Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-06-29

| degrees below zero, and more snow having fallen
than in all the previous winters together since the
establishment of this colony.
! At this season their farmers had usually been
occupied with their plows, preparing the land fot
! grain.
At this point The line OF exploration enter
ed the third or western section, comprehending
| the mountainous plateau between the Wahsatch
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada of California -
| Two routes here suggested themselves 10 me for
examination; one directly across the plateau be-
tween the 37th and 3Sth parallels; the other keep
ing 10 the south of the mountains and following for
about two hundred miles down the valley OF the
Rio Virgin-Virgin River-thence direct TO the
Trion Pass, at the head Of the San Joaquin Valley
/ This route down the Virgin River had been exams
ined the year before with a view to settlement this
summer by Mormon exploring party under the
command Of Major Steele Of Parowan who (and
others of the party) Informed me that they found
fertile valleys inhabited bT Indians who cultivated
corn and melons, and the rich ground in many pla-
ces matted over with grape vines. The TETON Pas
are two, one of them (from the abundance Of
vines at its lower end) called Cdron de las UrdS.-
They were Of long use. and were examined by me
and their practicabty ascerained in my expedi-
ton Of IS4s-'46 and in 1851 again passed thro'
them both, bringing three thousand head Of cattle
through one Of them.
Knowing the practcabiity of these passes, and
confiding in the report of Major Steel. as to the in
termediate country, determined TO take the other
(between the 3Tth and 3Sth parallels it recon-
mending itself to me as being more direct to San
Francisco, and preferable on this account for
road if suitable ground could be found; and also
being unknown. the Mormons informing me that
various attempts had been made to explore it, and
all failed for want Of water. Although baised in
favor of the Virgin River roIte, determined to
examine this one in the interests of geography, and
accordingly set out for this purpose from the set
Elements about the Goth of February, travelling di
rectly westward from Cedar City, eighteen miles
west of Parowan.) We found The country high
table land bristling with mountains, often in short
isolate blocks, and some times accumulated into
considerable ranges; with numerous open and low
passes.
We were thus always in valley, and always
surrounded BY valleys fnore less closely, when
apparently altered in shape and position as we ad-
| vanCed The valleys are dry and naked. without
water or food: but the mountains generally COW
cred with grass and well wooded with pines springs
are very rare, and occasional small streams at re-
mote distances. Not human being was encoun-
tered between the Santa Clara river near the Nor
mon settlement and the Sierra Nerddu. over dis
tance Of three hundred miles. The solitary char
acter of this unnhabitad region, the naked valleys
without water courses, among mountains with fer
tile soil and woods and grass abundant give it tho
appearance of an unfinished country.
Commencing at the 3Sth we struck the Sierra
Nevada en- about the STth parallel about the 10th
/ March
On our route across we had for the greater part
valley grounds and low ridges uncovered, but
snow over the upper parts Of the higher mountains.
Between Feb 90 and l7th March we had several
snow storms, sometimes accompanied with hail and
heavy thunder. but the snow remained on the valley
grounds only few hours after the storm over.
II forms not the least impedinent at any time Of
the winter. was prepared to find the Sierra here
broad, rugged, and blocked up with snow, and was
not disappointed in my expectation. The fist range
we attempted to cross carried us TO an elevation
gES or q foot nd int iu,Da lie ctN,
which was further increased on the 18th by con-
siderable fall.
There was rs object in forcing passage, and I
accordingly turned at once some sixty or eighty
miles to the southwark. making wide sweep to
strike the Point 0fthe a'iforri0 NoUatdin where
the Sierra Nevada suddenly breaks off and declines
into lower country. Information obtained years
before froiE the Indians led me to believe that the
low mountains were broken into many Pssses, and
al all events had the certainty of an easy prssage
through either of Walkers passes.
When the point was reached, found the Indian
information fully verified the mountain suddenly
Terminated end broke down into lower grounds
! bare above the level OF the country. and making
numerous openings into the valley of the San .toas
qun ! entered into the first which offered taking
no time to search, as we out Of provisions and
living upon horses,) which led US by an open and
almost level hollow thirteen miles long, to an up
land not steep enough 10 be called hill, into
the valley of small aflluent Kern eiver, the hol;
low and the valley making together way where a
wagon would not tind any obstruction for forty
miles.
The country around the passes in which the Si-
: ezra Nevada here terminates declines considerably
below lis more northern elevation: There was M
snow TO be 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 mountain and the head
Of the valley a. the Teion the passes generally
free from snow throughout the wear, and the des-
cent from them 10 the ocean is distributed over
long sore Of more than 200 miles The low dry
country and the long slope. in contradistincton 10
the high country. and short, sudden, descent and
heavy SHOWS of the passes behind the bay of San
Francisco, are among the considerations which sug-
ges themselves in favor of the route by the head Of
the San joaquin.
/ The above results embody general impressions
made upon my mind during this journey. II is
clearly established that the winter condition Of
the country constitutes no impeachment, and from
what has been said the entire practcablity of the
line will be clearly inferred. 4 fuller account
hereafter will comprehend detailed descriptions of
country with their absolute and relative elevations
and show the ground upon which the conclusions
were based. They contributed al this time
an element tn aid the public in forming an opin-
ion On the subject of the projected railway, and in
qualification of my desire to do something for its
advancement. II seems a treason against mans
kind and the spirit Of progress which marks the age
10 refuse 10 put this one completing link to our ma
tional prosperity and the civilization of the world
Eur0pe still lies between Asia and America; build
this rar5ad and things will have revolved about;
America will lie between Asia and FRrope-the
go den vein which runs through the history OF the
world will follow the iron track TO San Francisco,
and the Asatic trade will finally fall into its last
and permanent road, when the new and modern
Chryse throw open their gates to the thoroughfare
Of the word.
am, gentlemen, with much regard,
Respectfully yours,
J. c. FREMONT.