The Van Buren press., 1860-03-02
Tho Pixies Peak Route.

Our correspondent has our assurances
that we are not unmindful of the import
ance of the subject to which he refers, and
that portion of our time, and space in
our columns will be devoted to this subject,
of SO much interest to our State. The eff
forts that are being made by the rival towns
on the Missouri river-Leavenwort West
on Westport, &c.-to secure the advanta-
ges of the Pixies Peak trade and travel, en-
hances its importance in our eyes. There
is no reason why we, who have the best
route, should not participate in these ad-
And while we call the attention
of our own citizens to this important sub
ject, an opportunity shodld not be neglected
to place the subject properly before our
great allie, the City of Memphis, whose
citizens are SO much, or more interested in
bringing this route into notice. This route
once established, Memphis would be the
starting point on the Mississippi river, for
the country South and East on its parallel.
The route from the Arkansas river, on
our frontier possesses advantages of lati-
tude, climate, season, grass, wood and wa
ter. that can never be equalled by any other.
These are regulated by nature, and the art
of man can never change this comparative
except by system of railroads !;
and in the progress of Improvement, Ar
kansas with this advantage, will still re-
tain her superiority.
But in the present incipient stage of COM
we have to deal with the char
acter of the travel and transportation now
in voSue-and in this condition of things.
the route which is open the most of the
year, that has the earliest Spring and latest
fall, must necessarily have the advantage.
1t is true that coaches aid express wa
gons so through from Leavenworth IN all
seasons and such communication is car
ried on greatly to the convenience and in
tercst of those who are able and are COM
PEELED to use such modes, and at such sea-
feI the great business of emigration and
of a thrifty and fast increas-
ing colony. 1t is too costly, and in fact.
for the transportation of the
imr ense amount Of merchandise, machine
~, provisions and furniture required by a
growing and flourishing colony. Wagons
must be brought into requisition for these
purposes, and the summer season is the
only period of the year that this mode of
can be accomplished. The
greatness sfemigration for the same reasons
must he performed in the same manner and
during the same season. The poor, but en-
terprisipS pioneer, adopts the cheapest and
most comfortable mode and season, to
transport his dependent family and his lit
tie property. His capital consists in a har-
dy frame ard strong muscles for labor. He
is Het able or willing to ride out in stage
coach, and send his goods by the convey
ances ef the frcighting companies he
packs his family and provisions in his wa
gon, drives it himseIf-his team feeds upon
natures proyender i'll the green prairies and
he gees through like self reliable and
independent pioneer.
On the Leavenworth route, this branch Of
travel and transportation, must necessarily
commence late in the Spring-it cannot be-
gin before the grass appears upon the pra-
ries, and it must close early, on account of
the short summer and early winter:
The season of grass upon the Arkansas
route, begins three OR four weeks earlier
than upon the Missouri, and lasts three or
four weeks longer in the fall. Here
The travel can be kept up uninterrupted,
nearly the whole year, and the traveller and
teamster is in no danger of being overtaken
and destroyed by snow storms.
All the advantages of this route cannot
DC enumerated in the space of our article,
but that its superiority can be demonstrated,
there is not doubt on our mind. 1t only
requires to be tried to be sustained-but
our citizens must make proper efforts to
bring this superiority into notice. And our
friends in Memphis can lose nothing by
making slight effort to turn the travel for
Pixies Peak, up the Arkansas River to
Van Buren-from the Missouri and Leav-
enworth route.
The first great step towards the estab-
lishment Of this route by legislative assist
ancc, would be an Overland Stage Line In
time that will be established, and our san
guine hopes even extend to the extension
Of the Memphis Railroad to Pixies Peak.
The child is now growing up, who will
witness the realization of these expecta-
tionS. This beautiful and fertile country,
cannot long remain a Wilderness.
STATE DEMOCRATIC CoNvENTIoN.-Thc
Virginia convention of the Democracy. it