New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-15
FROM THE GADSDEN PURCHASE.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTE.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence of The N. Y. Tribune.
Ell PAsO, Sept. 9, 1856.
Our valley has been lately increased in its tenn
porary population by the arrival of two government
parties: one commanded by Maj Or Sprague who
arrived here some time since, having left Captain
Pope ON the Lano Estacsdo, where he is carrying
on his operations for boring for Artesian wells.
The other party is that of the Pacific Railroad
survey, under the command of Lieutenant John G.
Parke Of the Typographical Engineers. They
arrived here on the 9TH from Fort Fillmore, having
reached the Mesills Valley from the ella Desert on
Aug. I3 The stay in the Mesilla Valley was in
order to allow the mules to pull up, so as to make
a quick return TO the States win San Antonio:
they leave here tomorrow. The party consists OF
Lieut.. John g. Parke, commanding A. II. Camp
bell railroad engineer; n. II. Hutton and u. u:
Garner, assistants; ii. Custar, topographer and
Or Antisell physician and geol0glst. We learn
that the party left San Diego, Cal, on May 26,
arriving at Fort Yuma on June7, and Mesllh valley
ON Aug 10 The surveys made on the route be-
tween the Piuas villages and the Rio Grande were
many and extensive and much new country was
explored for the first time. The valley OF the san
Pedro river has been carefully examined and, con-
trary to the general belief easy road for the iron
horse exists there. Instrumental surveys and
barometric readings of the difficult portions OF
fbe route on this parallel (32o) were also made,
which accounts for the long time spent in the sur
rev of the desert country between the Colorado
and the Rio Grande. The results Of these accurate
observations, we are told are that by no other
proposed route is there SO easy grade as by that
examined by Lieut. Parke: even Whipple's has to
PASS over road at least two thousand feet higher
Than that surveyed by the party. From the In
formation cleaned from this source it appears abso-
lutely certain that there can be no road made with
the same economy or facility as one from san
Antonio Texas. to here, and hence TO San Diego or
Los Angeles, California 1t is the natural line for
q railroad as no mountain chains exist on TINS part
az the continent and the land is gentle and
rr.dual elevation from eastern Texas to the Rlo
1;rsnde valley and as gradual slope to the Pachc
from This river TO the Colorado Water also can
be had at present at average distances OF twenty
Eve miles on the route and by sinking into the clay
subsoils ordinary wells can be made to supply all
Yhe demands. We learn also that Artesian we'll
boring will meet with no success on the valleys
west of the Bio Grande at least, such Is the
opinion of Dr. Antsell the geOl0gist OF the survey
who has deduced his conclusion from an exanins-
ton into the rainfall of the district
does not amount TO such quantity as would gustn!
the great expense incurred by Arteslan Dorlhg
This we believe, is new view OF this matter, ana
would perhaps, prevent unnecessary expense IL the
.sme calculations were previously made IN all such
cases The geological condition OF the strata iaVor
sb,e for the existence Of Artesian wells are met
with on the plains of the Gadsden purchase
Int As the fall of rain is slight DR.. Antseli De-
Ieyes that the tcctlS are not there. There u.s. now
ever. water in abundance for all ordinary travel
and before railroad can be established here
GOOD wagon.road should be made, which would DC
frequently travelled, and mall-routes might DC
established TO deliver the mails along those VAL
Ieys now settling up, and even reach California as
soon "A the ocean ship mails. There is no uouot
that the mail could be carried between san An
tonis. Texas, and San Diego, California, IN thirty
DAYS. as the route has been travelled frequently IN
that time and intervals Of it even quicker; tnus'
from San Antonio TO here has been travelled IN
twelve DAYS (six hundred and seventy miles
WAGONS have travelled in nineteen days from
this liver TO Fort Yuma, and horsemen IN four
S&en with ease; and the route from the Col
orsdo river to San Diego can be travelled IN
three DAYS when that road is graded aud worked
Tt,le There has been no Indian trouble
during tbis wear on this parallel, and little likeh-
hood Of any for some time to come This line offers
avery facility for overland California emigration
There is no doubt that the day Is not lar distant
When Gusyamas will be the terminus OF the line OF
travel across the continent; by making the rail-,
rosd terminus Al that point, one-half the line OF
travel from the Rio Grsnde westward would De
saved, and steamer thence 10 San rahois'O
would shorten the whole route several ia!
leaving Tucson and starting along the hesd"a.e's
Of the Zsgui river, down its valley through d
populous and fertile district to the gun pu' VIC
are forgetting that il is still Mexico. ,.
Nothing can exceed the beauty and iertiDty Oh
the Mesns and FL Paso valleys grapes pears