The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-27

constructing railroad by this route to.
the Rio Grande. As everything relating
to the southern portion of our Territory
is looked for with interest, we take PLEAS
ure in publishing the below official report
Of Col. Johnston. -
WASHINGTON, d. CT, Feb. 13, 1858.
SIR Your letter of the 5th of May,
1857, directing me to ascertain the most
practicable route for railroad from the
initial point of the boundary of Kansas
to the Rio Grande, was received on the
9th of September. =
The survey of the boundary line was
finished on the 10th, but the necessity. of
going nearly eighty miles toward Fort
Leavenworsh to meet the supply of pro-
visions which should have been delivered
near the end of the line on the 31st of
August, delayed me until the 18th, this
left little more time than the march to
Fort Leayenworth required.
As the Canadian flows In a very deep
canon from the Santa zFe road to the
mouth of the Pojarito, it seemed to me
that such examinations only were neces-
sary as would enable me TO compare a
route near. the ninety ninth meridian. .and
following that described by Capts. Simp-
son and Whippie, Typographical Engin-
eers, to the Rio Grande, the Topograph-
ical Bureau to furnish information Of the
western part of each.
Previous reeonnoissanees had given me
reason TO think the line of the country
twenty or thirty miles south of the thirty
seventh parallel more favorable than that
along it--and that the spring known as
the Rabbit Ear" is the head of the
North fork of the Canadian. I therefore
went to that spring about thirteen miles
within New Mexico, on the Santa Fe
road aud thence turned eastward along
the course indicated by the red line on
the map to the Cimaron. From that
point went with company of the Cav
airy TO the bend Of the Canadian near
the 99th meridian, to examine the coun-
try, thence to the Missouri line, Captain
Wood, with the rest of the party, was
instructed to continue the examination Of
the first line TO the Salt plain, thence
along the little Arkansas to the main
river, and from it, by the head of the
Little YerdigEis, to the initial point
The mules were SO reduced by the cathar-
tic properties of the water, and want of
food-for the grass had been destroyed
by the buffalo-that Captain Wood was
compelled about midway between the
Salt Plain and the Arkansas TO turn to the
North to the beaten road. This route lies
along or near the North fork of the Cana
dian, from its head, near the Santa Fe
road, to the 10th meridian, then strikes
in eleven miles to the head of Buffalo
Greek. which it follows thirty miles TO its
mouth in the Cimaron. For twenty miles
from the Santa Fe road the valley is mar
row and water abundant, with wood
enough for travellers; but for the next
eighty miles it is without running water.
There are, however occasional pools. In
all the valley below there is bold stream
of good water. and in the last thirty
miles occasional clumps of cottonwood
trees. The summit between this valley
and that of the Cimaron is about two
hundred feet above the first, and three
hundred above the second the first
height to be overcome in ten, the other in
thirty miles. The country between the
Cimaron and the Salt Plain, sixty-five
miles is undulating, the greatest eleva-
tion one hundred and fifty feet above the
Cimaron. From the Salt Plain to the
Arkansas, the valley of the Little Arkan-
sas is followed. Between the Arkansas
aud the, Verdigris the country is some
what broken, but the valleys are broad
and rich, and the hills generally covered
with post oak and black jack, with larger
timber along the water courses. Excel
lent building stone is very abundant too,
and it is altogether beautiful district
From the Verdigris to the Missouri line
the country is rich rolling prairie; the
principle streams, however, are lined with
heavy timber.
As far as construction is concerned,
this route is a good one. compared with
others in the same meridians It is
about $50 miles from the Missouri line to
the Rabbit Ear. For half that distance,
grading would cost almost nothing. Sup
plies of water and building stone may be
easily obtained. On this side of the Ar
kansas, there is abundance of timber
Beyond the Arkansas, however, the eoun-
try is ssterile and destitete of timber, and
thefefere unfit for settlement.
The profile on the map is that OF this
route, the Western portion copied from
that of DR.. Wislizenus-the measure
ments were barometrical.
On the other route, the country east ot
the Arkansas is like that farther north
just described, but even more fertile and
better wooded. About three fifths Of tht
distance from the Arkansas to the Cana
dian is over rolling prairie !; the soil good
small water courses with wood are numer
Gus. The rest of the distance is Owe
three broad ridges, covered with post oaE
and black jack the first north of tn,
Red Fork, the second between the stream
and the north fork of the Canadian, ant
the third between the two branches o
that river. This route is shorter thar
the other, and in almost every respec
better. It has especially the advantag,
OF passing through or near much greater
quantity of arabic land and wood.
] had neither time nor instruments TO
such surveys as would have enabled fni
10 make estimates, nor second barome
lcf ~ &OscIltlnC Si4c SGIAcAWl pEoHlC vi TIT
southern route, that marked with yellow
OF the map.
When the South western Missouri rail
road shall be in operation TO Springfield
eitherof these routes to New Mexico vii
be far preferable 70 that now as ed
Either viii be shorter, quicker and bette
supplied with grass, water and wood
That by the Canadian will have the ad
vantage in all these respects over both tn,
Others. It may alse be used in the win
ter-it can be more easily protected, too
The South western district of Missour
can furnish large supplies of flour, bacol
and forage, and the Creeks and Chero
KEGS, good and cheep beef.
4 body OF cavalry could be maintained
as vel and economically near this par
3 of the Missouri line, as on any other por
ton OF the western frontier. There ar,
good locations for infantry posts on III,