Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-08-11
Pacific Overland Mail Route.


 It is asserted boldly that no emigrant trains ever passed over the road-that the country is desert-that it is not susceptible of early set tlement-and finally, that the contract will ter mnate in failure, involving great loss to the government These statements betrav so total an ignorance of the selected route, that as a matter of justice to the people who occupy the new territory through which 1t passes, l have hastily thrown together the facts they exist, and as am able to certify to them from per Sonal observation.
 In no part of it is there a distance of thirty miles without water, aud 1t often Is found at a distance of ten to fifteen, with plenty of good grazing From Tucson, the principal town of Gadsden purchase, Throughout the whole length of which this route runs,) to the Gila river, nineteen miles, there Is in the dry season no water, and here two ArteSan wells will be necessary. In the wet season there IS plenty of water. Down the Gila to Fort Yuma one hundred and seventy five miles, there is plenty of water and grass. From Fort Yuma, on the Colorado river, to Carisa Creek, about one hundred miles, the route Is heavy with sand, and water is found at three places in all sea- sons-in the wet season every few miles.
 Twenty five miles from the Fort or Cobra. do City, are Cooks wells, which, at the expense of one thousand dollarS can be made to furnish an ample supply for any number of animals; twenty-six miles beyond are the Almo Muche wells, which can be enlarged at the same cost to any quantity desired; thirty miles further are the Indian wells, which also will yield an am pie supply; twenty miles further on are the Sackett wells, which are fed from the subter- reanan stream and can be made to supply any desired quantity of water.
 From Cersa Creek into San Diego the route is we'll watered, and affords excellent grazing; the distance is one hundred and twenty five miles, but the Supervisors of San Diego county are engaged i'll laying out new road, which will much shorten the distance.
 The statement that no emi grant train had passed over the southern route is so totally absurd that the readers of the Times must have been surprised at the evident mistake. The whole southern emigration in the early days of the California excitement passed over It, amounting ill some years to six or eight thou sand
 Lieut. Canto, with a company of first dra- goons, was sent out to the Colorado river to protect the emigration. Afterwards Major $. T. Hembyteman and Major Fitzgerald with five companies of infantry and dragoons, were stationed at the crossing of the Colorado for the same purpose, and to chasti6o the Yuma Indians for the murder and robbery of emi grant trains. Hundreds of emgrants yearly pass over it now and during my term of vice at Fort Yuma more than hundred thou sand head of sheep, besides several large droves of cattle, were driven over the entire length of the route for the California market.
 Last year four companies of the first dra- gooms marched from Fl Paso to Tueson and three more companies passed over the entire route to Fort YejAr, California, with over two hundred horses and large numb of six mule teams
 At present Fort Yuma is esteemed the most important ,post iu California, and is garrisoned by three companies to protect the emiyrant trains from the attacks of the Indians.
 Two ferries have heretofore found active em- ploymeut in crossing emgrant trains and cattle at the Colorado river, near Fort Yuma. They are now, by purchase at large amount, merged into one, and have known the receipts of the Colorado ferry company to be more chan S2,OOO in single day. This does not look much like an unknown and impossible route.
 Already Colorado City, opposite Fort Yuma, is place of pecuniary value and importance, and its position at the only secure crossing of the river--at the junction of the Gila and Co., VI of the river make it certain that 1t will be a large town at no distant day. The Territory of Arizona is not only capable of attracting emigration and settlement, but it is now being rapidly settled. Families women and children are now moving from California to the new pur- chase-and many fine claims are already locat- ed in the numerous valleys of the middle DOT ton of the territory. Old ranches, long de- serted by the MeXicans, who had not the strength or the spirit to resist Indian attacks are being re-occupied and will this year yield large and paying crops.
 Two steamers pass regular upon the Cobra do river to Fort Yuma. and already an active and growing trade exists between Mexico and Tub,r and Arizona and San Francisco.
 Iu almost any issue of the San Francisco dailies, your readers may see vessels advertised for the mouth of the Colorado. The mining companies alone last year consumed about SlOOOOU worth of goods purchased in San Francisco, and this amount will be largely in creased this year.
 \ settlement will at once be ma le at every point where in litary pr ,taction is At)ried for the country will richly repay the industrious emigrau be he farmer mechanic.
 The Meslla Valley already contains re- speclab,e populations, aud there is no doubt but that the territory will contain at least two thou sand permaneut voters by the beginning of the next Congress.
 The petition of the people of the new terri tory will, 1t k believed, be tavorably heard by the next Congress, and separate territorial go- vcrnment established. The justice of the claim, and the necessity for the legislation, Is but too apparent to a resident of the territory.
 The Postmaster General has shown his f, .I, ! f Il .. availability by selec ing the southern route.- For years a mail has been regularly carried from San Aptonio to Fl Paso without di itficulty or danger except from Indians. At present a monthly mail is carried by government express for the troops in the GAlsdeu Purchase, (Ali- nona,) from Fl Paso to Tucson, three hundred and forty miles. It is escorted by dragoons.- Fort Yuma and San Diego have for five years been connected by a semi monthly mail (go- vernmeut express which during my two years service, at Fort Yuma was much more regular in it's arrival than the New York and Washing ton mails have been for the past two years- The only part of the route not opened to a mail is that from Fort Yuma to Tucson, two hundred and sixty miles, and this is almost daily travelled by the people of the territory, by emi5rants, and by Mexicans. Tucson is a growing town, and will afford all the grain needed to E Paso.
 The Plmas villages on the Gila river will supply grain for the route to Fort Yuma. Al Fort Yuma last year large quantity of corn was allowed to rot by the man who raised it, for want of market. There is foraging fol ten thousand animals on the river banks
 A few military posts, which would be neces sary on either of the routes, will make this per- fectly safe; and this immense mineral wealth in silver and copper will at once draw to Arl zona large population.
 It is tue only auailabte route at all seasons o the year which can at once be opened.
 The route through the south pass is as mucl closed by snow four to six months in the yea as if 1t was barred with gate of alamant
 During the winters of 1854 and 1855, l wa in the Salt Lake Valley, and no mail from tn, east reached us from November to April. Tn, mail was carried on pack mules and was in tn,