The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-30
THE WASHINGTON UNION.

fuop only known to the virgin soil Of western pos
sessions -
A letter OF Captain A. A. Humphreys typographical
engineers has been published in the Union Of the 18TH
which confirms all that have said with reference to
these routes His distances few miles longer than
ours but this Is accounted for in this manner From
Fort Yuma TO san Francisco we have taken the route
proposed by the contractors wiz through S. Gorgonio
Cajon Twas, and Estero Passes while he appears TO
have included the distance by coast from s. Beinardno
via Los Angeles, and thence by Lieutenant Pmkes pro-
posed line Of railroad via Santa Barbara and s. Luis
obispo.
This article has drawn out to great length yet we
cannot resist extracting from this letter. coming il does
from good authority, and confirming 1t does, in an
eminent degree, everything have said the subject
Yet, with these extracts, have by exhaust
ed the proof OF the peeinence of the southern route
all others There Is Disgusting the fact that this
route Is fast gaining friends from among the most siren
advocates of the northern routes, the adj
vantages of il are daily becoming patent.
would therefore, appear from all that has yet been
measured, or demonstrated certain and even allowing
all the possible reductions in the lengths of the other
routes that result from future surveys that the route
of the 32d parallel is in the language used by Secretary
Davis in his report 10 Congress- the most practicable
and economical route for railroad from the Mississippi
river to the Pacific ocean, and not only is this the
shortest and least costly route To the Pacific but 1t is the
shortest and cheapest route 10 San Francisco the greatest
commercial city on western coasts
Further, the great belt of uncutyated country
which all the pass is crossed by the OF
the SD parallel ON the shortest line
IL Is probable, from various Indications that the
eastern limit of the uncutvable region found further
west the route of the sd parallel than onany other
but setting this aside until it is fully demonstrated and
assuming the arid district 10 begin all the routes at the
99th meridian have from that meridian to the Pacific
slopes 1.-THE western limit OF the uncutvated region >
BY the route Of the SD parallel
To the summit OF Warner Pass Il 100 miles.
:" San Gorgona Pass-- ,2lS q
BY the route Of the 35th parallel
To the summit of the Cajon Pass --------I 100 :"
g Taheechaypah Pass ,450 81
Thus the distance across the ulcultivable region is
the route Of the SD parallel $50 miles shorter than
on the route of the 35th parallel.
'But the analysis of the soil Of large part of the Col
odo Desert shows it to be composed of fertile eonstit-
uents needing only water to be highly productive and
it lies below the level Of the Colorado river works of -
CATION scale similar to those in progress in In
da (y which already large districts heretofore deserts,
have been converted into productive ands would bring
into cultivation greater than that of the land
under cultivation the Mississippi river between the
mouth Of the Red river and the Belize, with soil that
would rival in its productions the best lands Of the Delta
of the Mississippi
There are now TO be seen in the vicinity of Fort Yu-
extensive canals for irrigation, probably constructed
by the founders OF the missions of San Pablo and San Pc
dro, established there about hundred years ago
These missions supposed to have been in pros
porous condition, but Of short duration in
guence Of the jealousy of the Indians and finally
demolished by them
.It will not then be considered extravagant to as
that the great uncnltivable belt may be made to
terminate at the Colorado river, the route Of the 32d
parallel and thus the distance it, that latitude
become from $50 to 400 miles shorter than the route
Of the 35th parallel Suboined is table exhibiting the
comparative lengths, &C., of the two routes
Comparison Of th yotcs ef he s5h and o1d parallels