Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-06-21


es deep, and as olteupone at all. Ol our arllyals
at the Mormon settlement, Feb.S, etound i |
few inches deep, land were there Informed that
the winter had been unusually long, continued
and severe, the thermometer having been as low
as Ito below zero, and more snow having fallen
than in all the previous Wntes together, sillce the
establishment Of this eoiony.
AT this season their farmers had usually been
engaged al their plows. preparing the Land os Inc
Atthis point tue line of exploraiony entered the
third or westernsectioh, coniprehend,ng the noun
tainDuss plateau between the w ahsatci Noun
taips and the Sierra Nesada OF Coliiornia. Two
routes here s,iggested5 themselves 10 me Tor expm-
ination; one directly tile Ptufedu bet@een
the 37th and 3Sth parallels, 1.-The other Keeping 10
the south OF the ncuutntis, anu following Tor a
bout two hundred miles down a valley OF hio pir-t
gen-ViIgin Riper--thence, direct TO The TETON
Pass, nj tue head ofthe San Joaquin Valley This |
route down the Virgin River had been examined
the year before with view to settlement this
summer by a Mormon exploring party under the |
command of Major Steele of Parawan, who with |
others of the party1 informed me that they found
fertile valleys inhabited by Indians who culliva-
ted corn and MELONS, and The rich ground in mn
ny places NOTED over with grape vines. The Te- |
Jon passes are two, one Of them (fton the album |
dance of grapes at The lower END called Canon
de las Upds. They we've OF long use; and were |
examined by me, and their ipractcabllity4usc
tanned IN my expedition of lS4S-'49; and in 85l,
i again passed though them both, bringing tiree
Knowing the praclibiiity of these passes, and
coniding in the report of Major Steele as 10 the
immediate country. determined 10 take the other,
(bet~een the 3Stii and 39th parallels) 1t recon- |
lnendingilseif to as being more direct towards
san francisco, and preferable that account for
road, if suitable ground could be preerred; and
also as being unknown; the Mornons informing me
that various attempts 10 explore 1t aud all tailed
for want OF water. Although biased in favor
of the Virgin River route, determined 10 examine
this one in the interest of gyography and accord-
ingly set out for this purpose from tie settle
ment about the goth of February, travelling west
ward from Cetiar city, (eishteen miles west OF Par
owan.) We found The country high table land, |
bristling with mountains, often i'll short isolated
blocks, and sometimes accumulated into consider
able ranges, with numerous open aad low passes.
We were thus always in valley, and alwaysl
surrounded by mountains more or less closely, |
which apparently altered in shape and position us
we advanced. The valleys are dry and naked, |
without water or food; but the mountainsi afe-I
generally covered with grass and well wooded with
pines; springs very rare, and occasional small
streams are at remote distances. Not human be-
ing was encountered between The Santa CLARA Road
near the Mormon settlements aud the Sierrn Ne
u0da, over distance of more than three bundled
miles. The solitary character of this unininbted
region, the naked valleys without water courses,
among mountains with fertile soil and grass and
woods abundant, give it the appearance of an un
flushed countty.
Commencing at the SSH, we struck the Sierra
w "Souh VIC O'th Put"iiSt uooul AoSH
March. Ks etsl. ~ st
On our route across we had for the greater part
OF the time pleasant aud rather warm weather; the
valley grounds and low ridges uncovered, but STOW
over the upper parts of the higher mountains.-l
Between the 29lh of February and the 18th OF
March we had several storms, sometimes
accompanied with hail pnd heavy thunder; but
the snow remained on the valley grounds only
lew hours after the storm was over. II forms mol
the least impairment at any time of the winter.
was repaired 30 find the Sierra here broad. rugged,
and blocked up with snow, and was moi diSappoint:
cd IN my expectation. The first range we attempt
ed TO cross carried us to an elevation of 5000 or
5000 feet aud into impossible snow, which was
further increased on the 10th by considerable
falt
There was no object in forcing passage, and
accordingly turned some sixty or eighty miles 10
the southwark, making wide sweep to strike the
Point Of the California mountain where the Sierra
NeYaCa suddenly breaks off and declines into 4
lower country. Information obtained Yeas before
from the Indians led me to believe that the low
mountains were broken into many passes, and at
ailevens hail the certainty of an easy passage
throngli either of Walkers passes.
When the Point was reached found the Indian
Information fully vernfed tie mountain suddenly
terminated and broke down INTO lower gIounJs
barely above The lrvrlof the country, and making
numerous openings INTO the valley of San Joaquin
entered into the first which offered, (taking no
time tosearch, as we were entirely out oftpto-
visions and living upon horses which led us by
an open and almost level hollow, thirteen miles
long, 10 upland not steep enough TO be called :.
hill, over into the valley of small affiuent to
Kern Riyeri the hollow and the valley making
together way where agon would not find any
obstruction for forty miles.
The country around the passes in which the
Sierra Nevada here terminates declines consdera-
bly, below its more northern elevation. There !
was no snow 10 be seen NJ all its eastern face,
and none in the pass but we in the midst OF
opening spring, flowers blooming in fields on bot Ii
SIDES OF the Sierra. a.. 1861
Between the point of the mountains and thel
head of the valley at TETON the passes generally
are Tree from snow throughout the year, and the de-
scent from them to the ocean is distributed over n
long slope of more than two hundred miles. The |
low dry country aud the long slope, in contradis-
tncton TO the high county and short, sudden de-
scent aud heavy SHOWS of the passes behind the
bay.of San Francisco, are amoig the considera- /
lions which suggest themselves liz favor of the route
by the head OF the San Joaquin.
The above results embody general impressions |
made upon my mind during this journey. 1t is |
clearly established that the winter condition oil the |
country constitutes no impeachment, and from what |
has been said the entire practicabity of the line
will be clearly inferred fuller account here |
after will comprehend detailed descriptions of the |
country, with their absolute and relative eleva-
tionsf and show the ground upon which the con- |
clusions based. They contributed al
this time an element to aid the public III form !
ing opinion on the subject OF The projected /
railway, and IN qualification of my great desire TO
do something Tor its advancement. 1t seems a /
renson against mankind and the spirit of progress
which marks the age TO refuse 10 put this one
link to national prosperity and the civilization
of the world. Europe still lies between Asia and
America; build this railroad and things will have
evolved about. America will lie between Asia
and Enrope--the golden vein which runs through
The history the world will follow the iron track
TO San Francisco, and the Asialic trade will final
ly fall into its last and permanent road, when the
new and modern Chryse throw open their gates 10
the thoroughfare OF the world, s,ta16
Il am, gentlemen, with much regard, respeciul-
ly yours, j.. U. FREMONT.
Washington, June 10, 1854. .,..s.
1000 Lost.
A Bo& oil Confectionery directed tc VIM FLRMrxo, |;
IA Westcfester Tusca rawas county, Ohio ANY nfur
nation in 'egardtoi will be thankfully this
office, or at Il