New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-25
leased from confinement, and was at bis post in tn
Adiutant.C GENERALS Office to-day.
MEDICAL OFFICER PROMOTED.


MEDICAL OFFICER PROMOTED.
Asst. Surg. A. F. Sheldon has been promoted to
the position of Surgeon U. s. A., and will be TO
tanned by Medical Director Abbott as bis assistant
PROVOST MARSHAL FOR THE ALBANY DISTRICT.
Capt John o. Cole has been appointed Provost
Marshal for the Albany District, after long and
excited contest.
TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
Transactions under the Homestead act continue
active Numerous applications are presented to tho
Commissioner Of the General Land Office, ariAng
out Of the cases Of landhoders under the Presumption
act who have sought to avail themselves OF the be-
nefcent features of the Homestead law. The re-
turns made from the various land offices show in
crease of population in the distant portions OF the
public domains.
THE WORK on TIE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Notwithstanding the internal discussions in our
country during the past two years, it is gratifying to
know that work upon the great Pacific Railroad has
been carried on from both ends OF the route. The
road is divided into three Portions the Eastern,
Central and Western, 10 be constructed by three
different companies. The Eastern portion, embrac-
ing the territory from the junction Of the Missouri
and Kansas Rivers through Kansas to the lOOth
meridian Of longitude west Of Greenwich, distance
of about $50 miles, is TO be constructed by the
Leayenwortb Pawnee and Western Railroad Com
pany of Kansas This portion, we learn, is nearly
COMPLETED. The Central Division, through Nebrss-
ka, Utah, and Nevada to the eastern boundary Of
California, distance OF about / 800 miles, by the
Union Pacific Railroad Company, corporation cre-
ated BY act Of Congress. The residents of Utah
hsve sigofed their willingness TO construct about
800 miles through their Territory N order 70 have
III a I'D by Salt Lake CITY. Iho
Western Division extending from the eastern boun-
dairy Of California 10 the navigable waters OF the
Sacramento River. or to San Francisco, by the
Central Pacific Railroad Company OF California
This portion of the route crosses the Sierra Nevada
Mountains and is the most difficult portion OF the
whole line. The Objectionable features which
render these mountains formidable for railroad opera
toDs are the great elevation 10 be overcome IN cross
ing its summit, and the want OF uniformity In ia
western elopes-snd the imprac;icability OF riyer
crossings in The mountains. The elevation necessary
TO be attained in crossing s 600 feet above Saers.
mento, which by judicious selection OF route, is
reached by maximum grade ~ los feet per mile,
OF but 10 feet than the grade OF the PhllAcel
pha route and eleven) ii feet lees than tho grade oil
the Baltimore and Ohio Road, and IA feet lees than
that Of the Santiago Railroad. The western tlope OF
the Sierras is intersecled by dozen rivers, run
ming through gorges canOps, in many places from
900 to 2OC0 feet in depth, with side slopes varying
from perpendicular TO an angle OF a.. Tho Inc OF
TOdu IuSt VI Coufbc hNuII tuceo ilNcisl INV no
veyed, follows unbroken rldge from base to sum
NIT OF the Sierra Nevada crossing but one river the
Little Bear, at elevation OF 50 feet, aud span
of sbou; tho same number Of feet. The road
crosses the Serrss in Summit Valley at an elevation
of ,07 feet above the top Of tue Levee AZ Sscra
mento. The eastern descent is accomplished with
less difficulty and reaches the base OF The mountain,
In IL miles The survey carries the road about 10
miles beyond the State line, making a distance OF
I55 miles in ALL which distance, il Is estimated, an
be accomplished in 81 hours, or about ~ miles PER
hour. Rather than go round the sharp points d
ridges tbeee distractions 70 be overcome by tu
neng. There will thus be eighteen tunnels on this
portion Of the route, the shortest being 100 feet
and the longest $40 feet. These tunnels can be
worked from both ends, and do no, require any
shafting The estimated cost Of these l55 miles Is
sl3. 90, OOO-or SIS 6l2 80 per mile. The total cost
OF the entire route from Council Bulls to Sacra-
mento City, distance Of 1858 miles, 10 estimated
at 500 so 600. The receipts Of the Western OF
California portion OF the route are estimated AT
1861 240; the total expenses in round numbers al
900 0O0 leaving net profit Of Is per cent on an
investment Of sl5,0000O0 The route lies through
extensive forests of PITCH and sugar pine. FIR cedar
and tamarack the latter in large quantities, and ser.
vicsable as railroad ties. in addition, this road
opens up an extensive mining region, and affords
market for the shipment Of low class OF slyer ore
now thrown away in consequence OF the expense OF
Transportation. About 10 miles bave been com
peted of the Sacramento end Of the ronte, and the
work 10 now delayed temporarily, awaiting the re-
ceipt Of railroad iron from Europe.