The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-01-20

We know, from careful exploration. that
there Is more than one practicable pass
through the summit divide near the forty
second parallel of latitude This fact is as
well ascertaincd now M IL ever can b. by
future surveys. Then why not conilns thu
line Of the road within, say. the iorticth and
for,y-third parallels latitude THIS would
afford ample room for selection among the
different central routes and central passes
through tho Rocky Mountains. and give an
assurance TO the country that the road II
constructed at all. would be const ructed on
! the great central line Of travel, and travel
commencing at New York and terminating
ut San Francisco
The Senator from Vermont SAYS, II | un.
derstanl him Alright, that il ha, been charged
upon this bill tina, il is u project under which
somebody IL bound TO be cheated, and that
senator, who Ia one of i,r nl,lcst advocates,
while be r.pels this charge admits ut the
same time, that, although nobody Is TO he
cheated, yet il rs very likely tha, some par
tics may be disappointed by it. For my
own part, cannot rid myself Of nh instinct.
i've apprehension that in It's present shape,
! Il IL likely Ia evcntuate in way that will
lisappolnt the great body of the American
people. But. as have no wish to cheat,
or bc cheated and do no, like to d,sappont
others or he disappointed myself; M ! do
not desire 10 leave The determination Of such
mn important question To the cupidIiy Of
private company. hope 10 ne this objection
removed by an amendment and then, II We
are to have but n single road this bill may
answer that purpose as well nA any other
liut as several amendments propose north.
ern. u middle and II southern road, deem
II duty which owe 10 my constiu' n,s TO
present few of tbs general advantages Of
the northern line.
have collected much accurate informa,
tion on this subject from the reports aud
public statements Of Gov. l. j. Stevens, an
able and indciaiigabe engineer aud man
to whom the whole the country is indebted
for hls reliable explorations aud researches
throughout our northern Territories. From
the western borders Of the State Of Mime.
sofa 10 the head waters ol Puget Sound the
distance, by northern route. is ono thousand
five hundred and forty.four miles From
Council Bluff to Bcnicia, by the middle
route, II Is two thousand and ihitty-two
niles aud from Fulton 10 san Francisco,
by the southern route, II IL two thousand
aud twenty four miles This shows that the
northern route is the shortest from the bord.
ere Of the western States 10 the Pacific
The Cado'ie Pass, through which The
northern road IL intended 20 cross the sum.
NIT oi the Rocky Mountains. Is five ihous
aud one hundred and ninety five ieet above
tbs leycI Of tn sea. The summit I'asa, near
tie south Pas, on the middle route, s eight
Thousand Il'rcc hundred aud ~ycniy.tlree
feet, aud tho Gnada!oupe fu,s. on the
southern route, ~ five thousand seven hun
drci and scrchtoen ieot.
Here, again. the advantage. and a very
decide one - on the side II the northern
route From iho western borders Of Min
nesota 10 the base oi the Rocky Mountains,
the country IL generally. IN fact almost en-
'rcly, babitabIe. Nearly the whole Of tins
immense region possesses rich productive
poil, IL well waiored, and abouDds in luxuri
ant meaIowr and prairie, over which count
lese herds oi buffalo roam at will, and find
fpod 10 abundsuce both in summer and win.
Ter. The late Colonel Benton declared. on
one occasou that the buffalo was an ihtslIi.
gent AMI saRac.0us engineer, and that he
eupr-edcd our most scientific engineers IN
the discovery Of the beat ronies.
That remarkable mao spoke from obser-
yaiion and experience wheu he vsniund 10
maxi tbs assertion In the natural condi-
ton oi country thc track of the buffalo is
A "A II. l..
betWeen thc two distant points. But what
ever may be- ,hought Of The capacity of the
buffalo AZ an engineer, nature has i9rnlshed
him with an Inialllbie instinct ~ select for
hs pasture region 81 country where SOIL
water, productions, aB1 climate all combine
fpf the .nsianaDce and support 81 animal lie.
This instinct Is 40 iuiaIib!e that wherever
sou hnd the bailalo you may conclude that
the country ~ babltable. Tbis IA what hun.
tors know, bat what eugInsrfs do not know.
The explorations oi engineers, sbd The inior-
nation o' trapIefs and hu8t'r-, Who are
familiar with tbe character Ot thg rtg ou,
confirm th,s acco1nt OF lts general fertility
and hsbitab,c character. 1he country 90
this route, west of The Rocky Mountains.
r0sa ,ss,s rich spil a mi. J. healtby climate,
aDI abDuids 10 tlmtyer. water, and tfal-
indiets naab.e requisites 10. 'bs construction
ard operation oi railroads
4 ssmmafy u The snppD-.i disadvania-
gcs o! th.A fOutg iBcluds Il long tunnel
through u0uBiain region of Eve haDdr,d
aud fifty gn.es, aod ibe ug0r aud scyerilyGf
the climate. l'y accurate explorations and
sgrgey.. It bus bsD ascer'alned that hy d.
waiting about fpr,y mIl.s 70 tbe south, this
shose difficulty eau be obyistcd. aud the
pscsssiiy lot THIS sxtia labor avoided, ~ tia,
there vii he lera ,aunc.lDg required on th.
f0ais than On tilher ol lbe 0tbTs and, a.
4 Lay ,he lcss. sum oi AGENTS aud desccnis,
aod tbs lowest grs'iys t4s cd~, Of cGstiuc-
'on mus, be- pfopDr'iona'r. With rcspect