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

snan connected with the Post Office Department
OVERLAND
IL has been charged by some papers that the selection
of this and the contractors ioregoo eoho-
sion long before any definite action had been Aoii ~
the matter this too while the Postmaster "cherai'
with his accustomed industry and perseverance,, WAS col
ln MI the data pertaining the proposed routes, that
he should be able TO present fair statement Win iesau
10 them that the President aud his cabinet might DC
thoroughly informed and competent 20 decide this great
question impartay and TO the entire Satisfaction Oh ihe
selves and the country at large
A patient dspassionate investigation of the several
routes will develop of facts in favor OF the route
adopted which will convince the most skepcal that II
was the proper one and that its adoption for the
public good Politicians may grow indignant and specu-
ato may camor but the laws of nature will prevail IN
spite of them.
Let us take general view of the interior portion Of
our country and what is its general character and the
relations which the several routes sustain TO each other
and TO the eastern and western shores OF the continent
Draw upon the map of North America line nom the
valley of the Red River of the North to about the Boil
son de Mapma in Mexico and thence passing through
the mouth of the Colorado of the West to Junction
with the Sierra Nevada of California, and prolonged by
that range and the Cascade range TO the British POSSESSIONS
Between these lines have immense angle OF terri
tory tenths at least of which IS and must ever
MAN. long the present condition OF things exist an
inhospitable desert, bowling wilderness vcrable
Paamo de la Suma Paz, in the gorges of mountains
and along the valleys of the leading streams The trail
from Missouri via the South Pass the Cheyenne Pass
and Salt Lake city to California subtends it ut its great
est width the III Paso and Fort Yuma trail subtends it
lis least width and the Albuquerque route is inter
mediate.
This line from the Red River OF the North to the Boil
SON de hapma is about the mean limit of a comparR-
lively dense population westward from the Mississippi,
and the experience of the last two winters in the North
west eight months of winter in Minnesoa,) and the
rapid settlement of Kansas in preference to Nebraska,
are fast demonstrating the fact that the march of empire
from the Missouri river must he southwestward That
If inevitable he
srated philosophical principles, by careful study of
the relations between the warm northumberland winds
of the Gulf of Mexico and the cold and killing north
winds which sweep down from the plains of Nebraska
But the limited space of columns will not permit
thorough discussion of this nature We satisfied TO
state the facts, the effects and leave to the philosopher
the elaborate explanation OF the causes,
II il well known in Texas that the prevailing winds
which bring rains the Gulf of Mexico from the
southeast and at point the Tooth meridian
bfurcated by the northery winds which sweep down from
the Arctic regions along the mitable savanahs east of
the Rocky mountains portion carrying its burden of
water the southern portion of New Mexico and
the other curng round toward the great valley of the
Mississippi dispensing copious showers along its path
When during the two previous winters, the north
winds prevail the line Of the deposition of rain
IL swayed further south hence the unprecedented cold
nd snowy weather in northern Texas the last two win
sTs; and when the souherly winds prevail this line
extends further north hence occasional of lux
uiant grasses upon the plains OF the Arkansas and Kan
rivers.
Lieut. Warren, Top. Eng, fixes this line of the limit
of population in Nebraska at the 9th meridian xp in
Dacota county 1855, p g. Major Emory fixes it the
Independence route at the 9gth meridian, Reconnos
sance, lS4o) Captains II. B. Marcy and J. Pope, IT, s.
A., fix this line far west the Llano Estacado or
about meridian 1919 30f.
The Postmaster General conceived it to be his duty
select from the three principal routesviz the Salt
Lake route, the Albuquerque route, and the FL Paso
route--that which the mails can be trans
ported in coaches with the greatest regularity and despatch
Gre IN
Francisco
The Salt lake route is conceded by all to be beyond
the question From the fact of their being frca aud
late July 3lst ee Cross Journal of march of mount
ed rifemen Quartemaster Generals Report 1885, il is
easy to infer the rgors Of winter The records of the
Post Office Department however, do not permit to in
fer but convince us IN fact that this route is impractical
BILE for mail service.
The Albuquerque route comes next in order, and in
this contest the rival route with the adopted one
Let us for moment contrast them in point of length and
elevation, in point of climate and capabilities for settle
ment generally. As space will not permit thorough
discussion of these routes shall therefore he contened
to present the leading points of difference First, then
as to their length from common pontsay Memphis
New York-and their elevation:
Albuquerque Rome--From Fort Smith 10 San Francisco
(see Capt Whpples Report vol g. Pacific r. r. Reports
page T6) it is 952 miles
From Fort Smith TO Memphis tsee General
Pacific r. r. Map 1854 So 5G-'57 it is
Total --------------------.---- 2202
And from San Francisco to New York via Albu1uer-
que, Fort Smith, and Memphis
From San Francisco to Fort Smith (Whppes Report as
above) it is ----------------- 1852 miles
Fort Smith to Memphis Pacific r. II. Report
vol l, page Jos --------------- l.345 -
Total from New York to San Francisco 1927
HFao Route Prom San Francisco to Fulton (sec Lieut.
g. Parke's Report I55 in Map it is 1872 miles
From Fulton to Memphis (see Pacific r. r.
Gen. Map 1851 So Sc 81 it is direct 250
Total ---.----------------- 2,222 -
And from San Francisco to New York via Ell Paso
route and Fulton and Memphis
Prom San Francisco to Fulton (Iseport, as
above) it is-- ----------+------ 1872 miles
From Fulton to New York Pacific r. r. Re
port, VOL j, page l0s)- 1885 :.
Total from New York to San Francisco 1907
Thus see that in point of distance either to Mem
phis New York there is but little difference between
these routes.
By an inspection of the general profile sheets accom-
panyng the Pacific Railroad Reports il win be seen that
the mean elevation of the plateau Of the Sierra Madre
and Rocky mountains IL about above the level
Of the the 35th parallel albuquerque route
and the SD parallel (1fl Paso route il is about
1000 200 feet lieut. Parke) giving difference OF
$500 5000 feet This difference in elevation in
Genealogical point OF view, Is very important as will
be shown by comparison of extremes OF climate these
rontes
Next with regard TO the climate of winter particu-
arly along these routes present the following chilling
facts