The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-10
Pacific Railroad.


The American Railroad Journal reviews
the report of Col. Fremont in relation to his
observations upon bis newly discovered pass
o.. with great severity, and with so much ap'
parent consistency, that railroad men will be
likely to examine the momentous question
with great scrutiny and caution. The Jour.
nal porceeds to show that it is impossible
from natural and unavoidable causes, that
the Passes in the Rocky Mountains can pos.
sess the advantages of climate, soil and ma
terial for the construction Of a railroad which
Col. Fremont attributes to them. In speak
ing of Arkansas Valley and the Eastern slope
of the Rocky Mountains in latitude 3s, Gen.
Ksarney and Maj. Emory describe it as fol-
lows: smear the meridian of SO, the country
changes almost imperceptibly, until it merges
into arid and tGrren wastes. The country
embraced between meridian SO and Bent's
Ford, is totally different from that lying east
oft. The Arkansas, between these points,
runs over bed of loose and shifting sand
Beyond there says Maj. Emory, "ths ground
rises with gentle slopes into wilderness of
sand hills on the south, and prairie on the
north" "The eye wanders over these i'm
mense wastes in search of trees" "Not one
is to be seem" Such is Maj Emory's account
of region which Col. Fremont describes as
shaving all the elements necessary for the
prosperity Of an agricultural population, in
fertility of soil, abundance Of food for stock,
wood and coal for fuel, and timber necessary
for constructing.
The temperature of the climate, as de-
scribed by Maj. Emory, ranged for several
weeks during the heat OF summer Of ls47, ut
So. The following winter, during the
month of January: at Bent's Ford, the Their
mometer, for a grea, portion of the time, rang.
ed at - below zero, with great abundance
Of snow aud ice upon the ground.
These observations stand against the re.
port of Col. Fremont, that "the winters are
mild snd Short"
The reflection that Benfs Ford and tn,
head waters of the Del Norte, are location.
varying from 5000 to $4,000 feet above tn,
ocean, naturally excites incredibly as to tn
correctness of Col. Fremont's brief descrip
ton of the winters of those regions.
The Journal concludes: "We are sorr,
tosay in conclusion, that Col. Fremont's &C
count of his tour seems to US to be the argu
nsent of partizan, instead of an impartial re
cord of actual observations. To publish
without remarks, his account of his tour
would help to mislead the public instead o
instructinp it, Moro than THE, We have goo
reason to believe that the publication of Cap,
Gunnison's notes will establish beyond con
tradiction the incorrectness of Col. Fremont
assertion that favorable route in foun
upon his line through the great Rocky Noun
tain Range. We learn that these noun
tsins cannot be crossed by any PRACTICABLE
line, nor without long tunnels, which OF them
selves render his route impossible. We pre-
sumo that Col. Fremont took no measure
ments that can be relied upon. The rapidt
with which he pushed forward rendered
ImpossioIo ior him 10 TAKE such. Oh IN
contrary, Capt. Gunnson's party was organ
lied expressly for scientific observation
which renders it altogether probable tbs
his measurements of Sanerc de Christie an
Coochetopee passes are correct. Shout
these observations contradict the report
Col. Fremont tn toto, as we are assured the
will, they will place him in an awkward pre-
dicament. We have had enough of partisa
statements already; and if Col. Fremont b
such, he will suffer more in his reputatio
than he did physically upon his most hazart
Gus and adventurous Journey"