The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-12


ontey Ia memoirs which have been submitted to this
department among Others is the deences of New
York which has been addressed to by Lieut. Morton,
Of the engineer corps and which recommend for your
consideration the plan proposes for the location and
combination Of the defensive works around Brooklyn ap
years to he practical and judioious.
MILITARY ROADS.
The military road from Fort smith TO the Colombo
river by way Of Albuquerque is in progress of constuo
on with promise its being executed with prompt
and skill The work done upon that portion of it
lying of Fort Defiance last year begins already
demonstrate the benefits 10 the country Of the appropra
ton and the work Large numbers OF emigrants bound
for California have passed this during the past
season, and unusually large herds of cattle have been
driven that way because Of the abundance of grass and
water met with upon it, For all the purposes of mill
ary road this route possesses many very striking advan
tiges. The line is straight nearly from Fort Smith
to the Colorado of the West the surface over which it
passes is excellent for road whilst there almost the
entire line an abundance of grass and water.
The position being the thirty fifth degree Of north
latitude renders grazing abundant at very early period
in the spring and late in the For this reason
force might be marched this road at period late
so early that other roues northwad would be mpas
sable from frosts and The altitude of the
tain range prevents that adity in summer which char
actefizes some OF the more southern routes
This route derives security from the pecuaty of the
conformation of the country lying to the north OF It,
from the western limit Of the Navajo tribe to the Colo
rado river The corrugaton Of the country north OF
this route, by immense canons chasms, renders it
both uninhabable and impossible, that perfect bar
rier against all possibility of Indian attacks from the
north, for distance of several hundred miles, must
list forever. This. doubtless, constitutes very great
recommendation to the route one for emigration and
transportation of stock.
In another point of view this route is important. In
the construction of military posts keep in subection
the marauding bands of Camanches Kioways and other
tribes the topography of the country presents points for
them very to this line of road that will be pro-
tected by line OF posts along it from the borders Of the
Iy t.
dicous location of two other posts between that point
and the Colorado river travelling will be secure upon
that line of road throughout its whole extent as upon
any territorial road in the United States think it would
be advisable to make an appropriation for still further inn
proving this road
Great improvements have been made in the roads
through the Territory of Utah since the march Of the
army thither. route has been opelcd from Fort
Bridger to the present encampment of the army
Utah lake. by what is called the Valley of the Tmpano
gos which dminslcs the distance to California in com
pason with that usually travelled by Soda Springs two
hundred and fifty miles, and is shorter by one hundred
and thirty miles, than the present through Salt
Lake. An appropriation of moderate sum- to be
pended on the road west of Utah lake. or Rush valley,
towards Carson valley, would, doubt, be both judi
cous and beneficial 1t would open and materially i'm
prove route which may be very essential ut some mo
in transporting supplies from the Pacific side any troops
stationed in Utah
EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS
Every season is developing the great advantages to tho
public which nure from appropriations made for mill
tary explorations and surveys. The large and almost
wholly unknown region of country lying between our
Atlantic and Pacific frontiers is becoming day more
familiarly understood by of information gained
through these explorations and surveys Some import
ant expeditions have been consummated since my lass
report, Important additions to geographical knowi-
edge have been made by these surveys and extensive
formation upon many scientific subjects has been pro
cured at the same time The public interests are
much promoted by this expenditure. ask special
attention to the report Of the officer in charge of
the Office of exploration and surveys. 1t embraces
the results OF the expeditions heretofore fitted out to
examine the hitherto unknown regions of the Colo
RADIO of the West well the Black Hills lying west
ot the Nebraska Territory Important and very valuable
Information has been furnished by both expeditions That
Of Lieut. Ives, among other things Of great interest,"
hlbts OF the most remarkable typographical phenom
met with He discovers that the waters of the
Colorado river in all their various racations of brooks
,reeks and rivers, make their way to the main stream
through cahons or clets in the solid rock at depth of
rom one thousand feet where the Gallons first commence
that OF six thousand towards the head waters Of the
streams below the surface of the earth These Gallons
present. for the most part perpendicular faces of solid
rock, and give to the whole country aspect Of wild
iesolaton without parallel approximation on tho
American continent. These reports will constitute
valuable addition to science, and will be found very in
teresting.
very large and think important, portion os our
territory, lying north and of the Black Hills to-
wards the sources of the Missouri and its tributaries
coming in from the south side of it, is almost wholly u
known 1t ought to be thoroughly explored ! have
but little hesitation in saying that most important line
fintercommnncaton between the Mississippi valley and
The river Oregon will yet be opened, and probably at no
distant day either through the country spoken Of
little further north, upon line extending from Lake SUI
oeror along upon the waters Of the Upper Missouri to
hose OF the Oregon. At all events, we need much in
ormatlon about this country which nothing but
al exploration can give There strong grounds to
believe that between the navabe waters Of the Missouri
md those OF the river Oregon portage of not than
our hundred miles intervenes. II this should turn
be true and the ground should prove suitable for the
of road this route will be eventually
# the most important yet discovered between the At
antc and Pacific for military purposes Other regions of
interest and Importance Of which know next to moth
ng, require to be explored.
There is large amount Of important scientific informa-
ion in the bureaus of this department which could be
made valuable to the general interests of the country ii
were properly presented to the public 1t ought to be
one through means of geological map. Such map is
public necessity, and equal Of money could be
expended which would confer many valuable benefits
pom the country the amount necessary for the prep
ration of such map.
The extensive deposits of precious metals throughout
ur vast dominion, in search for which such immense
ms annually expended would be accurately mark
d. whilst the great articles of national wealth and pros
Gritty, iron coal, and salt would be clearly defined
hat no money need be thrown away in fruitless
,arch for them in localities where they do exist
c map would direct wisely the expenditures Of money
nd labor and would restrain losses likely to arise from
,norance wilful Misrepresentation.
The entire adaptation Of camels to military operatioua
pom the plains may be taken demonstrated whilst
,eir great usefulness and superiority in many particulars
equally certain.