The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-16


and grass, are noted, without one omission, from
Fort Smith to San Pedro, the Pacific ocean, dis
lance Of ,672 miles and eighttenths Of mile The
number of magnetic observations, of barometric OBJ
servations of astronomical observations, of thermo
metrieal observations, of psychromerie and climatic
logical observations far exceed those taken by any
one observer who has hitherto run line from the
Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, and do great
credit to the skill and to the marvellous industry of
Captain Whipple and his assistants, OF the supply
and value of water, wood, grains, grasses, animals,
&C., along the route Of the population it, and of
it's climate he gives full and specific accounts
No one can read the attractive volumes of Captain
Whipple without feeling that, at last he has met
with a full reliable and most satisfactory account of
the interesting country traversed He has fairly
passed all his predecessors in the completeness of his
work. in all its numerous parts, and may fairly rest
his reputation upon it,
ofhis route Capt. Whipple remarks:
There is no doubt remaining that for the construc
ton of a railway the route have passed not
only practicable but in many respects eainey GdnntGge
oAs The first $50 miles from the eastern border of the
Chocaw territory to the river Pecos possesses in the val
ley of the Canadian natural highway that establishes
ouy any okr that b setod between the degrees Of
longitude tillia The laas Of territory The Canadian
formed by nature for the special object IN view Its
general for the distance alluded to is nearly east
Its mean inclination is but nine tst 10 Tie ms thus
bling almost impercepbly TO attain the summit of the
lofty table lands Of New Mexico, Expensive embank
ments are entirely avoided and notwithstanding the
numerous auents that ertize and enrich the adjacent
country few bridges required most of the water
courses sink beneath the surface they approach the
great valley. Upon the eastern portion valuable coal
mines exist and vast forests of oak may furnish
falling supply of timber and fuel The Cross Timbers
extend 10 the meridian of 80 deg west from Greenwich
and the wooded branches of the False Washta afford
abundance of the material for fifty sixty miles
beyond Sandstone quicklime, and gypsum are found
throughout the whole distance If the fertile valleys
were thrown open TO settlers and outlet secured for
the products Of the SOIL is region could form hs Juaa
Of s S and the rowing tribes of Indians that now
cupy it would give place to hourshing population.
bisloi tldi IN climate tral as sai hfs cCaRyy far
passes thai Of KaRsas.." Vol 5, p. 1922
In part of the same volume, p. A. Captain
Whipple says:
some of the most important of the advantages claim
ed for this route is the pleasant and salubous climate of
the region through which it passes There is no long
series of paIched plains rendering the summer heat
tleTabs do those dreaded winds termed northers
reach this latitude, The mountain ranges that
Cd not blocked up in winter by ice and sufficient
TO interrupt travel From July january, and for the
whole year, this line may be traversed in safety.
1.-The different portions OF survey were performed
such to enable TO make observations upon
the most unfavoable characteristics of the climate. In
August we were upon the comparatively low and arid
plains upon the headwaers of the Canadian aud the
Llano kstacado. During the winter months passed
the elevated regions dnd tTosh ts faoaf1ta passes
tgras dc Rio Grds and so (orudo These observations
may be found in di9sRdtr H.
Upon de porolsl e IS dy ozaao' Pnre OdrHt
ti0H 10 a rriE1y,
Secretary Davis says (see vol L. page 20 }
The general features which have determined the POI
son of this route, the exploration of which
Quoted by Lieut. A. w. Whipple, geographical engi
neers ne Tfesoa ,ctsf aud aE II he SsaIRg tS1
lles Of the Mississippi the Rio Grande and the Colo
RADIO of the West 1t would appear possess also,
graIer yaly GERoaa q aR s rllns. iHsaey north
and sOstA II a. and, as consequence better supply Of
fuel and timber
He further says, ON page 81:
Ihe principal characteristics of this route in oompa
Sun with Others, are probably its passing through
near cultivable areas its abundant
natural supply of water FAR west the Colorado, and
the greater frequency and extent OF forest growth the
route between the Rio Grande and the Colorado"
The Secretary might have added to its more
abundant water and timber the further advantages of
having more grass grams ANIMALS, and men; for, when
we find water and wood, we kaOlC there must be SOIL
if soil then grass and grain readily heavy for
ests and when we find water, wood, grass and
grains there we shall find animals and men. And this
is tho fact the central route has by far the largest
population Of any of the several routes.
Of this route of Whipple Secretary Davis further
remarks page p
sThe general features Of the country indicated lines
for examination AT more than point. which will
probaby qrasy ssrOge he rOa By racDg s Gsszs aad
.kosSsqg distances The party was, however, unable to
examine them
1.-THE Galiseo pass in the Rocky mountains and the
passes in the Sierra Madre, bsg ESd esgr, ualsa
ed from snow o grn1sr dT1Ls than h0s 7loa
over the remainder Of the route difficulty from this
cause is TO be met with.
.sThe heaviest grades that win probably be required
the route from Fort Smith TO San Pedro Do Rot eyE
ts.s, ~ ,rs on tie Balfisaors dHi OHIO rsslro5i
'sThe route may be considered sufficiently well sup
piled with good building stone. "
And yet influenced by the suppositon that the
Texas road was 230mles the shortest and eighty
millions OF dollars the cheapest when, in fact the
Texas road was both longer and dearer than the mid
die route Secretary Davis reported TO Congress and
it was published to the world, and generally be-
heyedthat the Texas route the most practicable
and economical route for railroad from the Misss-
sipp river to the Pacific ocean. Not only is this
the shortest and least costly route to the Pacific but
It is the shortest and cheapest route to San Francis
CO. the greatest commercial city on our western
coast (See page 29.l
These most serious mistakes have caused the