The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-21

tationsly advocated Tin opposition Secretary Davs)
government assistance the only ex-erritorial road
yet buih-the railroad the isthmus OF Panama ?
This country far has aided 10 the building Of a
road either in Texas IN Minnesota yet Gar moral
political proprety is concerned unable to per-
eeve why the United States might well aid Louis
lana the Gulf Missouri ia the oenreas well Illinois
on the Lakes Arkansas in the interior for notwith-
standing his assertion win believe Texas the adj
mnisraton eontempla,es the construction Of railroad
in @Chihuahua Sonora that Wisconsin, Iowa. Min
nesot Oregon and Washington win build in Canada
So Of his description Of No will believe that
the northern of Gov Stevens is represented by
Col Benton that il is hay bad the advocated
by himself though for building road upon his
route he has seriously attempted to make legal pro-
vision Is unreasonable suppose that he Wilt
that he is merely speaking the legislature not aboring
for road for the people of Missouri Nor viii aay
believe the extreme southern route he describes
le53 he described the route from Memphis 10 Walkers
pass as perfectly terrific Here is from his
speeeh describes the end Of the line then
rirer Of sana rolling like the waves Of the under
the Of the wind where neither beast could
lie down o. stand sR ayitiom teiag buried aps under
luMulus Vt III opcctH tuS othct uahs
frred this charge from the Walkers pass route to the
Texas route thus
Those exeitabe sand fields in which no number Of
horses track-in which what is hllock to-day
hole in the ground to-mcrrow--where under gentle
breeze the sands creep like army of nscctwhere the
traveller who lies down sleep during the night in light
wind and shake himself often to avoid being buried
sandand where during high wind the air is filled
with driving tempest icou particles, very cutting
the skin eyes, very suoeang the throat very dam
gerons who not tall and swt--where and
their lives when they feel the wind rising and
where this administration would carry the road"
Without doing justice the beautiful and fertile valley
Of the Mohahve which he had stigmazed he transfers the
description oft region less known; he himself
proposes to run branch through that identical valley
Hear him
ssThe proposed is intended to be straight
line aside by obstacle and sednced from its
BY lateral interest But it win be road for the
mediation the whole broad expanse Of the country from the
Mississippi the Pacific Branches striking out like
ribs from the spne would reach every
Missouri and Iowa, from point the Upper kansasNew
Mexico from point on the Upper Arkansas the Great Salt
Lake from point the upper valley Of the Colorado and
thence the mouth of the Columba-and Los Angces
and Southern California from point the LHte Salt Lake
and Santa Clara settlements"
It is thus seen that he recommends branch railroad
from Little Salt Lake Los Angeles directly through he
desert ana also along the valley OF tie river OF sand
rolling like the waves Of the ocean,
Now that the administration wish this gov
build 1ex-terrorialn railroads either in Mexico
in Canada 1t is not that the administration has
recommended the construction Of railroads through either
Hhyperborean argid7 regions, through countries
drained by Arivers of sand" If there is such
mendaton let him produce IT, II is not that there is
State Territory in this Union within WHICH neither
beast lie down stand still without being
buried alive under tumulus of sand = Col Ben
find reputable authority either ancient modern
justify the assertion There is not such spot outside
Of Africa it, indeed there is there
Bat the other hand, his route is liable serious
objections which he has studously concealed and he has
claimed merits which shall take the trouble
prove do exist 1t is free from serious impede
mensn summer lacks water; in winter it is submerged
by Several of Fremonts party in ls49 miserahly
persisted in the snow and the survivors driven back
His subsequent achieved only with loss Of hui
life Even the other side Of the Rocky mountains
Fremont tells found the four feet deep And
this side Of the mountains the great plains not far west
Of Missouri Col Benton himself another OCCASION shows
the seriousness Of the impediments lie (Frtmont
has been safe in his camp in grove Of wood during
snosc-stor tchich Killed all animals The prairie witness
the loss about thousand head Of government
turning from New Mexico in is4s.p This is somewhat
lyperborean" and West Pointers might well hesitate
to recommend route through region that would require
the practised skill of Fremont Carson to preserve
animal life from the rigors Of its climate
Col Benton says his route is straight level &c &c But
it is straight "The discovery OF this pass through the
Sierra Neyada) says Col Benton in his last speech awss
the Browning mercy of this adventurous winter expedition
1t was the cherished desderaun Of the central route
fulfilled lis last condition 1t gives nearly straight line
from the Little Salt Lake 10 the Sierra Nevada with
good pass into the valley Of the San Joaquin. 1t off
the elbow which the old Los Angeles trail makes TO the
southwest
In all this he is mistaken II not straight nor near
~ straight Upon this point Fremont says:
Commencing the 3sth struck the Sierra Nevada on
about the 37th parallel about the 18th March.
~ prepared find the Sierra here broad rugged and
blocked UP with and not disappointed in my
pectaon The first range attempted carried
elevation Of 5000 1900 feet and into smpossote
which further increased the 10th by consd-
cradle fall
There object in forcing passage and accord
card making wide sweep to strike the point Of The caor-
where the Sierra Nevada suddenly OF
and declines into lower country"
Instead of going direct to San Francisco Fremont and
hs route the sonth Is0 miles Aer pass