The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-31
The Pacific Railr0ad---NOble'S Pass.

Col. Weller, of California, made a speech
in the U. S. Senate on the 18th ult., on the
subject Of the Pacific Railroad, in which we
find the following in relation to some of the
different routes to the Pacific:
The first route-near the forty-seventh
and forty-ninth parallels, from St. Paul to
Vancouver-is put down at 1854 miles equa-
torial distance and it's cost was estimated
by Gov. Stevens at fraction over one
hundred and ten millions of dollars. The
summit of the highest pass on this route is
GOA feet.
The route from st. Paul to Seattle, near
the same parallel, is 2,O25 miles, estimated
to cost over one hundred and seventeen
millions; and the highest summit is the
same as the first route.
The route near the forty-first and forty
second parallels, via South Pass, from
Council Bluffs to Benecia, California, is put
down at 1882 miles equatorial distance es-
timated cost over one hundred and sixteen
millions; highest pass 1928 feet. This
route passes through Utah Territory, now
inhabited by some seventy-fve thousand in
dustrious, Woodworking Mormons, who,
with their energy and enterprise, would con-
tribute largely towards the construction OF
the road. This route, running through
Mobiles Pass, would strike the head waters
of the Sacramento River near Fort Reading
The accounts which 1 have received from
intelligent psrsons-emigrants, trappers, and
drovers-who have passed along this route
represent that country as much more pro-
ductive, and in all respects much more valu
able, than the reports Of our engineers make
it. Col. NOTES.-The discoverer of the pas:
which bears his name-a frontier man of in
telligence and great integrity-has passed
over this route several times, and represents
large portion of that country to be ex
ceedingly fertile. This description is con-
firmed by many intelligent gentlemen with
whom l have conversed on the subject.
The line from Westport to San Francisco
between the thirty-eighth and thirty nintl
parallels, by the Coo-che-to-pa and Tay-ee
chay-pah passes, is estimated at 2,O8O miles
No estimates have been made of the proba
BILE cost of this route. The highest pass il
10,032 feet.
The route on the thrty-fifth parallel
from Fort Smith to San Padre, on the Paci
tic, is 100 miles, equatorial distance. Tn
grades on this route are not equal to thos
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Al
SuouSu Iuc uTSC cSLlulaCe OF the cost OF Till
route was $l69, OOO, 900, additional informa
ton has now been received, which reduces
this estimate to fraction over $4,000, 900
may as well here remark, that it will b.
found in the end that all these estimates ar,
extravagant. The highest point on this
route is seven thousand four hundred ant
seventy-two feet.
The route from Fort Smith to San Fran
cisco, crossing direct from the Mojave River
to the Tay-ee-chay-pah pass-distance two
thousand and twenty-five miles-is estimat
ed to cost little over 1914 100000 ;,and the
summit of the highest pass is the same a;
on the route last named.
The route on the thirty-second parallel
from Fulton to San Pedro, on the Pacific, il
set down at ,6l8 equatorial miles the cos
is little less than $69,0OO,OOO; the highes
point at 5,7l7 feet.
The route from Fulton to San francisco
is ZO39 miles; estimated cost little ovel
$9o,OOO,OO0; and the highest point on THU
route t same.