The Washington union., 1858-03-04
A. B. GREENWOOD.

From Fort Smith to Albuquerque the route Is well
known and the emigrants carly ls49 that left this
place for California owing to the Ignorance OF the
from Albuquerque to San Francisco, the 35th parallel
were forced to take down the Rio Grande from Abuquer
que and follow Cooks trace down the Gila to California
Captain Marcy, who went out with the emigants that
year escort supposng that no route could be
found directly through from Albuquerque to San Fran
CISCO went down the Rio Grande to Dona Ana, and
turned with his command to this place by the way
Preston Texas He published his journal and descrip
ton of the route believing he had found the best route
for emigrants to California. Nothing was known of the
route from Albuquerque to San Francisco the 35th
parallel until 1853 A. when the intrepid traveller Au-
brey found road to Albuquerque, which he made from
San Francisco to the latter place in about twenty two
days His journal was published and in 1854 he was
killed in Santa Fe in about half an hour after his ar
rival at that place After his death attempted to
find the route through until 1858, when Lieut. Whppe
sent out TO survey route for railroad the 35th
parallel His report suppressed until few months
ago. and knew anything of the character of the
country through which he passed. his expora
tons been published that the people Of the United
States could form estimate Of the country that he
pored.
While things remained in this condition. the letter Of
Lieut. Bele who had been sent out to explore and mark
the route the 5th parallel appeared IN the nesTa
pers disclosing the fact that he had found route and
marked a wagon road from New Mexico to California
The country he describes the most beautiful he
beheld and the road three hundred ns shorter from the
frontier than any other road the continent
He says:
You have thus sir in few words, short account of
our journey the road sent to explore OF its
advantages in detail have not time in this letter to
speak, except in general terms. enumerate them.
1t Is the shortest from western frontier by three
hundred miles being nearly directly west 1t is the
most evelour wagons only double teaming in the
entire distance and that at short hill and
face heretofore unbroken by wheels travel of any kind
1t is well wateredour greatest distance without water
any time being twenty miles. 1t is we'll tmbered, and
in many places the growth is far beyond that OF part
n ts,Ao
passing the most part elevated region 1t
saubrious of party requiring the slightest
medical attendance from the time of leaving to
arrival. 1t is well grassed-my command never having
made bad grass camp during the entire distance until
the Colorado. 1t the Great Desert (which
must be crossed by any road to California; at its narrow
est point 1t passes through country abounding in
| game aud but little infested with Indians On the
| tire road until arrival at the Mohavc villages
did not in all dozen Indians and those of
mid noffensive character AT the point of the
ing of the Colorado grain, vegetables, and brealsufs
may be obtained in any quantity from the Indians who
cultivate extensively though rudey, the fertile bottom
lands of the Colorado II is passabe alike in winter and
| summer. These the advantages which claim fol
| the road which we have discovered, marked, and er
plored from New Mexico TO this State.
From the Colorado end of the settlements the country
been surveyed and mapped by the United States
vey0r of this State which, apart from the act that it
does not within my instructions, leaves but lit
tie to say in relation toit shall mention then only
important fact that it leaves to the option of the
emgran the choice of entering California either at the
city of Los Angeles by the regularly travelled road in the
fertile part of the southern portion Of the State
turning off from that river and by easy road, fire.
quently travelled and coming into the head Of the great
Tlure Valley and by good road through settlements
all the way extending to Stockton Sacramento, and the
| more northern parts of the State
Our work. although arduous has been rendered pleas
ant by the beautiful character of the country through
which have passed and the snubrious nature of the
climate, and although the double duty Of exploring and
In, fhn hocf fa1lp have masses
through it without accident of any kind whatever.
Could language be expressive coming, it does,
from public man who has travelled every road from the
frontier to California? TIE SOLVED; and
now with confidence, say to the California emgrant
This the uay-THIs SHORTEST
DRIED MILES the road running due west, with water,
wood and grass in abundance and poisonous wnter
This offers to the drover road which he travel
without the fear of losing his cattle and certainty Of
arriving in California with his stock in good order The
road from Fort Smith to California through the het
of New Mexico where provisions he found in abund
ance. Also the Indians along the route inofensve,
and raise provisions of every kind, which be pur
chased of them reasonable terms Sec Lieut. Beales
letter Read the above extract attcntiyely, and If
any road to California presents such advantages.
This road being 800 miles the shortest will undoubt
edy be the road which the overland mail will be
carried 1t must be So The land the grass the wood,
and the water all upon the 35th parallel and the
mail must go this route The population will soon fol
low and what is wilderness will bud and
| blossom as the rose" "
| CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
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