The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-26


and their securities should file in the Post Once Do
parmen request in writing that they desired 70 make
the junction Of the branches at Preston instead of
Little Rock that the department would permit the
10 be done by route not further west than 70 Spring
field IN Missouri thence by tayctlevle van buren ana
the town Preston in Texas but the line will
be adopted tho express condition that the said contrac
tors should not claim demand from the department
from Congress- any compensation for or
count OF such change in the route from ST. Louis Of tho
point II junction 81 the two routes from Little Rock 70
Preston and the further express condition that whilst
amount OF lands TO which the contractors may be
entitled under the act Of Congress, may be estimated
either Il said branches from Preston TO 81. Louis
or Memphis, AT their option, yet the said contractors
shall take onchaf Of that amount on each of said
branches, so that neither should have advantage
in the way of stations and settlement other And
in the contractors in selecting and locating their lands
should disregard this condition. give other undue ad
vantage TO Of the branches the other the depart
reserved the power Of disseminating said
from st. Louis to Preston and hold said
ther securities TO the original route and terms expressed
ana set forth IN the body Of tho contract"
80 far from neglecng to make preparations for carry
ing out this contract the contractors have worked with
almost snperhuman energy 10 get the details in readiness
understand they bought horses and mules enough
to have one for every two miles, and wagon coach for
every thirty miles Of the route, while arrangements have
been made at all the stations for changing the horses feed
ing, &C. so that they can run straight through During
all their explorations and expeditions TO complete the
raneemenls they received the cordial cooperation of the
Postmaster General the War Department and received
the most gentle manly attentions from the officers OF the
Army at the various stations which they passed. be-
eve that whatever others think the contractors
convinced that they will succeed in establishing this mail
route regularly within very short PERIOD and you need
not he surprised TO learn that they have succeeded in
tabshing daily mail to SIN Francisco within year.
The adoption Of this route was, your readers are
doutless aware, attended with no ordinary difficulties
comprising, they did, all the conflicting interests the
Pacific Railroad The schemes Of specializing contractors
and land obbers the eaousies Of the various sections
the Union the cashing views Of the railroad companies
and the Vaccinations OF politicians all had be met con
catea overthlcwn and to the credit Of the admins
uatcn be said steady, straightforward has
fha thrna nf thn A
sIo seekers the hand the eers and cFoakngs
Of old togy conservatives the other 1t has been pre-
Iicted that the contract for the route would be
given by Congress- that the contractors intended backing
out OF their agreement that they made serious
time; that the route impracticabe; that the mail
would not al the time specified, and that f did start
never would through in time and probably not at
all. Now the contract signed, sealed and delivered
preparations have been going vigorously for the last
the has been found practicable by parties sent
cut by the company to give them private report and
the mails have started promptly and precisely al the ap
pointed tine and Place. II only remains to be seen
whether they will through at all and IL in the time
specified. Your humble servant feels confident that
the engaged in this work will belle their repun
ton, and rat the mail TO California from St. Louis
land will reach its destination that he risks tho success
q The ENTERPRISE and leaving all that he holds dear be-
hind Will through with the first mail bag and give the
readers Of the IraD an impartial account of the trip
the dificrcs-wh,the likely 70 be-
and all the Information that be gathered by rough
experience as TO the probable success failure OF the
ranG mail to san Francisco.
That there difficulties and inconsiderable ones
70 be met this all other routes, one doubts
All accouns agree that the travelling not quite plea
SAINT in Fourth the FIRE excellent
that OF the Astor House, the climate aah temperature
agreeable as the shady ssdc OF BsoadR~y Septem
her bot, farther than think may say they do
agree. There were IN all four prominent competing
CLAIMS for
OVERLAND ROUTES TO CALIFORNIA
Fus;-Ccmmencing with the most northern route We
have that from St louis and Independence by the North
Fork q the Platte through the South Pass Of the Rocky
via Forts Laramie and Bridger Salt Lake
City thence to the branch Of the oregon trail latitude
az deg and thence aimos, direct to San Francisco.
