Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-01-12


basin, having an elevation of 4,l00 feet.
This mountain region is not, as is fire.
quently supposed, q single chain, but a sys-
TEN extending from little eastof the crest
of the watershed to near the shores of the
Pacific, and occupying about one-half of all
the space between the Mississippi and the
Pacific ocean. The position Of this belt Of
mountain region stretching from north to
south, gives rise to peculiafity ef climate
and soil. Fertility dependsPrincipaHy up
on the degree of temperature and amount of
moisture, both of whicAare much affected
by increase Of. elevation, and the latter also
depends on the dircStien of the wind. The
upper or return current of the trade-wind,
flowing backward towards the north east,
gives prevalence of westerly winds in the
north temperate zone, which tends to spread
the moisture from the Pacific over the wes-
tern portion Of our continent.
These winds, however, ascending the
western slope of the mountain ridges, are
deprived of their moisture by the diminish
ed temperature of the increased elevation,
and hence it is that the plains and valleys on
the eastern side of the ridges are generally
parched and barren; and that the mountain
systematic highest chain of which, known
as the Rocky mountains, by presenting, as
it were, screen against the moisture with
which the winds from the west come laden,
has for its eastern margin sterile belt
which probably extends along the whole
range, with anaverage width of about 250
miles.
These general views, derived as they
have been, from imperfect data, may yet
serve TO give some idea of the immense
magnitude of the work necessary to con-
struct q railway from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. No work for artificial communi-
cation has ever exceeded it in extent and
physical difficulty. Its execution however,
is within the means and power of the Amer
lean people. The degree of practicability,
and the comparative economy and eligibility,
of routes, cannot be determined without ac-
curate instrumental surveys. An error in
the selection of the route may involve the
useless expenditure Of many millions, and
the ultimate value of the work; for this
choice should not depend alone on apparent
case Of construction, but also upon the pro-
ductive character and geneneral resources
of the country through which it passes.
From the foregoing sketch it will be
perceived that the lines of exploration must
traverse three different divisions or regions
of country, lying PARALLEL to each other, and
extending north and south through the whole
Of the western possessions Of the United
States. The first is that of the country be-
tween the Mississippi and the eastern edge
Of the sterile belt, having varying width
of from 500 to 600 miles; the second is the
sterile region, varying in width from 200 to
gion, having breadth of from 500 to 900
miles.
Explorations show that the surface of the
first division, with few exceptions, falls in
gentle slopes from its western boundary to
the Mississippi at the rate of about six feet
to the mile, and that it offers no material
obstacle 10 the construction of a railway
1t is, therefore, west Of this that the diff
culties are to be overcome. The concur
ring testimony of reliable observers proves
the second division, or that called the sterile
region, to be so inferior in vegetation and
character Of soil that it has received, and
probobly deserves, the name of the desert.
The construction of railway through this
region will be attended with obstacles which,
though not insurmountable, will be scarce
ly less difficult to overcome than the ele-
vations in the mountsn passes Of the next
division.
Report also gives the character of ex-
treme sterility to much of the country en-
braced in the mountain region; yet in the
conflict OF opinion on this subject, and amid
the variety Of accounts which have beer
given of it, doubts have arisen in the minds
of many as 10 the possibility of the exis
tence of such extensive regions within our
posses sions unsuited TO the purposes of man
To settle this question, with which the con.
struction of a railway is intimately connect.
ed, the parties have been instructed to col.
lect all the facts which may have bearing
onthe capacity of these regions to support
human life. -f.-r..
1t was necessary, before determining what
routes should be explored, to examine the
information which had already been obtain.
ed. Only three parties had extended theil
explorations with proper instruments from
the Mississippi to the tidc-waters of thu
Pacific. The first and most northern wa.
by the way Of what is called the South Pas