The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-10
general 1qteHigeqcs.
froat Aa1asds aud 9iebfasEa.' 1y E. D. Hllle.
Routes of Travel--The Pacific Railroad
---Navigable Rivers.

!
---Navigable Rivers.
The Territory of Kansas, from its po-
sition, is the great geographical center of
the internal commerce of the United
States.
The only overland routes from the At
lantic to the Pacific. which have thus far
accommodated emigrants or merchants,
either pass through its borders, or along
the Missouri river to the valley of the
Nebraska, thus passing along on its east
ern side.
A southern route through Texas, and
another through Arkansas, have been ex-
plored, without thus far attracting the
travel of any but explorers.
Of the routes really used, the great
euligrant track, through the South Pass,
to Oregon and California, is by far the
most important.
1t must be understood that the "South
Pass" is so called only because it is south
of the passes of the upper valley of the
Missouri, explored by Lewis and Clark.
Il is more lorsherly than the pass pro-
posed by Col. Fremont for a railroad,
near the line Of New Mexico.
| Tie travel along the great emigrant
road is equal to that on considerable
turnpike at the East. Settlers leave the
river at different places, according as
/ they choose different towns for an outfit.
From independence, Westport, Kansas
City, Weston, ST.. Mary's, St. Joseph's,
and other towns in Missouri and Iowa,
are different roads, therefore, leading
west or northwest to the valley Of the
Nebraska, along which is the proper en-
igrant road. Those of these tracks which
pass ForG Leavenworth are accommodated
by tie military road which the govern
ment has completed between the fort and
Fort Kearney.
This road, called the ''New Military
Road was constructed in 1850, by the
government, which caused it to be sur
veyed, improved, and bridged, and, hay-
! ing since kept it in good repair, it is call
! ed the bess OF the emigrant routes, being
high, level, dry, with fine grass and con-
venicnt water. The old military road,
into which the road from St. Joseph en-
ters, was abandoned on account of the
large streams, swamps, barrens, and hills,
! ami It's general crookedness.
AT Fort Kearney all these roads unite
and there is from that place but one road
up the valley. Blacksmith shops ana
ferries are established along this road fol
: the accommodation of travellers.
The great Santa Fe has been for many
! years followed by the overland traders u
New Mexico. It's history will be fount
fully described in Mr. Cregg's "Com
merce of the Prairies." II follows, fo
a short distance, lie Kansas valley, cross
es the divide >" 10 the great bend of tht
Arkansas. and by that valley proceed,
westward to New Mexico. By this routt
: Gen. kearney's command advanced il
1916. Leaving the Arkansas river a
Bent's Fort, AMI soon turning southwards
it keeps along the east fankof the "Span
ish Peaks until little south Of Sants
Fe, when, by series of passes, it crosse,
into the valley of the Del Norte.
These Two great lines of travel are the
only two which are used in general by
settlers or merchants passing overland tc
the west. l. is by some modification o
the one or the other that almost all the
projeets for Pacific railroad propose te
cross the continent.
In view, however, of the fact that tn,
Missouri river itself gives, far north, tn,
neares; nasisablc access to the Rocky
Mountains, Gov. Stevens, the Governor
of the Territory of Washington, was di
rected last year to survey the mountain.
in the neigliborhoot of the head water.
of that stream, with reference to rout.
for travel through some of their passes.
Meanwhile, since the annexation o
New Mexico, several methods of passing
the moln aims to the north of Santa Fl
have been suggested, one of which is tha
adopted by Col. Fremont in his proiee
for Pacific railroad.
# There is no physical difficulty of NOR,
than ordinary character in the way of /:
railroad route from the Mississippi to tn,
: eastern base of the great mountain regiol
thus described, or 70 what is usually call
ed the line of the Rocky Mountains
The slopes are gentle, and an average as
feent of about six feet to a mile Mouls
{ carry railroaI route to the great sand
: plains which stretch about two hundres
Q or three hundred miles east of the. noun
5 tains proper. The route through til,
a mains and then throusrh tharsdsees of tf,
mountains themselves, becomes the ques
a ton of especial practical interest. Th,
r various passes proposed refer 70 differen
Q methods of crossing this region. T,
Z describe these several passes through th'
It mountains, in the order in which they
have claimed public attension. we speal
4 first of the South Pass. This IS at ths
{ head of the Sweet Water river, one q
' the highest tributaries of the North Fori