The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-25

be read with great interest The importance Of opening
this route for mail facilities and for developing the
sources and capabilities Of the interior Of the continent
al this day be well estimated few years only
and the foresight ofPostmaser General Brown initiating
and his labors in carrying this great work viii be ap
preciated Within short time, where hordes OF
dangerous Indians, and nature in all its primitive wdncss
there viii be succession OF settlements and well cult
waited country While the whole country interested in
the opening Of this route California and the Southern
States especially debt Of gratitude to the Postmaster
General
MR.. BAILEY's REPORT.
wAsHIsGroN Oct is, 1858
SRI have the honor 10 submit herewith in conformity
70 the issued from the
2sh a June last the result Of my observations while
passing the mail betw New York and San
Francisco via Aspnwall and Panama, and between San
Francisco and the Mississippi river via Fort Yuma and
left New York the 9th of July in the Moses Taylor
and arrived at Aspinwa on the morning of the lsth
crossed the lsthmus the day aud len Panama ON
the 18th in the Sonora We touched 1T Acapulco on the
2ls and again at Manzania, and arrived at San Fran
cisco on the morning of the 10Th making the trip IN about
returned by the overland route taking passage in the
first stage the Pacific TO the Mississippi
via Fort Yuma and Franklin, under the Butterheld con
tract.
have no suggestions offer regard to the mail
vice on the first Of these routes. IS performed with
great regularity and so far as my observation extended
the the safe keeping OF the mails all
that could be desired.
The establishment Of regular and permanent line OF
California beng matter oil general interest some desire
may uraly be felt know far the enterprise
Gently naugurated under the auspices Of your department
has succeeded. induced, therefore. TO reproduce
somewhat IN detail the notes took while accompanying
the first mail from the Pacific under the contract with the
Overland Mail Company.
The stage with the mails started from the Plaza at
san Francisco at precisely ten minutes past midnight of
the 14h u and arrived at Upton the present terminus
of the Pacific Railroad, at five minutes past nine O'Clock
the morning Of the 9th instant Thence the mails
transported by the Pacific Railroad to St Louis where
r..
N. The entire distance between these two tcrmin Of the
route thus accomplished twenty DAYS, twenty
hours and thrty five minutes apparent time From this
there should be deducted two hours and minutes for
the difference time between San Francisco 81 Louis
leaving twenty four days, eighteen hours aud twenty
minutes az the time actually consumed on the trip.
The service, then has been performed within the con
tract time and this pioneer trip attended with
many difficulties and embarrassments which each sue
cessve trip will gradually remove there i no reason 10
apprehend that longer period will be required in future
On the contrary feel safe in expressing the opinion that
continued excrton Of the energy and perseverance
when have thus characterized the operations OF the
Overland Mail Company will enable the contractors to
reduce the time TO twenty days.
Herewith is enclosed a memorandum marked Al of
the stations the route showing the distances between
diem and the time made each division This com
road and, although il doubtless contains errors,
may be regarded a. approxmaliyely correct
viii be seen that the aggregate Of these distances
greatly exceeds that specified in the contract with the
Overland Mail Company This accounted for by the
fact that the double necessity OF keeping within reach of
water and beyond the usual range Of hostile tribes In
daus, has compelled the company follow, the FIRST
terially from that contemplated in the contract.
The first OF these dvergences occurs in California
Crossing the Sierra not al the TETON Pass but through
the Canada de la Uyas twenty-five miles TO the south
west the road skirts the edge OF the desert the
san Bernardno range through the san Francisquito
non, and thence by the san Fernando Pass Los
Angeles Thence the road southeast crossing the
mountain at Warmers Pass, and connects at Carrie
creek with the old SIN Diego trail. which follows 10
Fort Yuma The specified in the contract by
San Bernardino, and shorter by about eighty miles,
hut the attempts heretofore made to lind water
rs adopted. 1t reported al Los Angeles the 18th
uit, that exploring expedition which had been fitted
by the citizens Of san Bcrnardino had succeeded
IN finding good road, with adequate supply Of
water on the east side az the San Jacno range whether
this prove 10 be the not, would respectfully
suggest that small amount Of money might be udcously
expended making line Of water stations from vallcci,o
90 the Colorado Apart from the obvious advantage
shortening the mail route the Colorado desert there
are other considerations TO Justify expenditure for this
purpose THIS Is the route by which Southern emigration
seeks the Pacific and the abandoned wagons
ses, and the whitening bones by the road side pain
uly attest the suerngs heretofore cntaed upon the
emgrants by the scarcity Of water.
