The Van Buren press., 1860-04-06

|
tains nor high ranges of hills to surmount.
no streams to offer serious impediments.
and the gently undulating surface, with
drainage in the proper direction, rendering
q fair location a matter of great ease AS
far as the Antelope Hills, on the Canadian
river, q distance of 325 miles, the route
prairie roads of the north western States,
and the work could be executed with fair
gradients. good alignment. and at as cheap
rate. AS we go west the items of masonry,
OF clearing, and of rock excavation sensi-
bly, diminish, while the river -valleys--such
as those Of the North Fork and main Ca
nadian-present facilities Eor the easy bull
IdinS OF o road that are unsurpassed in the
Union. From the southwestern corner oil
Missouri to the Antelope Hills the course
'vill be almost an air line. The country
traversed, Possesses great advantages. Its
soil is good. the supplies o. wood are abun-
dant, and for good portion OF the distance
it is as finely vstered as any section of the
States. Its climate is mill and healthy.
and there is little doubt that large popula-
ton would rapidly follow the construction
of a road through it. Ten years. time per-
haps less. would suffice to render this sec-
large
support to the road in its local traffic.
West OF the Antelope Hills. the Canadi-
an river and one oi its tributaries are fol-
lowed far into New Mexico, and to within
about one hundred miles of the Rio Grande
del Norte. The valley Of this stream fur
nishes, perhaps. the best body of land that
can be found between the 93th and lO5th
meridians, within the belt of country lying
between the Bid aud AID parallels. The
soil is a sandy loan that gives every indi-
7 cation OF rare productivenesss and fertility
1t Is wide, ranging from three to six and
eight miles. anu averaging as much as five
miles in breadth, and has full and con
stant supply of water. Here the climate is
mild and salubrious. Extremes of heat
and cold are almost unknown. Timber in
sufficient quantities for railroad and farm
ing purposes is found along the banks OF
the stream, and upon the numerous arroy
7 os which enter the valley from the north
and south. The valley is particularly adap-
ted to the building OF u railroad in its gen
eral course-tangents Of thirty miles OF
more may be easily. located-its gentle rise,
about eight feet per mile) and its entire
freedom from inundation. A road up the
Canadian may be built. perhaps, more
cheaply than along any stroam in the States
whether OF the West, or along the coast
Elk xpensive bridges will be nowhere req uired
aud the number of culverts and drains will
be very small-much smaller, in fact, than
any other river line that the writer has ev
er examined in many years experience mp
on railroads.
A great objection has been made to ths
35th parallel route in its excessive ascent.
and descents, which have addel in equatinp
the distance, as much as 900 miles to it.
length. This is a great mistake. The un.
duiations Of the gradients in approaching
the Canadian from Neosho would be slight
five thousand feet would he most liberal
allowance for this division of the road
beyond. 10 the summit between the waters
of the Canadian and those of the Ric
Granie, the ascent would be for the most
part at the rate of from eight to ten feet De,
mile. there would be no break--no descen.
ding grade, aud the ma ximum grade at tn,
crossing ot the divide should not exceed
thirty feet per mile Fifteen thousand feet
should certainly include all ascents and de-
scents from the Missouri frontier to the Ric
Grande-perhaps less would suffice
; Through the valley of the Rio de los
Conchcs, the tributary OF the Canadiau
along whose valley the line Is CONTINUED. q
far AMI cheap location can be made Ex
cept a few hundred feet of tunneiing at the
summit and the construction OF a bridge
; across the Canadian, about seventy miles
, east oi tue summit, there is no work o
; material consequence to be executed through
this section. West OF yho summit the line
crosse, the Gaiinas and Pecos rivers Al
, highly eligible points, and passes to the
RIO Grande with light gradients ARD mod.
/, erately heavy work.
: Upon all that portion Of the work which
lies in the territory of New Mexico large
force Of native labor, which is fully equal
to ;aat employed in the construction of our
| eastera roads. can be easily and readily con
, centEsted and used at small ex pense--yery
small compared with the cost OF similar la
Dor IN tbe States.
. The crossing Of the Rio Grando offers no
= important obstacle, and beyond to the Col
ora.io, IT Is thought from tn. Information
} which has been already gained from ex dor
ing parties that good line can be as ea,i
iy located and built rs upon the Eastern
division.
The thirty-fifth parallel route offers ,
/ more direct, shorter and better graded lin,
to the Pacific ocean than any yet explored
, and careful examination in detail will estab
t lish its complete fitness for railroad purpo
ses beyond peradventure. 1t has been al
legged that snow will prove al obstacle t.
the working of the road in winter. 1t should
be observed, however, that while the oppo
nents Of the route who bring forward thi.
objection give tables Of temperature to es
tablish the fact that very colo weather i,
, sometimes experienced in New Mexico, the,
have never proven that snow will be serii
Gus impe'liment to the passage of Trains
In fact, such thing is not to be At all an
pretended. The shows upon this route Ar
few and rare, never fall to any considerab bl
depth, and disappear very rapidly.
There is, perhaps. NO projected rout
across the continent which combines q
, many advantages As this and its centrs
, position. which permits it to have connec
; tiOns with the south as we'll a. the North
its passing through large and growing Don
ulatiou in the Territory Of New Mexico. it
vicinity to the gold producing districts G
e the north as we'll as of the south, the china,
and soil Of the country trsversed, shoul
4 win for it the earnest consideration OF I'll
. friends of . Pacific Railroad.
Il On the scoro Of cost the 8Sth rar.lle