The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25

The Interior Department has received a
brief report from Col. j. Ii. Leach, super
intendent of the III Paso and Fort Yuma
wagon road, descriptive Of the country be-
tween the Mississippi river at Memphis, and
FL PasO on the Rio Grande, in reference to
its advantage for an overland mail route
We submit an abstract of the more detailed
report made to Colonel Leach by Mr.. n.
ii. Hutton, engineer of the expedition.
After giving brief description of the
general features Of the country traversed by
the expedition, Mr.. Hutton offers many inn
portant suggestions as to the proper route
TO be pursued by mail line leaving Mem
phis for California by way of FL Paso.
He remarks that the greatest obstacle 10
the rapid transportation Of the mails through
our great interior country is the difficulty OF
maintaining stations at convenient intervals,
where fresh and recruited animals can be
had. Moreover, it will, in his opinion, be
found practically impossible to maintain
small stations at any considerable distance
from our military posts.
He does not consider it by any means de
sirable to transport the mails by land from
Memphis to Des Arc The country is said
to be low, swampy, and subject to overflow.
presenting serious impediments TO rapid
movements whereas White river is navi-
gable from Memphis to Des Arc at all sea-
sons.
Commencing then at Des Arc, the road
should, according to Mr.. Hutton. proceed
TO Little Rock, then over the present mail
route via Washington 10 Ultima Thule !;
thence up the north side OF Red river, cross.
ing at Preston, and following the main tray
ellcd road to Fort Belknap. From this
point it should proceed to Fort Cooper.
crossing at that place the Clear Fork of the
Brazos, and following up the drainage of
that stream via Phantom Hill to Fort
Chadburne. From For, Chadburne il
should follow the old road, crossing the
North Concho near old Camp johnson
and from there, instead Of turning down the
Concho as Mr.. Hutton ard party did,
strike nearly due west, whence good road
could be found, on to the main or middle
Concho up which it should proceed to the
Mustang Ponds. at the head Of that stream !;
thence west to Horse-head Crossing of the
Pecos. following the old road through Cas-.
tie Mountain Pass.
From Hors>head Crossing the route
would be up the river to the mouth OF Del
aware creek. and from tina, point pursue
the road via Guadalupe Pass.
BY following this road. the two intended
through lines TO California nav be merged
into ore, uniting at the head OF the Copcbo.
where every facility exists fur the establish
ment OF station large enough TO protec, it.
self from the Indians.
Through Arkansas the Choctaw and
Chickasaw na,icns, and large portion OF
the rad between Preston and Belknap. sta
tions could be readily established at short
Intervals. and be well supplied with grain.
From Fort Belknap to Camp Cooper the
distance Is only IS miles. and thence TO Fort
Chadburne % miles-both OF which could
D. made with ease by carrying an extra sup
ply Of animals with the coaches, as is nov
practiod on the line from San An,ouia 10
san Diego
Thus we have nearly 700 milts Of road 90
ualch relays and stations could be estAb-
hshei. without other than the usual difficulty
attending the creation OF the same in the
more eastern States. Washington NG'es