Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-31
EnTTER Prom lIEs8oUHE4s 3
Ths first Trip frem san Krahslssa 90 s.,


JETFERsoE CITy, No. Oct BIB, 1858.
10 de Editor of the Union and Am1isaa.
Smiths morning Just bsfssa the departure 81
che cars from Upton, the present western terminus
Of The Pacific Railroad, the stsge got in with the
great overland mail from California its frat trip
in about "a days from San Francisco, and viii reach
St. Louis tonight before O'Clock. P. h.
Ibave learned several particulars Of this trip,
some Of which, wish to communicate to your
readers with Jour permission On the western end Of
the road say to the extent Of 700 miles, many
difficulties we're encountered, indeed all the way into
Texas, there we're great obstacles to be overcome.
These, however, were in the main but temporary
and will be overcome il few trips. Your readers
may desire to know something of these, and will
state, the only formidable obstacle Of natural
character, is the sand deserts, destitute Of water
But further exploration, from what learned from
bastv interview with those Who came through with
the mail viii doubtless enable the mail company,
not only to shorten the distance, but avoid much OF
the sand and increase the SUPPLY Of water.
But as it is, the arrangements Of the contractors
had been 40 well made that bat bittle suffering either
bv men or animals was experienced on this first trip
The chief difficulty experienced, vas 10 consequence
of the animals, which it was found necessary to
obain.
To supply as large number Of well or even par
Tally trained horses was utterly impossible Resort
had therefore, to be had TO the lassOs. The wild
mustangs had 10 be caught, aod this was the FIRST
trip no opportunity was afforded for training, 50
when the stage reached station the horses had to
be caught in the pens in which they had been seS
cured aud then held by stout men, while the harness
was fastened on them for The first time; when fas
tened to the coach in most cases all hands would
have to push it go as to learn the animals to CO. and
then dash on to the next station, where again the
same performance would take place. Thus at each
astatiOn, from one to two more hours were lost,
and when it is remembered that some two hundred
of the two hundred and fifty stations, had to cause
more or less delay, it may easily be supposed that At
least DAYS we're lost from these causes and others,
and as they made this fret trip in little over "a
dsvs your readers will be able 10 see that this mail
will be the most speedy route to the Pacific.
But beside the difficulties which / have above
enu Grated other drawbacks we're of course expert
apced on this trip, which will be o6Vistsd or much
meliOrated in the progress of the enterprise fOr
instance the ready finding and following Ofths route
this by every trip viii become plain and more easily
travelled, will become better known boh to drivers
and animals while NATURAL but svoidable obstacles,
will be constantly being removed out Of the way
and thus in fact the time of transit will be shorten
ing. This FIRST trip has demonstrated the overland
mail route a complete American enterprise
has again triumphed. When we remember that all
the world rejoced over the successful laying Of the
great Atlantic Cable, more than two weeks before
this mail started on it's journey, and then remem
Der both of the lines are nearly the same length
we find our overland route drawn BY horses
bringing messages in advance of the submarine route
worked by hghtBing This is indeed feat worthy
Of national rejoicing.
1t is in the knoEneledge of the country that when
the Postmaster General first proposed this route
some of the small one idesed men, bitterly denouuo
ed it as "impracticsble, "-ss "bOrder route
desert wastes" Sc, SC. he was not moved from
his purpose by their denuncisiOns. He surveyed the
whole field, saw all the obstacles examined all the
advantages, made comparisons with the projected
routes of others-looked to the snow-the wells
the mountains-the plains and in an able, lumin'
GUS and logical report demonstrated that this must
be the most praettcaOe EOute-the one On WhOu sns
best time could be made with the most certainty
and least hazard and suffering, and the success has
completely demonstrated the perseverance Of she
statesman and indicated the correctness Of the
position he assumed
In its genial climste, with its natural advantages
great wealth Of minerals, and easy access, We are
warranted in supposing the day not distant Wber
lines Of settlements will stretch all along this entire
mail route encouraged first in the viscinage Of its
two hundred stations, where food and forage viii
be in demand for feeding the hundreds Of horses
and the numbers Of men engaged in this great IN
dertaking, and thus extending each way, until oul
continent shall have belt of settlements binding
it together, our own glorious flag waving every
where one great motive impeling ALL and daily
transit uniting the extremes. For these things We
will be indebted to the Democratic party, to JAMES
BuoHAKKAN, AARON V. BROwE, and their oO-lsbOr'
ers in the great cause of American expansion and
enterprise
But must clOse. My sheet is full, but have only
entered on the ihems. TRAVELLER
The Washington correspondent Of the New York
Tribune writes that Pos master-General Brown has
mstured plan which will be recommended to Con-
hr NH