The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-11
New York Geographical and Statistical
Society.

Society.
The regular monthly meeting Of this society held
Tuesday evening at their in the New York Univer
sity Rev Dr. Hawks presided The minutes OF the Las
meeting were read and approved
From the Treasurer's report it appears that the
ceipts have amounted to 32o 12 expenses 21s 81
balance in the treasury, $40 OIL.
The President pro tenn then addressed the society alud
ing to their increased Importance incorporated
stitution. He then read the act of incorporation.
An interesting but somewhat lengthy paper then
read by Mr. Watts, Of New Granada, on inter oceanic
communication An able resume of the explorations Of
the early explorers of the lshmus given together
with the authors personal observations.
The President then announced that Isaac j. Stevens
Governor of Washington Territory, present, and
would address the meeting, his urvey of the North
route for the Pacific Railroad" He said in com
mencing that he had only been in the city for twenty
four hours but having met Of the officers of this
ciation he had been requested make remarks
the present meeting which he did not feel at liberty
cline They all somewhat acquainted with the geo
graphical facts of the country-of its extent wealth and
the necessity that existed for its consolidation BY great
communications. We had growing empire upon the Pa
cifc-we had San Francisco had the Columbia Valley,
and Puget's Sound The main want of California to
have such connection with the States that it might
quadruple the number of its families that every
village and hamlet should be graced with the presence
of wives and children We had the great territories of
Oregon and Washington-Oregon now asking to become
State, with her sixty thousand inhabitants and Wash
ngton with her five thousand people, Territory des-
tined to become great State-destined become the
New England Of the Pacific. The Gulf Of Mexico and the
great lakes were the two great geographical facts which
were destined to u.ite the two great by iron
bonds The lakes approached within nineteen hundred
miles of the Columbia River and Pugets Sound and the
Gulf approached still nearer to San Francisco. We had
at the present moment II 800 miles Of railroad in ope
ration, and adding to them constantly. Illinois alone
with her million Of inhabitants put in operation last
year one thousand miles Of railroad Two ports were
needed on the Pacific shoreSan Francisco and Pugets
Sound-and only one was as yet developed. The wants
Of the country required several routes from the Misss
eipDi to the Pacific The roads ri
might be extended to the Great Salt Lake. and from that
point road might be pushed through Mobiles Pass to
the Sacramento Valley But he about to refer to
Their route, the route which he had had the honor
to explore 1t might be defined the great connecting
route that connects the great st. lawrence basin and
the great road running through Canada and the southern
shores Of the akeby the northern shores Of the Mis-
souri, river to pass at 81 80 to the Columbia Valley
to start from the Mississippi rver-one large party
to move West he second to start from the Columbia
river moving East for the purpose of exploring the
Cascade range and the third party to move from the
Columbia river make rapid reconnaissance Of the
try and establish depot in the heart of the mountains,
and meet us in the passes of the Rocky Mountains We
moved from the Mississippi river in three parties To
assigned the duty OF surveying the Missouri to
ascertain If 1t adapted to the purpose Of supplies for
the building Of railroads The two other parties moyed
TIE plains to the Mormon settlement and early in
August we rendezyoused ut Fort Union. From Fort
Union proceeded towards the Rocky Mountains and
there surveyed the various twenty
days. We left Fort Benton hundred miles to the
east, and a small party remained during the winter to
the Rocky Mountains there another party was planted
Of sixteen men, with orders to turn their faces to the
mountain passes and not leave them till they dri-
out by the At Fort Benton, east of the
tans another party despatched down the Missouri
for the purpose Of surveying and then to return in
order that they might the mountains with dog
train and they did cross starting the ID Of January
and when they crossed the Rocky Mountains Lieutenant
Grover found it necessary to disband his dogs. The
party sent back the mountains returned by the
route, taking southerly line below the Columbia.
The speaker said in reference to the upon these
mountains which had been made such bugbear OF, ii
impediment whatever. The party sent to the
mountain pssses found to drive them out But
little had been found although in Al and 4s degrees
Of latitude With regard to elevations he said the level
OF the South pass feet and the north route
there were but two hundred miles Of between 900 and
5000 feet elevation above the 1t route where
there would be distractions from Indian tribes
from the socaed streacherous Blackfeet Indians who
had uniformly treated him and his companions with
kindness In reference to the pecuniary view Of the
subject Gov s. decidedly Of opinion that three
great roads would become remuneratve Our western
roads yielded income Of ten per cent Passengers
alone would be able to pay for such roads He spoke
at length Of the noble qualities of those Indian
tribes which had been much vilifed They now
he looking to their great Father for protection
they should have 1t.
vote Of thanks was passed for the able address Of
Gov. 8, and the society after some snmportant bust
mesa adiOurned