The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-03
THE OVERLAND ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA

John X. Bartlett, Esq, who was the Com
missioner appointed to run the boundary be-
tween Mexico and the United States under
President Fillmore's Administration, in the
years l850-'53, has written an elaborate
paper, which appears in the Providence Jour-
nal, in which he takes decided ground in favor
of the Southern line, near the 32d parallel of
latitude, which has been selected by the Post
master General for the overland mail route 70
California. Mr.. Bartlett gives this route the
preference, on account of the many advantages
which he says his observation assures him that
it possesses. He travelled with seven loaded
wagons, many pack mules, twenty five oxen.
and one hundred aud fifty sheep, over a con.
siderable portion of the line, and may therefore
lay claim with good reason to know its charac.
teristics.
Water IN the dry seasons can only be had by
digging but it could probably be obtained in
any desirable quantities by opening large wells,
and by providing reservoirs to catch the over.
howings of the Colorado. Carisa creek fur
nishes water in the dryest seasons. From this
point to San Diego, water is found at convent
ent distances, and also an abundance of grass.
Emigrant parties from Eastern Texas in large
numbers have passed over this route, making,
however, an unnecessary detour in one place,
which lengthens their journey one hundred
Gus parties upon the road, and in one instance
flock of 1900 sheep, all bound for San
Francisco. He appeals to his published reports
and dispatches to support his present state
ments, and asserts that, although the region
through which this road passes is no Paradise,
and Is poor IN many respects, yet it is infinitely
better, and presents more advantages for
great national highway, than any yet discover,
ed in California.
He thinks the Southern line has a narrower
belt of woodless and waterless region to ira
verse than any other; the summit level at FL
Paso is only $500 or 1000 feet above the level
of the sea, while the summit level of the CEN
trail or Albuquerque route, near the thirty-fflh
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 pass
ed without Gripping a wagon. This region
Mr.. Bartlett pronounces admirably adapted for
for a wagon road or railway. Beyond the Col
orsdo is the California desert, having a breadth
of about one hundred miles, which must be
crossed. This is very hard and level, with oc-
casional spots of sand. 1t is entirely destitute
of wood, and nearly SO of grass.
PROFESSOR AGAssIz ON CIVILIZATION UNDER
w AlEh. We bhhO rOlSSSOr AgaS6lZ 8
late report on fishes the following description
of an American fish,
g l have had ample opportunity to watch the
Pdnsotis, in the breeding season every spring,
for the last eight years. At that time, it ap.
prosches in pairs the shores of the ponds in
which it lives, and selects shadows, gravelly
places, overgrown with P0gamOgeton, water Ill
les, and other aquatic plants, IN which it be-
gins by clearing space of about foot in di-
ameter, roofing out the plants, removing with
violent jerks OF its tail the larger pebbles, and
leaving clean spot of fine sand, in which it
deposits Its eggs, surrounded and overshadowed
by grove Of verdure. In this enclosure, one
of the parents remains lowering over its brood,
and keeping at distance all murders.
"The Office of watching over the progeny
does not devolve exclusively upon either OF the
sexes, but the males and females watch alter
natey. The herceness with which they dart at
their enemies, and the anxiety with which they
look out for every approaching danger, show
that they are endowed with stronger instincts
than have been known heretofore in any of
their class. Their foresight goes so far as to
avoid the bait attached to any hook, however
near it may be brought to them, and however