The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-04
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTE


We take pleasure in directing the attention of our
readers to the following communication, written by
a gentleman formerly an officer in the army,
whose thorough familiarity with the subject he
discusses entities his opinions to consideration. 1t
will be seen that he confirms the views expressed in
our editorial of Monday.-[EDs.l
Editors of the Daily Exchange:
L notice in your issue of this morning an article
on the 'Pacifc Railroad in which you express
preference for the route following generally the
parallel OF $50, and to which the name of "Beales
Route" Is applied. This term, so far at least as
concerns the Western, or Pacific end of the route
is probably as correct any other; and l do not
write this for the purpose of detracting in the
slightest degree from the we-earned reputation of
that interchangeable and distinguished gentleman
About eight or ten years ago, Mr.. Kern one of sew
eral brothers who had been with Colonel Fremont
in his ill judged and worse executed plan of cross
ing the Rocky Mountains in winter, at a point
near the head of the Rio Grande, addressed letter
of great interest to a member, think of the
House of Representatives, in which he urged
strongly the adoption of this route, commencing
at point opposite Memphis, and crossing the Rio
Grande at Albuquerque, point on that river
about sixty miles south of Santa Fe. From per-
sona knowledge OF the route in question, as well as
OF most OF the other routes since surveyed and re-
ported on most voluminously, l do not hesitate to
assert that, so far at least as our present
knowledge goes, this route, as advocated by you,
is not only sufficiently central" to satisfy any rea
sonable man, but that, in the grand reouisites of
wood, water, fuel, and adaptation of the adjacent
country to agricultural purposes it possesses ad-
vantages over any other that has been SURVEYED
l do not mean that Memphis should necessarily be
the starting point on the Mississippi. So far as
penetrating the gorges of the Rocky Mountains bv
this route is concerned, it would be matter of in
difference whether St. Louis, or point nearer
New Orleans, or both should constitute the initial
on the East; but do say, that route crossing the
MO Grande, at or near Albuquerque, must ineces-
saraty pass through bodies of fine timber (almost
the only fine timber between the Mississippi and
the main chain of the Rocky Mountains ! which
exist on the eastern slopes of the broken range of
mountains lying between the Pecos and Rio Grande
rivers, that there are two three passes through
those mountains easily practicable, and finally,
That such route, after penetrating that range to-
wards the head of the Galisteo River, passes
through valuable deposit of coal-the only
coal, so far as L know or have heard of, availa-
BILE for railroad service, unless there be las
am inclined to believe thereis) deposit near the
route of the 49th parallel. After passing the Rio
Grande, and as we approach the waters of the Pa
chic slope, am unable to say much, from personal
knowledge, OF the route here indicated but being
from the Rio Grande westward, substantially the
same as "Beale's route" as referred to by you
this morning, or being at least susceptible of an
easy continuation to and upon that route | can
not but think that especially if but line is to be
adopted for the present. avoiding as it does the
Mdurdlses IerreS of Nebraska, reducing the width
of the Ltano Estacado, which must be crossed, to a
stunning the basin of the Great Salt
Lake, with its double ranges of mountains cutting
on water-drainage to either ocean, and above all
with no greater distance to be overcome, and but
little severity of winter to contend against pre-
senting the desiderata of timber for supurstruc-
ture, and coal for fuel, at or midway point,
this central line, of near the 35th parallel
should have more deliberate consideration than
has yet been given it. Whether regarded as a COM
promise between extreme sectional demands or
simply, as it should be, as question of engineer
ing economy, hope you will continue your ad-
Vocacy OF its merits. |, for one regard the location
and construction of some railroad line through our
present territory to the Pacific as of far greater
practical Importance to the nation than the next
ovember election, however that may CO. 4.
BALTIMORE, April 2, 1860.