Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27
COL, FREMoNTs RAILROAD EXPLORATION.

COL FREMoNTs RAILROAD EXPLORATION.
rRoM THE SAN FRANCISCO "ALrA CALIFORNIA"
,,ur,nr The last .;-'vfve years Col Benton has teilaa
indeagably for the interests Of the West The open
ing of wagon road from Independence to Santa Fe long
treated with rdicule by honorable Senator's for many
years his favorte project Since his in the at
tanment of that the Pacific Railroad by central route,
has become his yorte scheme and he has succeeded in
bringing directly and indirectly vast amount Of vaua
information the topography and resources OF the
interior Of the country before the public Much of this
information has been obtained by the dauntess energy
of his sonn-law, COL Fremont, who arrived but few
days since from his adventurous trip the continent
in midwinter The purpose of undertaking the journey
at such time was 10 ascertain what amount OF snow
lay on the proposed route in the depth of winter and
completely that the road could be rayersed
| at al seasons Of the year.
On the 10Th of October Col Fremont left ST. Louis
and the ls of November started from the frontier
with his party OF eight Americans and Delaware In
dans all of them experienced mountaineers, and
who placed great confidence in Col. Fremont he in
them. The route up the Kansas and to the Ar
| kansas made beautiful country.
On the 30th November the party arrived at Bent's
Fort, where they saw the last white until they
rived at the Mormon settlement From the Fort they
travelled up the Arkansas and the Huerfano The
try here is hy very well watered, covered with grass
and well timbered with pine The soil is of sandy cast,
and in the valleys is very rich On the 9Th the party
tered the mountains, crossed the divide between the
Huerfano and the head of the Rio Grande the
Sand Hill Pass, sometimes called Williams's Pass and
passing to the Cochetope Pass crossed the
of the Pacific The Cocheope Pass in the main range Of
the Rocky Mountains was crossed on the 18th December
| and had then but four inches Of snoEs.
After crossing the summit the party struck down
of the tributaries OF the Grand river that stream which
they followed down to the Spanish TRAIL and then
went off due west to the Mormon Of Parowan
4 yhpr ON he Off Thpco
from th backbone Grand river Is covered with excel
lent ae timber and great deal of the soil is Of
ceent quality Indeed the whole country east Of Grand
river to the western line of Missouri distance of eight
hundred miles, is suitable for age and grazing that
the farms touch each other for the whole distance
From Grand river to Parowan about l50 miles, is
try without timber and with poor SOIL but otherwise
/ favorable for the construction of road
Just before getting into Parowan one of the party,
Mr.. 0. Fuller, of st. Louis died. He was brave and
energetic man. but the cold exerton and hard fare
too much for him, and he died in his saddle From the
time the party entered the mountains until they reached
Parowan they encountered good deal of difficulty.
was mdwinter; the grass in many places bad; the
animals required great deal of attention.
COL Fremont determined to pursue his course and
to make all the explorations which the strength of him
self and his party would permit, and game was wild AM
scarce The party arrived at the Mormon settlement
travelworn and much reduced in flesh. They remained
there twelve days. which suced to place them in excel
lent condition.
On the 2lst of February Col Fremont left the hospita
BILE people of Parowan to the Sierra Nevada. His
course little south Of west. The country was billy
and in many places mountainous About 100 miles from
Parowan the party crossed the river of the Great Basin
and reached the watershed of the Rio Virgin which emp
ties into the Colorado Thence the distance to Owens
Range which struck on latitude 81, about 2Ot
miles the same kind Of country. Indeed, COL Ere
did not know what precise point he left the Grea
Basin Here and there fertile valleys but the great
er portion of the soil is of sterile character.
The mountains composed Of short irregular ranges
generally running north and SOUTH covering nearly thu
whole country, and well tmbered with pine. COL
Fremont reached Ovens Mountain the 2lst of March
1t covered with snow, and presented pass and the
party turned to the NORTH following the foot of the
tain about sixty miles to the end Of the range. Here
they saw the first human beings since leaving Parowan
These were the Horsehief Indians living just at the
southern point Of the range They had large bands 0
California horses, and appearances indicated that the
were constantly receiving additions to their herds from
California. The whites attac ked party of them, ant
took 30 horses One OF the party was wounded by an
row, but not seriously.
About the LIST Of April they crossed the Sierra Nevada
near latitude &c. The pass was very favorable and thu
slopes were gradual and the country favorable fo
road that Col Fremont says that he could have started
in buggy from the spot where he encamped the day be
fore crossing, fifteen miles beyond the summit, and hav
driven point 35 miles this side of the divide with
out injury to horse. Indeed many of the party wou
believe that they had reached the summit This pass
which the head Of creek entering Kern river ror
the east previously unknown, so far as we know
Col Fremont arrived in this city the 10th, well
hearty that he actually fourteen pounds heave
than before The principal result of his trip has beer
establish the praccablty of the route at all
The Mormons say that the last winter has been unusually
severe and the church officers Parowan offered to gv
COL Fremont certificate that effect The greater por
of the from Bents Fort Parowan had been
veyed by Capt Gunnison, and reported to be not only
practicable, but favorable. This portion of the centra
is undoubtedly better than the corresponding
ton in the longitude Of any other route 1t is
direct through fertile country, well provided with
water and timber, favorable geographically, and viii
command the trade and the support Of the Mormons
Salt Lake. .t#@@
The route pursued by Col Fremont from Parowan t.
the Sierra Nevada having been direct would not bs
suitable for the road. The road might 60 from Parowar
direct the Sierra Nevada in latitude &c., perhaps
might follow the Spanish trailnow the road from Salt
Lake San Bernardinodown to the Seth parallel, ant
thence west to the pass. rs
COL Fremont has not had time to arrange his papers
and most Of his calculations still TO be made and WI
expect that when detailed narrative of his journey shat
be published it will create strong impression the
public mind in favor Of the central The did
not permit of extensive geological botanical geological
researches yet considerable portion of the journey hay
ing been made country before examined by
civilized man, the report will doubt add much to the
present stock Of knowledge about the country the
southern rim of the Great Basin.
small vessel was found capsized Lake Michigan
with writing the bottom indicating the of those
who had chung to the wreck until hope and endurance
| were both exhausted. The following touching words
] were part of the writing: