The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-04
SoUrn PASS waGoN. ROAD ErPEDu7oN.
prom Tie ST. Ioai. Republican, nov 2ol

From the 81. Louis Republican, NOV -31
Superintendent +. w. Handler of the United States
overland expedition arrived here yesterday
from the Rocky mountains and enabled to lay be-
fore readers valuable information of this important
route, the more difficult mountain sections Of which have
been explored surveyed and carried 10 completion d-
ring the contingencies of the Mormon war
Under the appropriation OF $3.50 600 placed in charge
OF the Department Of Interior for the construction OF
wagon road to California for the benefit of the overland
emigration expedition organized in the spring Of
1857, of which Col w M. + Magraw was superintend-
emit Fred. w. Lander chief engineer, and j. r. AMMAN
disbursing agent
The present superintendent went In advance of the
main expedition with small party, TO explore and lay
out the road chief engineer His eminent success IN
this undertaking referred TO in our columns OF No
yenber last Two great cutoff routes discovered,
which shortened the old natural emigrant road many
days travel 1t decided by the Department OF the
Interior TO attempt the continuation OF the norhernmost
of these routes because it avoided nearly all streams
curing bridges or ferries and we'll wooded and
waered throughout its length passing north OF the dos
ert plains of the old road, the South Pass.
also proposed to forward this work with all pos
sble alacrity the yearly tolls paid by the overland
emigration amounted to nearly the estimated cost OF ts
the mountain division. While these arrangements
pending, Col Maaw, who had arrived at the mountains
at too late period in the TO commence work on
the road, with patriotism which does him honor joined
with such OF his employees chose to volunteer IN tue
ranks of the Utah army He carried with him the ami
s and supplies of the Interior Department then stored
adjacent to the work. and ready for immediate service in
the spring
On herring this intelligence, expedition i'm
medatey organized by the Secretary of the Interior
der the direction of Chief Engineer Lander, snpern
tendent which went into the field in April last and by
making forced marches, although encountering several
storms and the difficulties of high water, reached
the work. thousand miles from the Missouri border
the earliest practicable moment of commencing labor
in the spring. and without the loss OF ami
NAL The expedition had travelled without escort,
and the working parties placed in the country of
the friendly Shoshonees without anticipation of moesta
ton from any quarter The Mormons had often assured
Mr.. Lander who is the weknown Pacific railroad ex-
porer and especially when in the country the year be-
FORE that, in event of difficulty with government,
they would harm or prevent the progress of any
work of public utility like that which he was engaged
In fact few weeks later after the return OF the Nor
mons from their migratory movements towards the south,
about fifty of them came up aud worked throughout the
season the wagon read
The road completed early in October. 1t is three
hundred aud fifty miles in length, extending from the
South Pass in adirection south of west to City Rocks
the head of Humboldt river and being equally ia
voabe for the passage OF both the California and Oregon
emigrant travel Some idea of the amount of the work
performed by the expedition may be gained from the fol-
! lowing schedule:
| Forty miles of heavy yellow-pnc timber cot out
and removed seven bridges two block houses and two
erected 92 900 cubic yards of earth loose rock,
and ledge excavated and placed in embanlment; 5000
miles travelled by the set of mules which started
| from the States.
| A light travelling wagon train passed over the new
from the South Pass to the City Rocks thirty five
miles per day; heavily loaded trains, twenty five and
thirty miles per day. Emigrants camp where they
choose and find wood, water and grass abundant The
best laying places for large trains at Piney Valley
ninety miles west Of Gbets station South Puss and at
Salt River valley the western slope Of the Wabsatch
mountains 40 miles from the South Pass In Salt River
valley will be found large fields of very superior salt
Mountain trout abound in all the streams west of the
South Pass and caught in senes and sailed for the
| use of the expedition.
The slopes of the mountain section very easy and
| no portion of the road requires the doubling OF
| teams,
The Humboldt river Indians reported having killed
emigrants and robbed the mail visited by Mr.. Ian
der with party of eight men, before the arrival of SUI
pcrintendent Forney who has since visited them They
denied having moested the MAIL and passed number OF
the wagon road employees through their tribe to Cor
MIA 1t may be gratifying to their friends in the East
learn that with this party went the State OF Maine lum
bermen hired in Bangor for cutting out the timber and
building the bridges of the road They per-
formed this task with great vigoE and energy and
ceiyed certificates of good conduct leaving the work
| its completion.
A large portion of the appropriated for build
ing this grand mountain division Of the South Pass road
remains unexpendcd and from the promptness which has
characterized the operations OF the Secretary of the Int
in organizing the expedition OF the work has been
completed in eight, instead of eighteen monthe the time
| originally anticipated.
As the Mormon is over and the emigration
on this important route will undoubtedly be very large
the ensuing summer the Importance of the completion Of
this road can be readily estimated The emigration not
only many days travel but passes country
well watered and gIassed and entirely avoids the aka
line plains of the south, the passage of which has hther
to caused such great loss of stock estimated less
than rs per cent Of the whole. number driven. The
tolls Of the ferries and bridges of the old road heretofore
paid by cniSrants amounted to Sl4 per wagon, without
reference to loose animals Indeed it is maintained by
good judges that in every year Of large emigration, a
greater is expended lost by emgrans than the
construction of the cutoff road has cost the govern
| ment
| The names of The officers of the expedition are VIM.
Wagner, engineer John H. ngle, discussing clerk b.
T. Burche and Alexander Mitchell, all of the advance
exploring party of last year L. Poor and Melchior
NJ Long, assistant engineers james Snyder, commissa
ry; j. G. Campbell general assistant. returned to Salt
Lake in charge of the Mormon employees. William
West remains in charge of the expedition st. Jo
| scphs Mo.
Mr. Lander viii go directly to Washington where he
will report and write engrant guide of the road
He recommends sending small train over it next season
! in advance Of the emigration.
| IMPORTANT LIND SUIT IN WESTERLY PIR-
GINA