The New York herald., 1865-01-23

charge OF Colonel LfvingBton.
The distance from Fort Kearny TO Denver City four
hundred miles along tho Great Platte valley Is almost
barren Of timber, but abounds in nne grass In late
surveys Of this region has been found that ninety miles
Of railroad can be built without curve, with grade Of
only six feet the mile for six hundred miles All that
necessary TO construct railroad Is to lay down the
track The Plains abound In immense herds bualoes
the principal hunting grounds Of the Indians being on
the Little Blue and In the neghborhood Of OFallon's
Blu At the South forks Of the Platte in Nebraska The
soil Of the Plains susceptible Of producing small grains
such as wheat, barley and oats
The Platte Is remarkable river AZ some places Il ID
two miles and half wide, but very shallow and insult
able for navigation rendering It certain that line Of
water communication can be established from the Mis-
souri TO the mountainsl
AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE PLAINs-NECEssITY
FOR RAILWAY.
Up through this region on the line OF tho Platte 10 the
great highway of the plains The amount Of trafhc
this line is II can only be estimated from
the extent Of country to be supplied by the Atlantic
cities This includes the Territories Of Colorado, Utah,
partially the new State Of Nevada and the Territories Of
Idaho and Montana, embracing region lying between
attitudes thirty and forty six and longitude twenty five
forytwo Over this route by the present nconvenient
mode Of transit are freghted all the groceries, most OF
the breadstuns all the building materials hardware
iron, the immense amount Of machinery used in de-
veloping the vast mining OF the countryn
short all articles required for the and comfort Of
people accustomed to civilized life. The amount paid
even for this transportation would insure hand
some income any railroad company that should
tablish line upon the route.
INDIAN TROUBLES AND yEETR REMEDY.
On this part OF the route the continent exist the
only Indian troubles that interfere with safe transit Of
goods and passengers The Indians nfesting this region
rich in provisions, ponies, buffalo meats and skins
They follow the buffalo north in summer TO the region
of country between White river and the Yellowstone;
in the winter south to the Republican fork and Ar.
kansas river Of crossing the Platte river the line
Of overland travel and the great plains It Is in
ing the overland line Of travel that they com
nit their dspredations upon the settlers freight
crs and emgrants burning ranches, stealing
CATTLE mules and horses and destroying stage stations
These Indians composed Of hostile bands Of the
Sioux Osages, Cheyennes and Arapahoes, who always
have been and probably will be- until exterminated
unfriendy the whites-thevng treacherous and bar
barous During the past summer they have murdered
whole families OF unprotected white settlers emgrant
parties attacked and destroyed the United States mails
all without provocatlon from the whites and apparently
obedience innate and irrcpressibe feeling Of
hatred and erocy against the white race and with the
view Of breaking up settlements and reardng the growth
Of the country Some years ago General Harncy inflicted
proper chassement upon these bands particularly the
battle OF Ash Hollow, which kept them in toeraby
peaceful disposition until recently Within few weeks
they have recommended their depredations was
hoped that the severe chastsement inflicted upon
them by Colonel Chivington Of Colorado, at the
fight at Sand creek would have kept them in check
but they require still heavier punishment 10
strain them from the commission Of their deprcdatons
and barbarous massacres They require some such
treatment administered other hostile bands by
General Conner Of California at the battle Of Bear river
Utah Territory two years ago since which time there
have Indian disturbances and northwest Of
Utah 1t is the unanimous voice Of miners traders set
tiers emigrants freg htcrs and fact the entire peo
plc Of these regions that some such officer General
Conner should be assigned 70 the duty Of suppressing
these Indian depredations, and that he should have
command with sufficient force, extending on tho line
the great commerce Of the plains, from the Missouri
river TO the sierra Nevada Mountains
Leaving the plains, We come first TO
COLORADO TERRITORY.
mr. Leland describes this Territory In language similar
TO that furnished by special correspondent He was
struck with its wonderful richness and the remarkable
Mr. Leland estimates that Colorado contains between
fty five and sixty thousand inhabitants and would have
demanded admission into the Union at the last election
had not been for the personal schemes of ambitious
Leaving Denver City, next we camc to
UTAH TERRITORY.
BY way Of the old Cherokee trail and Fort Brdgcr,
which route adopted about four years ago by tho
great th0roughfare the mountains, we came 10
Salt Lake CITY The distance ia six hundred miles,
over the different ranges OF the Rocky Mountains ana
Bear rivers, yia Bvidgcr's pass Fort Brdger Is a mill
tary post, and central and important point On the
there regions susceptible of agricultural de-
yplODment
Brdgcr, and the Bear river valley.
Tho population OF Utah Is from one hundred
and ten to ono hundred and fifteen thousand
whites Tho number Of Indians Is small. The physi-
cal aspect Of the co ntry is mountainous with
and thoroughly cultivated by the industrious
population, mostly Morm0ns who are receiving large
rewards for their industry by tho demand Tor their agr
cent mining regions OF Nevada, Idaho and Montana
Valuable mines OF god silver copper iron and coal are
also being developed in Utah. and the population Is
steadily increasing both In Mormon and Gentle popula
ton.
salt Lake CITY has increased in population and very
mu, improved IN It's style OF architecture within tho
past two years. IL now numbers fourteen if
teen thoisand nhabitants and has line theatre, equal
in finish and capacity TO many In the Eastern States IL
$3.50 COO IL has other public buildings among which
the great Temple, yet unfinished, but promising to
become clhCc Of great beauty and imposing proper
ons II also eontans some fine commercial warehouses;
whose proprieors amassns large fort ncs and also
banking houses In which an extensive business is being
transacted In gold dust exchange with California and the
Eastern scnboar e.. In regard To manu- actures we will
briefly that il contains cotton mill, woclIen fac
tory, iron foundry nail factory, number Of iounEg
and surgh nils &c All these improvements may
be exclusively attributed 10 the indomabc energy and
far seeing sagaciy OF the master spirit OF the region tho
indciatil able brigham Yong.
Camp Douglas, occupied by Tn ted States troops and
esibl shed by General Conner tuatcd about three
miles from Salt Lake CITY upon an cie atcd "bench" at
tho base OF the mounia n ovcrooks the city, and pre-
sents very picturesque appearance
sovcral towns have been commenced on tho streams
and in the valleys OF Utah, ono OF which, called tho City
Of Stockton, Rush valley, " Of m ch promise.
Near Salt lake City sit acd several extensive hot
sulphur spr ngs-hc water almost scaldng-hot enough
bo egg They out Of tho base Of the Wasatch
Mo nians and, after forming quite stream, empty
into the great Salt Lake by. The latter shaHow
sheet Of water has been frequently described that repe
ttion here Unnecessary IL IL Of no part cular cunt
cpt TO farnsh apoor quality Of suit 10 the inhabitants
Of the region.
Leaving salt Lake City, we proceed north to
MONTANA TERRITORY,
by way Of Fort Hail. Idaho. A. Fort Hall the roads
fork and passengers either go 10 Boise City the
other important towns In idaho 70 Virginia City Mon
tana Territory.