The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-12

decided preference TO the southern El Paso route he
says page 226 of his report after favorable descrp
ton of the route from the Rio Grsmde TO the Pecos
| % Our road from here the Lano Estacado
for seventy miles, upon perfectly level prairie as
firm and smooth marble Ii then desoends from tho
high table land about fifty feet into rolling prairie
country where the Colorado of Texas has its source
Thus far theres but little timber water ON our route
except at certain points noted upon the map but these
points be made from day TO day with loaded teams
AS IT, however, in compensation for the absence OF other
favors nature in her wise economy has adorned the
tire face of the country with uxuriant verure OF differ
ent kinds of gama grass, aordng the most nutritious
sustenanoe for animals and rendering it one OF the best
countries for grazing large focks and herds that can be
conceived of
Immediately after we descended from the high table
lands struck upon entirely different country from
the had been passing before BY reference
to the map it will be kept the plain upon
the head branches of the Colorado and the Clear Fork Of
the Brazos Here found smooth road over gently
undulatng country of prares and timber and abound
ing with clear spring branches for two hundred
miles, and In many places covered with large groves OF
mezue timber which makes the very best OF fuel The
soil cannot be surpassed for fertility The grass remains
green during the entire winter and the climate Is sau
brious and healthy. Indeed 1t possesses all the requi-
sites that be desired for making fine agricultural
country and venture to predict that at no very distant
period it will contain very dense population. IL is only
necessary for practical farmers to it, and have pro-
lection from the ncusons of the Indians to settle it at
once.
soon after crossing the Rio Brazos road strikes
Trinity and Red rivers and it appears nature had
formed this expressly for road it for hundred
miles through country which is frequently much broken
up each side with hills and deep avines and the only
place where wagons pass is directly upon the crest OF
this natural deie. 1t is firm and smooth as turn
pike with streams Of magnitude other obstruction
through the entire distance Preston where left
it and crossed the Red ryerrom Preston to Fort Wa
shita and thence to outward route upon Gainess
creek the road passing through the Chckasaw country
which rolling and in many places covered with great
variety of large timber and well watered with noun
tans high hills to pass Hence you will perceive
that from Dona Ana to Fort Smith, distance Of 994
miles, road passes smooth and very uniformly
level ground, crossing mountains deep valleys and
for five hundred miles, upon the eastern extremity runs
through the heart of country possessing great natural
advantages conceive this to be decidedly the best
overland wagon route to California for several reasons
We will call attention to the evidence of Captain
John Pope, typographical engineers, who has been sta
toned long time in New Mexico and has great
portion of plains between the SD and 39th parallels
In chapter XI Pacific Railroad Reports vol D. speaking
of the general character of the country along the SD par
alel route, he says:
In glancing at the typographical features of the inn
mense plains which extend westward from the frontiers
of Arkansas and Missouri the first great popularity which
strikes the attention is the remarkable interruption to
their vast monoony presented by the belt of country be-
tween the 32d and 34th parallels of latitude The great
deserts, commencing about the 9th meridian extend
distance of six hundred miles to the eastern base
of the Rocky mountains In this whole extent they are
badly watered by few sluggish streams which intersec
them many of which disappear altogether in the dry
son. and destitute absolutely of timber except sparse
growth of dwarf cotton along the streams. From the
northern part the United States at the parallel of 49o
this immense region of desert country extends without in
terrupon far TO the south the parallel of $40. At
this parallel its continuity is suddenly and remarkably
interrupted Between the SD and 34th parallels of a
tudc broad belt of -watered wclmbered country
adapted in high degree to agricultural purposes pro-
jects for three hundred ad twelve miles, like vast pc
nnsua into the parched and treeless waste of the plains
n,l lirnif
three hundred miles of the Rio Grandc at Ell Paso 1"
The same distinctive preference to- the Ell Paso route
the seleced the Albuquerque route is given by
Commissioners Emory and Bartlett Lieut. Parke and A.
H. Campbell, at the head of the Pacific wagon road of
fce Interior Department, who accompanied Capt Whip
pie the Albuquerque route and Lieut. Parke
the Ell Paso principal engineer in 1858, 54, and 3d.
The comparison of the two routes west of the Rio Grande
the department considered equally favorable to the
selected Beside the fact Of its being country
about 900 feet lower than the Albuquerque route Con
gress had appropriated $500 900 this route to be
pended in the construction of wagon road between the
Rio Grande and Fort Yuma the Colorado. So large
sum expended on surface SO favorable by nature will
doubtless prove of immense advantage in exped
ting the proposed service, both to regularity and
speed. Before this appropriation was made by Con-
gress, Mr. Secretary Davis, who collected larger
amount of reliable information this subject than
any other person. reported to Congress that the most
practicable and economical route for railroad from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific the
one which the department has selected. Lieutenant
Mowy writing this subject since the route was esab
lished says 'For years mail has been regularly
rcd from Antonio to FL Paso without difficulty or
danger, except from Indians AT present monthly
mail is carried from El Paso to Tucson $40 miles west by
government express for the benefit of the troops in Ar
zona This express has military escort Fort Yuma
and San Diego, California, have for five years been
| nected by semi-monthy mail, government express J
which, during my two years service at Fort YUMA
regular in its arrival the steamer from the east at
| San Francisco
The only part of the newy-seected route not now
opened by mail is that from Fort Yuma to Tucson 200
miles and this is almost daily travelled by the people
of the Territory, by emgrants, and by Mcxicans Tue
is growing town, and will afford all the grain need
ed for the road to Ell Paso The Pimas villages, the
Gia river, will supply grain for the route to Fort Yuma
besides any quantity to transport to any desired point
a depot of supply.
Sat Fort Yuma, last year, large quantity of corn
was allowed to rot for want of market and there is
grazing for ten thousand animals the river banks A
few military posts which would be necessary either of
the other routes will make the southern route perfectly
safe and the immense mineral wealth. in silver and cop
per- will at draw to Arizona large population
the only araabe route al all of the year. The route
through the South Pass is much closed by from
four to six months in the year il barred by gate of
adamant During the winter Of 1854 55 1 was in the
Salt Lake valley and mail from the east reached us
| from November to April. The mail was at that time
transported pack mules, and in the charge of
perenccd men, who had spent their lives the plains.
" If they could not get the mail through either way,
how much less the chance is there for Concord coaches
The central route Is better refer to Col Fremont
Lieut. Beale to state upon their reputation travel
lers and mountain men, how much dependence can be