New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-03
RETURN OF THE OVERLAND MAIL
EXPEDITION.
From The ST. Lou. Republican, Ap,I2'.

From The ST. LOUIS Republican, Ap,IN.
portion of the exploring party sert Guy by the
Overland Mail Company, fer the purpose OF examln-
ing tie routes for the carriage OF the mails from the
Valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific coast which
left this city the I'd Of January last, reached Fort
Smith, Arkansas, ON their return nome on Tue e. Ia
inst accompanied by four of the party which left San
Francisco on the 10th of January, on purpose 10
examine that portion of the route from the Pacific to
the Rio Grande. They left FL Paso on tie 2?d OF
March, thus accomplishing the distance from the Rio
Grande to Fort Smith-nne hundred ard thirty
miles-n the short space Of Twenty-Five days, which
We believe ia the quick est time record in crossing
the Plaue.
The party was composed of only eight men, as fol-
lows; Major George W. Wood Jesse Tolcott Charles
=. Cole ard j. A. Lilly of the st. Louis party and
Lieut.. Frank de Ryther James Swsrtz and John But
terfeld, Jr, of the San Francisco psIty. They
brought with them one wagon and thirteen animals
which they eft at Fort Smith for the party proceeding
East.
The route Travelled on the return trip was different
from the passed over in going out namely RIA the
Hucce Tanks, Les Cornudas and the Gsudsoupe
Pass TO Capt. Popes new crossing, the Pecos. below
the mouth Of the Delaware Creek, thence down the
Rio Piccs to the Enigrant Crossing, thence to the
Musta, Springs, the Big Springs of the Colorado
Camp Cooper Fort Belknap and GAINESVILLE, TO the
Red River; thence to Fort Smith.
TAe party from SAL Francisco passed through tue
SsnFraI cisco valley to the San Jose valley; thence
to the coast range of MOUNTAINS; thence by the San
Josaquin river TO the Tulare valley, through Fort
Yuma and hudson TO FL Paso. In crossing the Ar-
zOna Territory the party took middle route between
Beaes and the Sonticrs route (but little travelled
heretofore) and is pronounced by them excellent
natural road Both expeditions pronounce the ertlre
ute from Sac Francisco as perfectly practcabl for
staging purposes. The worst part of the whole route
so far as the roads ccncerned-is from the Red
River TO Fort Smith. through Q Indian Territory.
The Desert, or LoRo Esfacado the greatest ;mped.
pent on the route, crossed by them In twenty
seven hour, the distance being sxtyfve miles They
no Indians either hostile friendly after leaving
San Francisco, until they arrived al Preston Texas
except three friendly COmanches, rear Camp CoOpsr
An ample supply Of wood, water and grass is found
the route with the exception of the Lano Esacado,
which is covered with luxuriant growth of Grsmms
grass.
They passed Capt. Popes Camp of the Artesan
Well Expedition near the Rio Pecos, where he Is
gagged in boring artes,an well for the purpose Of
procuring water on the Lano Estacado He attained
The depth Of thousand and forty feet but
had not succeeded In getting water to the surface. He
was then boring through limestone rock and felt
fdent that 40 as he had bored through this he
VIC uld find an abundance Of water.
The remainder Of the st. Louis party viii re,ch home
in about three weeks.