The most material variance from the
curs In Texas An inspection Of the accompanying map
OF the route marked 81 VIII show that saving OF nearly
one hundred miles might be made by running directly
from Pope camp on the Pecos, 10 Port Deknap, along
the route followed by Lieut. Garrard and Capt Pope
1854 1t Is alleged, however by the company, and with
that unless government should inerpose for their
protection, by establishing line Of military posts along
the northern frontier Of Texas, would be impossible for
them 20 maintain the necessary stations.
Prom Fort Bcknap the road follows Captain Marcy's
trail portions Of which the company have greatly i'm
Sssa ns sh nsr own cost ana passing Toasa eanes
Prom Colbers ferry there direct road For, Smith,
which would seem 10 be the natural terminus Of the route
the east.
this point the route branches as you are aware the
mails beng forwarded simultaneously % Louis
Memphis. II had been my intention 10 return BY the
Memphis branch, being tho shortest and most direct
route; but abandoned the idea on learning at Fort
Smith, that should probably nc subjected delay
10 be regretted that the this route
have exhibited little energy meeting the compare
lively trfing difficulties they have had to encounter Il
Fort smith 10 Springfield Missouri; aud glance the
map will show that, distance concerned theirs
has greatly the advantage q the Louis route vet they
have been behind time all their trips from Memphis 10
for smth-so at least, was informed while a, the lat
IN CONCLUSION, have 70 repor, that, with the exception
mentioned above the company have faithfully complied
with all the conditions Of the contract The road
stocked with Substantially built Concord sprsg wagons
capable Of carrying conveniently four passengers with
Their baggage ana from ave 20 six hundred pounds OF
mail matter Permanent stations have been being,
established al all the places mentioned IA the memoran.
DUN before referred 10 and where consequence OF the
scarcity Of water, these placed apart relays Of
horses aud spare drivers sen, forward with the stage
70 insure iis prompt arrival The dicultcs ~
The rosie-the scani supply Of water. the long sandy
deserts the Inconvenience keeping up stations hundreds
q mile from the points from which their supplies arc fur
nished-all these, and the many minor obstacles natn
rally presented g. the successful management Of 30
long line Of stage communication have been mt AMI
overcome BY the energy the enterprise and tho dctcrm
nation 81 the contracors Thus far the experiment has
proved successful Whether this 20 be porma
nent-sbeher this great artery between The Atlantic and
PACING states ~ pulsaie regularly and unnterruptedy
does not however, depend entirely upon the Overland
Mai Company. They have conquered the natural din.
cues of tho route but they have yet encounter an
enemy With whom they cannot successfully cope unadcd
refer u 70 Tie tribes OF hostile Indians through
whose territory they necessarily pass Their stations IN
ATyona are a. The mercy 81 the Apache and the Com
manche may At hn pleasure bar their passage through
Texas.
The deep neres, yon have always manifested IN this
great undertaking renders unnecessary for me t. argue
the importance q taking proper 20 guaranty its
permanent succtf What those should be Il i
not my prcf ace - suggest Ny duty ended with Law
ing tie facts before y0u and adding my testimony 10 that
already 10 your possession 70 the necessity which *
's Got prOmpt and cectual intervention On the mari OF
government for the protection Of the route With rrea,
respect, your Obcaieni servant,
q. BAILEY, Special Agent A.
Hoo. A. v. BEowS, Postmaster General. Washington.
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