Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-30
THR OVERLAND MAIL TO CALIFORNIA.


The recent decision Of Postmaster General Brown
adopting the southern route as the one over which
the United States mail shall be carried between the
Mississippi valley and San Francisco, in California,
has attracted considerable attention and many COM
ments from the press Of the country. The decision
of the question as to which the best route, where
all the lines thkt come into competition and eompar
isOn with each other were beset with cOunteroai-
anoing advantages and Disadvantages was one u
considerable perplexity. But as PROOF 'nA' INC
Postmaster General in this matter mas Oeeh gUiueu
by the prudent foresight and eminenuy Pracucai
good sense which characterize all MS ofnclal acs'
we are glad TO have the testimony OF gentleman
whose accurate knowledge of the subject in all its
bearings makes him entirely competent to pronounce
upUu the superior eligibility of the Southern route.
We aIlude to John R. Bartlett, Esq, who was one
of the commissioners appointed to run the bOunda-
nv between Mexico and the United States under
President Fillmores administration, in the years
lS5O-ls53, who has written an elaborate paper,
which appears in the Providence Journal, in which
he takes decided ground in favor of the Southern
line, near the 32I parallel of latitude which has
been selected MIR. Bartlett gives this route the
preference on account Of the many advantages which
he says his observation him that it possesses
He travelled with seven loaded wagons, many pack
ed mules, % oxen and $50 sheep, over considers
bic portion Of the line and may therefore lay claim
with good reason to know its characteristics. He
thinks the Southern line has a narrower belt of
woodless and waterless region to traverse than any
other while the summit level of the sea- at El Paso
Is only $500 900 feet above the level of the sea-
Al % ,ha or Ahhuouernue
route near the S5th parallel is reported to have an
elevation of about 1000 feet Between the Rio
Grande and Colorado water was always fOund-if
not visible on the surface it could be obtained by
digging for it-and the whole extent was passed by
the entire train without Gripping wagon.
The region Mr.. Bartlett prOnOunces admirably
adapted for a wagon road or railway. Beyond the
Colorado is the California desert, having breadth
of about 100 miles, which must be crossed This is
very lard and level, with occasional spots of sand
1t is entirely destitute of wood and nearly so of
grass. Water in the dry season only be had by
digging; but 1t could probably be obtained in any
desirable quantities by opening large wells, and by
providing reservoirs catch the OverhOwings of the
Colorado Carisa creek furnishes water in the dry
est seasons From this point San Diego, water is
found at convenient distances, and also an abun-
dance Of grass. Emigrant parties from Eastern
Texas in large numbers have passed over this route
making, however unnecessary detour in one
place, which lengthens their journey 100 miles Mr..
Bartlett, his return, met numerous parties upon
the road and in one instance flock of II 900 sheep
all bound for San Francisco. He appeals to his
published reports and dispatches to support his
present statements, and asserts that although the
region through which this road passes no Paradise
and poor many respects, yet it is infinitely bet
ter and presents advantages for great nation
al highway than any yet discovered to California