Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-29
Correspondence Of the New York Herald.l
THE OVERLAND NAIL ROUTE.


WASHINGTON, May 9, 185S-The overland mail
from st. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco is
fixed fact" Il will be recollected by you that the
overland mail was established by law on the
Sd of March, 1857. Immediately after the access
sion of Governor Brown to the Post Office Depart
ment he took up the subject, and after most pains
taking examination Of it, devised the means for
executing the law, and submitted his plans to the
neWly-installed President of the United States
The President laid the measure, so important did
he esteem it, before full cabinet council After
numerous consultations il was unanimously resolved
20 commit the execution of the contract it was
thought best to make TO John Butterheld and eight
or nine other experienced, energetic and public
spirited stage contractors and expressmeu of known
means. They were not only known to be possessed
of ample means, but also Of perseverance that
would not quail when they came to grapple with the
gigantic difficulties that existed the routes be-
tween the Mississippi river and San Francisco.
The route selected by the Postmaster General
under the advice of the President and his cabinet
has since been carefully examined by the contractors
aud with a few slight changes, has been found not
only practicable, but far, very far better than they
had expected TO find It,
The contractors were allowed by law and contract
one year within which to prepare for the execution
Of the great trust cOnfded 10 them They are 10
commence running four-horse coaches from both
ends Of the route, semi weekly, on the 10th Of
September next, and make the trip in twenty five
days. After completing their examination, well
pleased are they with their prospects that hey have
made application, 1t is understood, to be allowed to
run q mail from San Francisco quite down to Fort
Yuma on the first CT July next, and from St. Louis
and Memphis TO Fort Belknap al the same date -
This application, in whole in part, will probably
be granted.
As this is the first great practical step taken by
the government Of the United States 10 open up an
easy and direct line Of communication between San
Francisco and the Mississippi river for the convey
ance Of passengers and for the purpose Of building
up a continues line Of settlements, l will describe
the route
The route begins at San Francisco, runs up the
river TO and through the TUlare valley, through the
Twas pass, through the settlements in the fertile
valley Of San BeCnardinO, to Fort Hums-this is
IN air line nearly From Fort Yuma he route pro
ceeds through Arizona, directly to Fort Fillmore
on the Rio Grande, few miles above FL Paso
From thence the route runs east and crosses the
Rio Pecos about three miles below the mouth of
Delaware creek; thence 10 and along Marcys trail
to the Springs in he " Sand Hills 5" thence north
east to Mustang springs; thence to the Big springs
of the Colorado Of Texas; thence crossing the
Clear fork of Brazos near the mouth of Paint
creek to Fort Belknap; thence through Preston, to
Fort Smith, on the Arkansas river. Here the route
branches one branch runs down the river, by Lit
tie Rock TO Memphis, and the other branch from
Fort Smith runs through Springfield to St. Louis
y 10
2 $50 miles long, and stages can be easily driven
over it, after the organization is perfected, in TWEEN
ty- five days. The country being high, dry, and
remarkably healthy. and never subject TO deep
SHOWS it is believed the stages will always be filed
with many passengers as can be Accommodated; for
thousands will prefer passage overland in comfort
able stages passage by sea and across the sick
ly isthmus
To confirm this preference but one thing is want
ing-thorOugh military protection.
This want with the eye of practised statesman,
the ver-cautiOus Postmaster General has not only
apprehendsd, but sought to provide against. 1t Is
understood that this sagaciOus officer has made
formal application to the President of the United
States for a thorough protection Of a route so i'm
portaut and along which much life and property
will pass-a route which Congress has ordered TO be
opened at cost so large, and with prospects so
altering. What plan OF protection will ultimately
be resolved on, of course the uninitiated cannot
know; but it is believed that the President himself
has bestowed some thought upon the subject, and
has given it in charge TO the Secretary Of War; with
to render the operations of the Post
master General secure. If this has been done the
security will certainly be afforded; for Gov Floyd, is
apt to do what he undertakes. With Lieutenant
General Scott devise military plans, and competent
TO execute schemes Of defence, the
Secretary is able to cousummate his measures with
rare satisfaction to the President aud the country
Security being afforded to the Postmaster Generals
great overland mail route of $50 miles, what will
follow What must follow Settlements al each
stage 'statiOn" and in every fertile valley;every
st age ststion" will have tavern, store, black
smiths shop, a telegraph Office, an express office
An immense immigration will follow the stages
Security and stages can be far separated from
the emigrants-they are bound 10 60 together; and
and when found together, they viii build settle |
ments along their path.
Hence the Postmaster General in the first eighteen
months of his service, will have the happiness Of 1
ustitutng measure which will build up the ''waste
places" Of this country, and thus connect together
The distant and djsunited parts thereof. What so /
many statesmen, by other means Of a more imposing |
and costly character, have in vain sought TO do he
will have accomplished by the OF the old English
stage coach. lie will have connected and cOnsoh-
lated the settlements, and created new ones Of the
utmost Importance He will have given employment
% troops it is tue; but the rush Of settlers into the
protected valleys will quickly transfer the necessity
If prOtection fro a the white man 10 the red one.
his line of stages from Ell Pas1 TO the Red river
will almost at ouce cause iiRe Of settlements TO
pring into existence, across which Indians cannot
20 Il will at open Texas from its northeastern
iank and pour into it a wOndrOus tide of throbbing
humanity. So with Arkansas so with southwest
Missouri, eminently with Arizona and southwest
1alifOrnia.
Ten years hence this great measure Of Postmaster
General Brown is likely be considered the Tisest
md the most benefcent which will signalize the
Of President Buchanan. IL connects
he remote portions Of Q vast empire and is there
ore statesmanIIke; it insuTes the building and main
enauce of a telegraph for the convenience of trade
md commerce upon the most distant and greatest
,cean, and is therefore wise and benefoent.
As the ball was set in motion amid many jeers
md taunts, the Postmaster General may well ieci-
ate himself upon his brilliant prospects Of aChiev-
ng a successful undertaking which viii be an honor
like TO those who plan and those who execute it, it
viii be the event Of his life and of the administration
B55- The Clerks of the Circuit Courts Of Middle
are hereby notified, the 4h volume Of
5needs Reports has been deposited in the Office Of
he Clerk Of the Supreme Court at Nashville for
distribution. J. P. CLARK, Clerk.