The Placer herald., 1857-06-06
From the Washington Cor. of the S. F. Globe.
The Pacific Wagon Roads.
WAsHINGToN, MAY I'd, 1857

w ASHlNGTON, May "a, 1901.
All the arrangements are now completed
for the immediate prosecution of the three
great Wagon Roads toward your State-the
remotest boundary of our Union. $75O,OOO
have been appropriated to the object, and
ere this reaches you, one or the other of the
Commissioners will have started with their
engineers and corps of workmen-probably
that under the command of VIM. F. McCraw
taking the initiatory steps.
The NORTHERN ROAD.
The Northern road has been divided into
separate portions, and each contided to the
care of separate Commissioners, that of the
Eastern portion being placed under the super
vision Of Mr.. McGraw, while the Western
has been committed to the hands of Com
missioner Kirk-the object Of the division
being economy of time in its completion.
The latter gentleman will make his prepara-
tions in Sacramento city, and proceed to-
wards Salt Lake; Commissioner McGraw in
the meantime having made Fort Kearny, on
the Platte river, his starting point will pro-
ceed up that stream to the mouth of the
Sweet Water; thence ascending, he will reach
the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and
take a Southwest course towards the Hum
boldt range and Goose Creek, and from there
the party will proceed as directly as possible
to Honey Lake.
The CENTRAL ROAD.
The Secretary of War, into whose hands
the arrangements for this road were placed
has appointed Lieut.. Beae as Commissioner
This road, according to the statute, will ex-
tend from Fort Defiance, New Mexico. to
the Colorado river near the Mohaves" This
is considered to be good road emnentlv
calculated for emigration-plenty of wood
water aud grass, being obtained along the
whole route There is some talk OF the
camels being used for this expedition, though
it would seem that trial Of their capacities
wouId be more satisfactory in less favored
region.
The SOUTHERN ROAD.
This proceeds from E paso, in Mexico or
some point on the Rio Grande, to Fort Yuma,
on the Gila river. Thence it traverses the
country towards the San Pedro which it
follows to its junction with the GiIa The
vallies Of Pimos and Coco Maricopas Indians
are next crossed, and the river at it's bend
near these villages left, while the party pro-
ceed across the country towards It's straight
course and thence following the banks Of
the river to its juncture with the Colorado
Fort Yuma is reached.
WATER
Water is the principal difficulty which will
beset emigrants on their extensive overland
journeys, and in consequence. the most par-
iicular attention will be paid to this one
object.
ARTEsIAN WELLS, ETC.
The Secretary has given orders that the
most compile artesian well boring apparatus
shall be provided, as also the materials and
tools for sinking common wells and con-
structng tanks
AUTHORIZATIONS.
The Government has shown liberal minded
spirit in the prosecution Of these schemes for
the benefit of your State. S5OO,OOO have
been appropriated for the Northern. $4,000
for the Central, and 100000 for the
Southern route; and if thev are completed
satisfactorily, and offer the expected advan-
tages, other appropriations will doubtless
follow for their Improvement Villages will
spring up, and the means of subsistence be
raised along their borders. The stage coach
will then follow, and ere many years have
elapsed, we shall see all kinds of travel super
seded by the steam horse
A despatch to the New York Herald, un-
der date of May Sd, gives the following as
the organization Of the Wagon Road corps:
"The Department of the Interior this
morning completed the wagon Road corps,