Second--laking the 30 called Middle route we have
tia, bv sprinrhd Missouri following the course Of The
Canadian river direct athe TETON Pass VIA Albuquerque
and he Moaye and thence through the Tuare and
Joaquin valleys via San Jose TO San Francisco This
il generally known the thirty -fh parallel route
Ihirc-We have what Is sometimes called the extreme
rom 81 Louis via Springfield, Fort smith Preston and
Beknap 70 Big Springs the thirty second parallel
along which passes to Fort Fillmore, Rio Grande Fl
laso whence passes by Tucson and the valley the
ella For, Yuma by san Bernardina TETON Pass and by
the valleys the Tuare and San joaquin Francisco
This j. the rorte followed by the new Overland Mall
Company and l. generally known as the thirty second
lhs fourth ( tho "Jm Rrch's route from san Antonio.
Texas through valley about the thirty
first parallel thence via Fort DAVIS and the valley Of the
Rio 6rrnde 10 r. laso and Fort FILLMORE along the thirty
second parallel route to Fort Yuma and thence San
Diego.
These four had al their friends and jealous advo.
capsthosc in favor of the FIRST point triumJantly
the regular mail communication at present existing 10 Salt
Lake City. Tie friends Of the second brought the evil
c exploring parties o the government, and the ia
Ncrahie geographical location beng the nearest ia direct
ike from 81 Louis 60 San Francisco The friends Of the
third produced the testimony Of and private
ready been IN Us, under the "Jm Blrchs contract from
m nego Antonio: while the friends OF the fourth
pointed TO the fact that had already been successful
operation Tor about SIX months. The eagrrncss
ii each ef ,Lcse inicrcstS--so vast TO include
every section n the Unon-may be explained
by the consideration that the adoption Of
this new central route San Francisco was regarded
the precursor OF the Pacific Railroad route The North
states wanted arranged so 10 accommodate best
their vast network - railroads. The Souhsrners wanted
accommodate their trade, and II alleged by
some Ct dissolution Of tho Union, 20 Cali
fcrna. Here, &c the politicians aud spectators
had say and the consequence that frvm the time
the awarding this contract for great overland
nail TO san frencscc agtaied in Congress TO The time
the contract gncd, there tremendous hutter
g among ali psrtes and lad MOI been for the rmncss
of Mr.. Bucisiaan's administration We doubtless should
have the fight sli going Congress after
mott syrtng fgi The subject finally cft the de-
ris.un the To the Postmaster General who, with
The and Cabinet agreed upon the thirty second
parallel route. which il now going into operation. Just 20
give your readers idea Of the pcrpicxy Of the subject
and ~ the vast srnoun, Of conflicting testimony In rea.
the dcrent routes, propose 10 give you In
scnscd form the arguments which advanced for each
TVS
This route hardly b. said b. have entered into
ctticn with the others the selection Of tho great
iand ns route Lying TIN degrees north 81 n Paso and
degrees north 81 Albuquerque, the temperature n
universally concde b. bc too cold 10 admit Of the
possibility a running stage coaehes semi thu year
round provided ia tho Pres nj contract Gen. Burr
the Surveyor General OF Utah. found snow rom twenty TO
forty deep during the inlic Of April In the Rocky
Mountain PASSES. and Col Fremont fosnd in the
tain tasscs west % Utah. unmelid snow At the end cf
June Thouqh well watercd and desirable route In
mer the terrible and drits IN such
narrated by Col Cooke make ia desoists regions
t.r~y of the question, when considering feasible
wagon for the entire year. The terrible suerngs
q army rse for Utah isst winter make this fact
T~ent every intelligent reader. Though the
partially advocated by certain ignorant Journal In your
cay which takes pains 10 initiate your typographical
Iearance vas bever serivusy thought of by any
ali POSTED the subject The recent " the
new mail arrangements have, however rather enhanced
It's reputation a a summer route.
I'M rR,n's ANTONIO
This IL the extreme southern route aud has already
been run nearly year. highly appreciated by the
TEXANS Southern States and Lower Calornians, whom
most brrcfttcd and quite regularly per month
a for long time pretty broadly limited that Mr..
Birch would ~, the present contract In spite of the ne
rnand of the North and West for location which would
be central the Union. II was urged that Mr.. Birch
had fulfilled his contract faithfully, and that
he efeat part surerseed by The one that he ought