, 1854-01-28
a Question Settled.


nohhernmost route 10 the Pacific must have
a great advantage over the Central, or the
Southern one, from the fact that il is very
much shorter. BY that way We shall not
only reach the great Western ocean sooner
than by any other, but, when there, we
are much nearer to the Oriental World,
whose commerce is thought by some TO he
a very extensive and profitable affair. 1t is
not only much brieier journey from Like
Superior to Pugrt's Sound than from st.
Louis or Memphis to San Francisco, bu,
from there we can reach Eedo or Canton
with two days less steaming. This fact
has caused the Northern route to be re-
garded with respect even by those who are
most anxious that some other line should be
Fixed on. But still q very serious doubt has
rendered its advocates somewhat uncertain
and backward. II has be en- surmised that
possibly no good pass could be found to con.
duct the road through the barrier Of the
Rocky Mountains, and il has been feared
that however excellent and favorable the
country on both sides of that great ridge, it
might be necessary after all TO renounce
lllls llllt dVu 10 hEAAlt NlAuEl vi Alldl dhNONI-
ted by Col. Col Benton or that Of Texas.
This doubt has now been extinguished
Governor STEVENS, at the head Of the
Northern Exploring Expedition reports that
there are several good passes, one Of them
combining every desideratum, and that
there is no hindrance 10 The construc-
ton of the road over the line he has trav-
ersed. His letter, which appears in the
The Tribune this morning, is highly ex-
plieit on this question. The entire line has
been investigated by bis own party going
west, and by that Of Lieut.. Saxton, who
started from the Pacific and came eastward /;
and though il cannot b. said that the whole
country has been explored on both sides,
and every mountain pass examined, so that
the best possible line can be exactly laid
down for all the distance, not doubt re-
mains that the Northern Route is perfectly
feasible, and indeed singularly favorable Tor
the execution Of this great highway.
And not only do the mountains inlerpose
no obstacle, but the country from Lake Su-
perior to the Pacific is described as exceed
ingly fertile and adapted for setIlement.-
The case is not so encouraging for either Of
the other lines. The Central line runs zig
gag, and traverses barren districts where
fuel and water do moi abound. The Texan
route lies along the Gila, whose cTaggy
gorge cannot be used for railroad bed ]; or
else it crosses the border of Mexico aud
makes a long stretch through a region not
our own. Meme Of these ineonveniences
attach TO the Puget Sound line. That runs
with great direclness through a highly pro-
ducliye territory, well wooded, aud we'll
walered, and has at its western terminus
one Of the noblest harbors Of the world.
'Ths sole objection that can be raised against
il is the accumulation Of snow usual in
northern attitudes in winter. On this head
important facts will no doubt be given in
Gov. Stevens official report, which will be
in Washington in season for the opening Of
Congress. But certain it is that on the
greater portion Of this route there are no
such SHOWS as fall on the railroads in the
central part of New York, and that at the
worst there is nothing more troublesome
than is constantly experienced on the rail-
roads of Maine. We all know how much
these roads arc obstrucied in winter; when
The snow drifts upon them, appliances al
ways at hand soon clear the track and the
circulation is never delayed beyond day.
On the Puget Sound road ii would not be
more serious and al any rate there would
be no such terrible depths of snow there as
Col Fremont had 10 encounter in New
Mexico in 1850.
The clearing up Of all doubts relative 10
this line is not the only good done by the
Expedition. II has settled many other
questions with regard to the natural fea-
lures OF that vast and hitherto unknown re-
gion, and hSs opened 10 our knowledge and
our interests splendid portion of the ma
tional domain 10 which we have been stran-
gers.
20 We copy the following from the Or
egon Spectator Of late dsle:-
A HAUL.-The Custom House at Astoria
was robbed by an Irishman, who was in the
employ OF the Collector, Gen. Adair. The
General had left the room for a few minutes,
ii ha Eox, of Tho e,ca IN ha Lob tho