Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-01-12
Pacific Railroad Internal Improvements,
r..- -.... &c., &c.
ExTRAoTs FROM THE REPORT OF THE sEcRE-
TARY OF WAR.

IA lhc last SESSION OF congress an ap-
preparation of $l5O,OOO was made to ascer-
tain the most practicable and economical
route for Railroad from the Mississippi
river TO the Pacific ocean, and the act requir-
ed that the several reports relative TO the
explorations should be laid before Congress
on or before the first Monday of February,
1854.
The time allowed and the money appro-
priated, it is feared, will prove insufficient
for the complete solution of this important
problem. A vast extent of country was to
be accurately surveyed, and numerous lines
thousands Of miles in extent, to be examin-
ed; and it is hardly, therefore, TO be hoped
isfactorily answer the question proposed
But it is confidently believed that much in
formation will be added to the stock previ-
ously posscssed-perhaps enough 10 deter
mine the practicability Of the proposed en-
terprisc.
The following general sketch of the coun-
try to be explored will give some idea Of
the magnitude of the examination required
The western portion Of the continent of
North America, irrespective of the noun
tains, is travcrsed from North 10 South by
broad, elevated swell or plateau of land
which occupies the greater portion of the
whole space between the Mississippi river
and the Pacific ocean. The crest of this
plateau, OF the watershed of the country, is
nearly midway between the Pacific coast
and the Mississippi. 1t may be represented
on the map by an undulating line traced be-
tween the head-waters of the streams which
flow eastward, and those which flow west
ward. It divides the whole area between
the Mississippi and the Pacific into two
nearly equal portions, that on the east being
somewhat the larger. This crest of the
watershed has its greatest elevation in
Mexico, and thence declines to its lowest
point about the latitude of 32., where it has
height of about 4,500 feet, between the
waters Of the Rio Grande and those Of the
San Pedro, tributary Of the Gila. From
this parallel it increases in altitude north
ward, and reaches its maximum near to The
38th parallel, where it is about 5000 feet
high. Thence it declines as we pass north
ward, and in latitude ~ deg. "a min. it has
an elevation Of, say 1000 feet, and in the
latitude of about Al deg. it is reported TO
be at least 600 feet, and in the latitude of
about Al deg. it is reported 10 be at least
1000 feet lower. The heights here given
arc those, of the lowest passes over the crest,
or watershed, of the great plateau Of the
country, and not those of the mountainpeaks
and ridges winch have their base upon it,
and rise in some cases to the height of H.
600 feet, in the region of perpetual snow.
The slope of the plateau on the east and
south, towards the Mississippi and the Gulf
of Mexico, is comparatively gentle, and in
Texas is by several steps, of which the
highest is that known by the name of the
Llano estacado, or Staked plain. II is ira
versed by the Missouri, the Platte, the Ar
kansas, and other large rivers, which rise
among the mountains near the crest, and
flow eastward and southwark in channels
sunk beneath the general surface level Of
the plains.
In latitude ~ deg. near the source of the
Platte, it has an elevation Of about 5000
feet above tide, and in the same latitude on
the Missippi about 1000 feet. Towards
the sources of the Arkansas, in latitude 36
deg. it has height of 1000 feet, and in
same latitude on the Mississippi 275 feet
These elevations give an average decina-
ton eastward, to be whole plain, of about
"A feet per mile, and southwark Of about
2l-3 feet.
The crest of the plateau, and nearly the
whole of its western portion TO the Pacific
is occupied by great mountain system, the
continuation Of the Andes of South America
1t has variable breadth, ,narrowest within our
possessions near the Gila,in latitude 80 deg.
where it has width of about 500 niles
and attains its greatest expansion in the
parallel of 40 deg, where it occupies c
space of about 900 miles. On this noun.
tain base, as has been said before, are sit.
uated series of elevated peaks, ridges and
ranges. Those on the eastern side are
nearly continuous for about 800 miles, ant
known by the name of the Rocky noun
tains; those on the western side are perhap,
less continuous, though equally elevated
above their base,and designated as the Sierr,
Nevada, Coast range, Cascade mountains
sc. The whole space between these ex
tremc ranges is occupied by high peaks, ant
in various directions by a series of ridges
including elevated valleys, and forming