The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-23
Wagon Road to California.

You were amongst the 1rst II not the very frst OF
public en- In America 10 bring Ca iorpA into the world
OF politics, civilization and commerce, and your paper has
been true friend in oil her varied aspects Of poll
teal social ard nercsl change That we appreciate
the ndety and eiency Of the Herald ts immense Cali
iorna steamer edon sd the liberal our editors
into It's columns for their eastern news, demonstrate
Clearly Az long ago 1884,. remember reading in the
HhsAp among It's comments GU the terrible disaster
which beell The Dcrmer party OF California emgrants
amoBs the SHOWS OF the Sierra Nevada. the suggestion
tbs. the Graf duty OF government toward Call.
fornia End Oregon 10 provide good wagon road FOR
the yearly emigration The California journals of that
tine were urgent in their appeals for aid In
preventing the recurrence Of such ms!otunes that
luded TO- ard represented thai unless afforded the
emis ration 10 California must inevitably decline
fraction Of what then and might be. The discovery
az gold 10 California added for while powerful impulse
to overstd travel Overlooking considerations Of safe
" or prudence ard sprg in return the full measure OF
Ills o, which The emgrspts Ind been forewRrued Wh9
Goes not rome metr TAO Of the overland e%sra
veil IS The epdt me which tntnned their Ianks The
hculhts ana dangers which assailed them with such
OF The taISest WESTERN ssss .nS ..n.s 10 *.
day hsurersble barriers TO any Considerable emigration
., time the Plains to California The evils
which he HIRAD ard the earliest California cotempora
re. predicted nearly ten years ago have waited on
But vas not 70 pay tribute to the ssgacity OF your
paper long $50, much 10 commend the seaeonsble
ness OF Us judsn tnt nov, and In this same behalf.
read jour article OF the other day the Pacific Railroad
and 10 had the honor OF concurring In It's opinions
afoesa while In California In lsi7 also Of the two
projects DO 4 think with that for the present
"a wagon road Is beat" Had you stated that Il
best because Il could be made immediate
~ operative, and that the condition OF Califor-
ria and Oregon requires that there should DO
iDnt data ana better provided for emigration 70
her shorts, think should not have had word 10 add
10 Jour s<tlcle
hsve lived California from the period Of her earliest
seiiiemtb ~ an American province and kno 10 be
her crsi grtN vsnhe key 10 her sold prosperity and
the iouton OF many nAves IN Der past and present do
lipqutpcy, csofdet and embarassment-th's much dc
srec good wagon road" and the proper protection OF
those wfo travel that way. The people Of California
subject Trey now look 10 their friends this side 10
actual seitls ut OF the state nearly stand STILL
fat The Two lines Of steamers are supported by thai
o1.s OF frsders desle-s and dggers which the gold
element powhbts and affords exaggerated basis tor
The exaggerated prices they pay in everything down to
tie wages q their domestcs-that there barely ~,
commoda,ons by either line, nrans cd at present. for
em ants With their families, and that there practically
DO other way Of getting 20 tho Pacific safely and mort
ably ,fsu b, these two lines OF s,esmcTr (bo,h little
hDdtred BY pssssge through " an enemy country"
jist now there will be besi.aon the part Of edi.
tors ind others friendly 10 civilization and rue progress
on northwest COAT, to encourage what 10 20 much
Dc nsnded WAGON road guarded by troops.
rnai hope In vain unless ns past course misieads
me, tba. the HspnD win return to ms subject.
JAsuART 10, 1857. PORTSMOUTH