San Luis val
ley aud up the frs, fiat bottom lands OF the Sihwa,ch
to the heights of the central ridge of the Rocky Mouu
iains. Across these wooded hCghts-wooied and grass
covered up and their rounded summts-to the
coochatope pass the line followed open easy wagon
way, such is usual to rolling country On the high
summit lands forests of coniierous trees and the
snow in the pass four inches deep. This the
l4th of December. day earlier horses would
no; have touched the in the crossing. Up this
point have enjoyed clear aud dry pleasant weather.
Our journey had been all along dry grouud; aud
yelling slowly along waiting for the winter there had
been abundant leisure for becoming acquainted with the
country. Tne open character of the country Joined
good information indicated the existence Of other passes
about the head OF the Sih-watch This desirable to
verify AMI especially to examine neghborng and lower
class connecting directly with the Arkansas valley
known as the Poow-che.
Our progress in this mountainous region was necesari
~ SLOW and during days which it occupied US to pas,
through about hundred miles of the mountainous
bordering the side of :he Uppcr Colorado
valley greaest depth of the was among the pines
aud apens the ridges sbouttw and half feet and
the valleys about six inches The atmosphere is too cold
aud dry for much snow aud the vaeys protected the
mountains comparatively free from IT, aud warm We
here found villages Of the Utah Indians in their wntern
ground in little valleys along the loot OF the higher
ains and bordering the open country Of the Colo
RADIO valley. Saow here December 25) only few
inches deepthe grass generally appearing above it. and
there being under trees aud Southern hill sides
OF the third svetio" he saws
We found the country high i-nd bri.iny with
mountains, often in short Isolated blocks and
accumulated into considerable ranges with numerous open
| and low passes.
We wes thus ALWAYS in valley and always surround
ed by mountains less closely which apparently
altered in the shape and position advanced Thr
| valleys dry and naked, without water wool bur
the mountains generally covered with grass and wei
wooded with pines springs very rare, and occasion
al small streams remote distances Not human
being between the Santa Clara roId
the Mormon settlements and the Sierra Nevada,
distance Of than three hundred miles. The solar
character Of this uuuhsbited region the nakei valleys
without water courses, among mountains with fertile soil
and grass and woods abundant give it the appearance OF
| an unfinished country.
Commencing the SSth, struck the Sierra Nevada
| on abou, the 81;h parallel about the 18th March.
From this point the party turned at sixty or
eighty miles 10 the southwark making wide sweep
strike the Point of the California mountain where the
Sierra Nevada suddenly breaks oil and declines into low
country. Information obtained years before from the
Indians LED to believe tha. the low mountains were
broken into many passes and all events had the
tanty OF an easy passage through either OF Walker
passc
When the Point reached / fouud the Indian in
formation fully verified; the mouutln suddenly tcrmna-
ted and broke down into lower grounds barely above the
level Of the country, aud making numerous openings into
the valley OF the SIn Joaquin entered into the first
trely Of provisions and living horscs which led
upland steep enough DO called hill, over into
the valley OF small aiIeht the Kern river the hol-
low aud the valley making together a way where q
wagon would not fud any obstruction for 40 mi e1
The country around the passes in which the Sierra Ne
vaI here terminates declines considerably below more
northern elevation. There be seen at al
on it, eastern face aud none in the pas. but il
the midst OF opening spring, flowers blooming in fields
both sides of the sierra.
Betweeu the point Of the mountains aud the head o
the valley OF the TETON the passes generally free fro
snow throughout the year. aud the descent from them
the ocean ia distributed long slope of thar
slope, in cOuiradi,tiuctiOn the high country
sudden descent aud heavy OF the passes behind
bay oil San Francisco among the considerations Hhic
suggest themselves IN favor Of the by the head OF ia
l san Joaquin.
The letter closes 10y expressing the opinion tina, tn
route will prove perfectly practicable in winter aud III
snow offers serious obstruction in any part Of tn
route