Arkansas intelligencer., 1858-05-28
From the Hartford CourGns.
Pacific Railroad

siSSlppi, 10 our golden possesoiohs Oh Tue L
cific coast, is soon to engage the attention of
Congress. DR.. Gwin, the indefatigable sena-
tor from California, has a bill for the purpose
in charge, which he has been for some time
earnest in getting to the attention Of the Sem
alto, and its merits will doubtless soon be in
discussion by that body. Public opinion has
long been directed TO the matter, AMI the
majority of our people are hesitatiug between
two routes for a railroad TO be constructed by
government aid, viz; first, the Southern or
Border route, starting in Texas and passing
across the Llano Estacado, the Gadsden pur-
chase, and the Colorado desert; and, second,
the Central or 35th parallel route, starting
from st. Louis, aud leading through the val
ley of the Canadian river, along the 35th pa
rallel to Anton Chico, thence to Albuquerque,
thence by the Zuni and Moqui villages to the
Colorado river, thence through the Mohave
and Tulare valleys to the San Joaquin river,
and by San Jose to San Francisco.
TIE consideration of these two routes now
engrosses the thoughts OF those whose atten-
ton is devoted to the matter-the project Of
a Northern, or indeed of any other route be-
ing seemingly, at least for the present, aban-
doned.
The necessity for an inland route to Cali
fornia is conceded. The unstable nature Of
an Isthmus transit and the unhappy expert
ences of travellers there, have opened the eyes
of all to its insecurity, and established the
startling fact, that, in time of war, we easily
could, and probably should, be cut of from
any communication with our Pacific posses
sions, except by the almost interminable pre-
sent OK route across the plains. Independent
of this consideration, tue vast and fertile coun-
try lying between the Mississippi and the Pa
citc, and now a houseless waste, only waits a
line of communication to invite emigrauts to
its cultivation, and creation into prosperous
and wealthy States. This almost boundless
region is scarcely appreciated even by those
who acknowledge its importance. In the en-
tire | Cnited States there are estimated to be
about three millions Of square mlcs-over
two millions of these lie west of the Mississip
pi, while less than one million lie ON this side.
And in this vast area is some Of the finest
land for the farmer that lies under the sun.
Lieut.. Reale, ho surveyed the central route
under the order Of the Secretary OF War, says
OF the country through which lie passed, THAT
1t is unduating, with frequent extensive level
plateaus, well watered with springs, and Is by
far the most beautiful region | ever remem-
Der to have seen IN any portion of the world.
A vast forest OF gigantic pine, intersectcd
frequently by extensive open ladies' spnnk
led all over with mountains, meadows and
wide sayannabs, filled with the richest gras-
scs, were traversed by our party for many
successive days. To reclaim this beautiful!
region from the few scattered and vagabond
Indians, who now have exclusive possession
OF it, requires only the construction Of a rail
| road through Its centre, and it is soon To be
| decided in Congress by which of the two
routes jnst alluded to, government shall by
| Its patronage and treSsur1 bring the agricul
turai aud mineral n-sourc9s within the reach
of hardy emigrants and the far-reaching arm
of commerce
From n careful examination Of the various
ro!umnouS reports by able engineers and
travellers over both routes, we are entirely
satisfied that the Central road from St. Louis,
(perhapS with trlturcated and eastern ter
mini touching St. Louis and point both
above and below it J not only open the rich
est country to the cmigrant, but make the
shortest and cheapest road to the Pacific, Us
well as be Of the easiest access to all the States
east Of the Mississippi.
The southern route would run across the
widest portion OF the great desert which
IihNCiSSo tbdb a lIOl, OdiICli, NdIeFlcSS
and trceless country, where, in some places
obtanable water sources would be three hun
! dred miles apart; would be compelled to
climb the three high ranges of mountains "
ing west Of the Llano Estacado, and pass over
the borders of the tropical region where the
intense heat of the desert are alike fatal to
man and beast. The Central road, Oh the
contrary, passes through the delightful coun-
try traversed by Lieut.. Beale, through fer
tile valley, well wooded and watered region
water stations being at no point over TWEEN
ty miles apart, by cheap and easy grade.
through wide natural mountain passes, where
the snow has never fallen more than eight
inches deep, and where the heat never ex-
ceeds the summer heat Of New York city, in
temperate and salubrous climate; and is
withal many miles shorter than the southern
| route.
| 1t is impossible for any rejecting person
to read the various reports upon these two
routes, without being convinced of the supe-
riority of the central road which traverses a
region more temperate in climate, and more
varied in the richness Of its soil than the CEN
trail road in the State of New York, and we
trust our Legislators in Congress will not for
any sectional ends, or Cor participation in par
ty jobs and fat contracts, shut their eyes to
its superiority.
In an interesting and eloquent letter to the
citizens of Arkansas, written Gy the intluen-
tial and talented Inember from Missouri, Hon.
John S. Phelps, the comparative merits of the
two proposed roptes are thus torcibly sum
med up;
'But let us turn our eyes to the east end
| ssof fha B,rjar W. l.
''terrible it is from Ell Paso to Fort Yuma;
"but how are we to get to FL Paso from the
"Mississippia To get to Albuquerque from
"the Great River we can sc up the valley of
"the beautiful and fertile Canadian river on