New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-03
THE SOUTH PASS WAGONROAD EX-
PED{7ION
From TIE 81 Lori, Republican, Nor. "a

7 W. 7.
Wagon. Road Expedition arrived here yeser lay from
tho Rocky Mountains, aud Se are enabled TO lay be-
fcre our readers valuable information Of this Import
art route, the more difficult mountain sections u
which have been explored, surveyed and carrledto 10
cnmpleti,n D. during the contingencies of the Morntr
War. .-,o.o
tnd.r the appropriation Of $4,000, placed In
charge of ,he Department ot luterlor. ier The coe
styuctior OF wogor-road IT, california, for the oefte
of the overland emigration, nm expedition was orSaS'
lied in the Spring of 1881, OF when C"l. ". ~; =:
Masraw was Superirtendent Fred. W. Lander, Chis
Engineer; and j. X. Amman, DisbursDg Agent.
Tie present Superintendent went in advance Of tho
main expedition with nall party, to explore sni
lay cut the roao rs Chief Engineer. HIS eminent SOC
cess in this undertaking referred u IN our col
unius of November last. Two great cat-oh routes
yera Discovered which shortened the old ltnrs emf
grant road many days travel. II was decided by ha
Department Of the Interior to rtempt the c,n'inaa.
t'or cf the rorthernmost Of these routes because
avoided nearly all streams requiring bridges or tenks,
aud was well wooded and waterel throughout .,
length passing north of the desert plains vt the OIL
road, the South Psss.
II wss also proposed to forward this work with sl
pofsible slacry the yearly tolls paid by the oy~n
land emigiet.oh amounted to nears the estimated cost
Of this, the mcun'a ain division. Whle these arrange.
ments were pending Col. Magraw, wa hal arrived
nj the mountains at TOO late period in The season 10
commence work on the road, with patriotism which
does him hcIor Joined. with such Of his employees a5
81 ose to volunteer tie ranks Of the Ctsh Army lio
carried with him the enIInas and supplies u the inte
riOr Department then stored adjacent TO The work,
and ready for ilnmed ate service ia the Spring.
Ga hearing this intelligence q new expedition was
Immediately Organizet by the Secretary OF Interior,
IN der the direction of Chi.fEDglneer Lander as Su
perinendent which went into the 6eJ in Apfl list,
and by making forced marches although encounter
Tg several snow-storms and the difficulties of bit
water, reaG he'd the work geo miles from Missouri
border at the earliest practicable moment OF comsnc-
ing labor in the Spring ard without loss OF mas or
nj h.. az tr.c al, lyyithn
Escort, and he working parties were placed in tho
country Of the friendly Sboshorees, without an,iePs
ton Of mo,station rom any qu0rter. The Momons
had often assured NJ Lancer, who ia the weLknosa
Pacific Railroad explorer and especially when 10 no
co0ntry the year before that, even in event Of aG-
outy with Goyeromert, they would never hsmor
prevent the progress OF any work Of public Grhy
Ike that on which he engaged. Ia fat, ssw
weeks later, after the return Of the Mornons from
their migratory movements toward the South, about
fifty Of them came up and worked throughout mo
season on the wagon road. an
Tie road was completed early in October 1t so
mics iD length, extending from the South Pass 10 :
dir, west Of SOUTH 10 City Rocks, rear tns heed
Of Humboldt River, and being equally favorable ff
the passage Of both the California and Oregon em.-
gaut travel. Some idea OF the amount cf tho WORK
performed by the expedition may be samea hom 'H'
following schedule: -.
Forty miles Of heavy yellow pine timber cnt oo:
and renoyed seven bridges, two book houses ana
two corrals erected; $1,000 cubic yards OF earn,
bsnb mer i 5000 miles Travelled by the same ~. "
mules which started from the States.
A light travelling wagon train passed over the nes
road from the South Pass to the City Rocks, 81 mss
yer day heavily 10 idei trins % and ~ mics per Day
t,nigrouts can camp where they choose, and hA
wOOj, water and grass abundant. Tne best laying up
places for large trains are at Piney Valley miss
vi Gilbers station South Pass, and At SAT- kse'
Valley, on the western slope Of tue Wahsatch Mon'
tains ii0 miles from the South Pass IL Sat River
Valley viii be found large field. Of very superior st.
Mountain trou, abound in all the streams ives. o. lls
South Pass and were caught ia selnes and saItel !"
tie usc Cf the expedition.
The slopes OF the mountain section are very ee,
aud no portion Vt the road requires the douol's
of teams.
Tie Humboldt River Indians reported as hsyg
Laled vIDigraLis and robbed the mail, were vsteay
Jr. Lander, With party Of eight men, before nea
rival q. Superintendent Forney, who has since ys'et
them. Ib-y cenied having moested the msii, ~
passed a ramber Of tse wagon Employees throus.
their tEibe to California. 1t may be gratifying 70 ns.
irieLts in the East to learn that with this party T
the State Of Maine lGmbermen, hired in Is ing% ~
cutting out the timber and building the bridges o. bs
Lew road. They performed this task with grestvig
and energy and received certihcates o. good coDs~
on leaving the work at lie completion. ~,
large portion Of the amount appropriatet "
building this grand mountain division Of the Soai'
Pats road remsIs urexpendec, Add from the pronE
ness which has characterized the Operations 81 =.
Sec retsry of ILteriOr in organizing the expedition
the work has been completed in eight instead u 70
montts-the tine org,L ally anticipated.
AZ the Mormon war is Low over, and the emgrsp0
On ihis important Ioute will undoubtedly be very iaf
ths en-, ulrg SUMNER, the Importance u the comp
ton Of this road can be readily estna'ed. Tae en-.
grafton not oLly caves msIy days travel, bl, prS
over &C urtry well wstered and gfassed and eh..ai
avoids the al kalne plains Of the s.uth, the passac
which has hitherto caused such great Ioss OF ~"
estimated as never less than - Per cent of ,is
number Given. The tolls Of the ferries and briggs.
the old road heretofore paid by enigrants snoaas
TO tl4 per wagon without reference TO loose enin
Indeed, it is maintained by good judges tnaf ID ss
year Of large emf ration, greater sum s -.
of lost by engrants, than the construction Of tns' Wv
of road has cost the Government. m
The names of the officers of the expedition -. s
VIM Wagner, Bgiseer; John b. lpgie DisoaI? -?
ClsIk; B. +. Blrche and Alex Mitchell, al o. Ias 81
vance exploring party OF last year; X. /. Pooa say.
MelchOr NJ. Lorg, Assistant Engineers; Jsm
der, Coumisssry; j. c. Campbell, General Ases -
.e,Tusi 10 Salt Lake in charge VI the Aof"'