American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-24
urs, 4. WoRTn1soToN

a service to the country.
Yours, Il. WoRrmNoroN
NEWPORT BARRACKS, XII
January 18th. 1856.
DEAR SIR: In reply to your inquiries.
lst, as to the praclicabiIity Of constructing
a Railroad from the Colorado at the mouth
Of the ella, to San Diego on the Pacific
Ocean.
Cd. As to the capacity AMI fitness Of
the bay and harbor of San Diego. to ao-
commodate the to be created by
the terminus of the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad at that point.
Sd. AS to the nature and facilities Of the
country as regards a Railroad from the
Rio Grandc or Bravo to Fort Yuma, at
the mouth Of the ella, 1 have to say
LIST. That having been stationed for near
three years at San Diego and over that
time at Fort Yuma, l have had a fair oppor-
tunity to observe and examine the bay of
San Diego itself and the localities Of the
route thence to the Colorado, having many
times crossed what is called the Colorado
Desert, extending from the river Of that
name, to the foot Of tho coast range Of
mountains.
Tho contemplated road will pass for a
distance Of near 100 miles over this dcs-
ert. which offers every possible facility for
construction, so far as the road bed is CON
cerned, there being many continuous miles
over which nothing will be required in the
way of grading but simple excavations in
to Tho surface for the cross ties; by going
north of Pilot Knob, (the shorter route)
tie sand, nowhere hat 1 have noticed, ev-
err drifting SO as to interfere with the road
bed. had a mule path opened across the
coast range over which the mail has been
carried from San Disgo to Fort Yuma in
81 hours, the distance being 10 miles.
Recent surveys have demonstrated That
this range may be overcome by a grade Of
not to exceed lo7 feet (and this for but
three miIes) on a distance in al of not
over 1870 miles-the air line being between
lI5 and l5J miles.
As to timber, it may be had in the noun
sains or be brought up the Colorado, which
is always navigable (For at least 90 miles
above Fort Yuma and never falls near as
low as the Ohio in.dry seasons. There has
been a steamer running to Fort Yuma,
since Dee. 1852; sho then, although the
season Of low water, found f0s feet Of wa
ter in the channel.
The valley Of the Colorado is narrow r.
bovo the Fort below, it is seven miles
wide and abounds in cotton wood, willow
and m~usquite, tie latter well adapted for
fuel but hone fit for timber, unless for
very temporary purposes. There is litle
or no difficulty in obtaining water at short
intervals between tho Colorado and coas
range. l had wells dug and found water
by digging not over Is feet. 1t is genor-
ally OF tho most Indifferent quality, bnt
amply sufficient for railroad purposes.
A great portion of this desert is the fin
est soil, and susceptible of cultivation by
irrigation, which can be easily Effected, rs
the surface of the Colorado is higher than
Il wide strip of the plain, or desert extend
ing in a direction a little west of north
over 50 degrees. l visited an Indian
village near the further extremity, sur.
rounded with extensive fields of melons
peas, beans and corn. The grass on the
south Of the wagon road grows luxuriant
ly, and the weeds are the most enormou,
L ever saw-reaching above the head of
man on horseback.
Cd. AS to tho capacity of San Diego
Bay, and lis fitness for a harbor, there i
none in the world more effectually land
locked and safe in all respects. It's enter
ed by q channel having six or seven faith
oms of water, and at its entrance one
fourth of a mile wide. This channel ha
a direction a little west Of north, and ex
tends gradually around to southwest ant
finally almost south, with a depth 70
some miles of seven to FIVE fathoms, and
width Of from half a mile 10 a mile. Tn,
length Of the Bay from its entrance to it
southern extremity, is about Is miles
shoaling gradually as you go up it; but
with almost every where, sufficient waite
to fost the largest class Of Mississippi
steamboats,. Attic new town of San Die
go, four miles from the mouth, | have see,
at tho wharf the Pacific mail steamers ant
a ship Of war. The tides rise from six t
nine feet and the sites for building are a
favorable as the most exacting cal
wish.
Sd. l have not crossed the country, be
tween the Eldorado and Ell Passo, but from
the representations of hundreds who have
and from recent surveys, there is no grea
difficulty to be anticipated in the con
struction Of a Railroad between the tw,
rivers. Water on the surface is seldom
wanting for a'day's journey. There ar,
also many wooded, watered and arabic val
leys on small streams. fed from the ada
cent hills, hut sinking below the surface il
a few miles.
l have long felt certain that a Railroa,
could, and would, some day, pass over thi
route, and recent surveys have more tina
confirmed my convictions in favor of thi