The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-22

errors and calumnies of which he rendered himself
the echo against Spain?
The Pacific Railroad Routes.
From the American Railroad Journal, JAY 81
The discoveries of gold on the Northwest coast
are bringing prominently before the public the ma
tiona importance of the railroad route connecting
the great basin of the st. Lawrence and the Upper
Mississippi with the Columbia Valley and Puget
Sound.
GOLD DISCOVERIES.
The placers now being worked are on Fraser and
Thompson rivers, in New Caledonia. At the last
advices, seven steamers and large number OF sail
ing vessels were running from San Francisco to
Puget Sound. The Judgment of the people Of Cali
fornia as TO the new diggings is based the infor
nation which each community and locality In Cali
fornia has received from some practical miner known
personally to it, who has gone to the new mines and
has by his own labors ascertained their productive
ness.
While public attention is being drawn to the gold
placers north of the 49th parallel (on Fraser and
Thompson rivers) il is well known that gold il dis
seminated throughout the cascades of Washington
Territory, and that il also reaches the Rocky
Mountains in the line OF Clark's Fork and the
Koutenay river. In 1853, in the exploration OF
the Northern route for Pacific railroad, the
presence of gold was determined, not only all the
streams running from the Cascade Mountains east
ward to the Columbia; but through the whole inter
mediate country. and deposits were found on the
upper tributaries Of Clark's Fork.
In the following year, much additional inforna
tion gained in reference to the gold 10 that Ter
ritory The marvellous Indian stories in regard to
rich diggings had az much relation to the Cascade
country of Washington as to that north OF the 49th
parallel. In 1854 the public mind became impressed
with the belief that it required only dlligent pros.
pecting of the country TO develope the richness Of
its gold deposits.
In 1865, large numbers emigrated TO the interior
of Washington (east of the Cascades) to prospect
for gold The miners went, some from Puget's
Sound over the Cascades, and others by the line OF
the Columbia. In July and August of that year, at
least one thousand peons were on their way TO the
mines near Coville- a Hudsons Bay fort in Washing
ton Territory, situated in the upper Columbia, about
four hundred miles above Fort Walla Wala, and
seven hundred miles fro the Columbia entrance
measuring the distance in both cases by the river
and some twenty five to thirty miles south of the
forty ninth parallel The Indian war compelled
most of these men to re,race their steps. few,
however, remained in the mining regions and made
good wages for the following tEo years.
In 1851, the miners explored further north, and
found rich deposits in the Shonswop country, on
Thompson river. Gold was also found along the
line from Fraser and Thompson river TO Fort Col
vile. This was the route Of the Hudson's Bay
Company 10 their interior posts, and was kept open
throughout the years 1866 1856 and 1857 whilst other
routes were closed in consequence of the unsettled
state OF the Indian country.
Public attention was attracted To this matter
through all he Pacific States and Territories The
Governor of Vancouver's Island took steps To regu
late the digging of gold aud the trade OF New Gale
donia. Notwithstanding the burthensome restric-
tions he imposed, great rush Of miners has taken
place from California and Oregon TO the new pla-
cers-the number being estimited at Ii ,000.,
Probably 5000 will leave California the present
season. The result must he the careful prospecting
of The gold regions of Washington and the ascertain
ment of facts which will satisfy all men of their pro-
ductiveness. A large overland emigration may be
expected to take place from the States next year.
From the northwest, the best route will be that
veyed by Governor Stevens in his Pacific Railroad
explorations.
GOVERNOR STEVENS BOUTS =.
This route starts at st. Paul follows up the eastern
bank of the Mississippi to Sank Rapids, where IL
crosses that river, pursues general west by north
direction To the Boisde Sioux, on the western boun
Diary Of Minnesota, and in its Westward course strikes
Fort Union aud Fort Benton tue Missouri, crosses
the Rocky Mountains by Lewis ADD Clai ks, Cadottes
or the northern Little Backfoot or Mullains pass
thence following OF the tributaries OF tue Hell
Gate river, debOuches in the Bitter Root Valley N
Hell Gate From this poiat il proceeds down the Bit
ter Root Valley the mouth Of the st Regis de Borga
up that stream till IL crosses the Cgur d Aene DIVIDE
10 the waters of the CGur d Alene river, which IL
follows 10 the Cnur Alene lakes, whence II defects
in southwark direction 10 near the mouth OF Snake
river and bfurcates-one branch going down the
Columbia 90 Vancouver and the other passing up the
main Yakima 10 Snaqualnie pass, and thence to the
waters OF the Sound al Seattle. la Governor Ste
vens plan and estimate. provision Is not only made
for these two branches reaching directly Puget Sound
and the Lower Columbia, but also a branch road -
urged connecting Vancouver with the Sound.
This route has direct and easy connection with
the newly discovered gold regions. From the Ceur
dAlene lakes the country Is entirely practicable 10
all parts of the main Columbia from Fort Wala'
Walla 20 Fort Colvile. Wagonsand pack trains can
now pass In almost every direction. Many OF the
minor details Of the railroad route have not yet been
established, a., for instance the particular crossing
Of the Columbia, whether il sha be above The mouth
Of the Snake, whether IN order TO carry the road
through az much of the good country and fine pine
timber on the Western slope OF the Bitter Root
Mountains M possible, it shall be taken from the
CGur dAlene TO the palOuse Valley and thence down
the latter stream TO its junction with the Snake or
whether, following well down the CUnr Alcne W
its intersection with the Spokane river, crossing OF
the Columbia shall be made much above the mouth
Of the Shake, with view Of shortening the distance
10 the sound and keeping the route as near az prac
ticable 20 the gold region centering about COvle.
These are questions which will require careful ex'
animation when the road is located.
II may lie remarked that Gov Stevens, ia his pub
lshed report carried the railroad line down llirke
fork and passed IL from Clarkes fork belos the
Pend d0reile lake TO the Spokane, but stated that
the C1ur Alene route was probably practicable,
and urged its careful examination. Thi, examna
ton was made by him In 1856. He found the line
entirely practicable, efecting a saving OF four mil
lions Of dollars in the cost Of the road and shorten
ing the distance some seventydve miles.
CuARscrxRf-rfc Fg.TURss.
This route connects the great lakes aud The upper
Mississippi directly with Puget sound and the 20
lumbia Valley. The distance Ia round numbers Is
but eighteen hundred miles. IL has the least sum
Of ascens and descents Of any route and the lowest
grades. IL passes through a country having many
times more arabic land than any other route IL
abounds in timber and wood. lt has the least def
cheney OF water, and no serious distractions from
snow. N Is In connection with the two large rivers
flowing eastwardly and westw irdly from the great
wafer she'd of the continent These rivers can be
naviga'ed by steamers of considerable capacity
within $50 miles ~ elch other The Missoun y
navigsble g. Fort Benton, and the Columbia, by ol-
lowing rs great southern branch, Snake River, y the
mouth OF the pslouse. From the mouth Of the
Paouse 10 Fort Benton is but $50 miles, These
rivers, therefore, furnish the means Of throwing the
route into sections, and the time required 70 build
the whole road is simply the time required TO build
the central section, distance Of $50 miles.
Moreover, on this route only 22j miles are more
than 5000 feet above the sea- whereas the other
routes are more than 600 feet above the sea- as lot
lows:-
South Pass route. ..................l,i 32 miles
o0tn paralltl csc. .......s.. ..s..+..s 80 .
32d parallel. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. G63 "
a.. o. han