The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-27
THE OVERLAND ROUTE.

Mr.. G. Bailey, the special agent of the Post office
Department on the Overland Route to California,
has submitted his report to the Postmaster Gener-
left New York on the 9th Of July, and arrived
at san Francisco on the morning of the 29th, max
ing the trip in about twenty-three days.
| returned by the overland route, taking passage
in the first stage across from the Pacific to the
Mississippi via Fort una and Franklin, under the
Butterield contract.
have no suggestions to offer in regard to the
mail service on the first OF these oues 1t is per-
formed with great regularity. and, so far as nv oh
seryation extended. the arrangements for the safe
Keeping Of the mails are all that could be desired.
inc service has been performed within the con-
tract time; and as this pioneer trip was attended
with many difficulties and embarrassments which
each successive trip will gradually remove there is
no reason to apprehend that longer period will be
required IN luturc. The aggregate distances great
~ exceeds that specified in the contract with the
Overland Mail Company. This is accounted for bv
the fact that the double necessity of keeping with
IN reach of water, and beyond the usual range Of
hostile tribes OF Indians, has compelled the compa-
ny to follow, on the first, second, fourth and fifth
divisions, route varying materially from that
contemplated in the contract.
would respectfully suggest that small amount
OF money might be iudiciously expended in making
line of water stations from Yallccito to the Color
ado.
This is the route by which Southern emigration
seeks the Pacific, and the abandoned wagons the
carcasscs, and the whitening bones, by the road
side too painfully attest the suterings heretofore
entaied upon the emgrants by the scarcity Of wa
ter.
The most material variance from the contract
route occurs in Texas. An inspection Of the accom-
panyIng map will show that saving Of nearly one
hundred miles might be made by running directly
from Pope's camp, on the Pccos, to Fort Belknap,
along the route followed by Lieut.. Garrard and
Capt. Pope, in 1854. 1t is alleged, however. by
the company, and with reason, that unless govern
ment should interpOse for their protection by
tabllShing line of military posts along the north
ernfrontler of Texas, it would be impossible for
thsn' ts I'as-.t~i'a tl.S Hoooseary otiorr.
The road is stocked with substantially built Con-
cord spring wagons, capable ofcarrying convenient
ly four passengers, with their baggage, and from
five to six hundred pounds of mail matter. Pcrma-
nent stations have been, or being, established
at all the places mentioned in the memorandum be-
fore referred t0 and where, in consequence of the
scarcity Of water, these placed far apart RELAYS
OF horses and spare drivers are sent forward
with the stage to insure its prompt arrival. The
various difficulties of the route-the scant supply
OF water, the long sandy deserts, the inconvenience
of keeping up stations hundreds of miles from the
points from which their supplies are furnished-all
these and the many minor obstacles naturally pre-
sented to the successful management of so long
line OF stage communication, have been met and
overcome by the energy, the enterprise, and the
determination Of the contractors. Thus far the ex-
pertinent has proved successful. Whether this
success Is to be permanent-whcthcr this great ar
terry between the Atlantic and Pacific States is to
pulSate regularly and unntcrruptcdly-dOes not,
however, depend entirely upon the Overland Mail
Company. They have conquered the natural diff
cultes of the route but they have vet to encounter
an enemy with whom they cannot successfully cone
naided. refer, of course, to the tribes of hostile
Indians through whose territory they necessarily
pass Their stations in Arizona are at the mercy
of the Apache, and the Commanchc nav at his
pleasure, bar their passage through Texas.