Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-02
A Novel but ImDortnnt enterprise.

We learn that g substantial enterprise
is being formed in New York, Washing.
ton and Baltimore, for the establishment
of an Overland Camel Line between the
| Missouri frontier and the State of CGlifor-
MIA, by way of Nebraska, Kansas and Col.
orado. Its eastern terminus will probably
be Omshs, to which stream transportation
on the Missouri river is usually open, and
which is the eastern terminus also OF the
great Pacific Railway, now being built
westwsrdly from that placs.
The feasibility Of the use of the camel
for transportation purposes, and especially
over long and unfrequented routes, hrs
been abundantly demonstrated, and this
enterprise is about to establish the expec-
tations of Mr.. Marsh, our late Minister. at
neutrality-suspicious. as one of our chief
scholars and Eastern travelers-and the
prophecy Of Mr.. Fabens, of New York,
who declared, in his work published on
the subject In 1851, ''thst the camel will
yet be domesticated and bred in our West
ern States and Territories, as the horse, the
mule and the OK now are, and will doubs-
less do more towards extending the out
skirts Of our civilization than all other ap-
pliances." 1t has been fully proven by ex-
perience, that the camel will breed and
thrive in our climate and soil, where they
have, under the auspices Of the GREern-
ment, increased in numbers, and have
also improved in condi ion and quality.
It is proposed by the Overland Camel
Company, in introducing these ships of
the desert to supply the chief desideratum
for facilitating Intercourse with our new
and distant Territories, and to aford a
fresh and healthfal stimulus to the develop
ment Of their extraordinary mineral re-
sources. In this view as well as others,
the enterprise assumes proportions of q
national character, and certainty COM
mends itself to the general notice and sp-
provaL
1t is also ss q valuable adjunct of the
Pacific Railway eEteFprise-lo which tht
people sIe looking with eager interest, bue
which seems to progress with unnatural
slowness-thst the Overland Camel Com
panY deserves encouragement. We have
no doubt that its establishment would add
largely 10 the interest and advantage of
that great railroad undertaking, and effect
much towards Its more rapid development.
That it would enhance the value of the
ahAOS buIDuhu WuiCA buo 14uo ID w Do 6ebaD-
lished is certain, while in facilitating inter-
course and in every way opening up those
Vasl and now comparatively undeveloped
regions between the Rocky and Sierra
Msdrs ranges, the line would be invalid
able.
The average carrying capacity of each
camel is said to be from 700 to 1000
pounds, though soma have been known to
rise and travel with facility under pack
of double that weight, while one OF the
Government csmels, now in California, has
bean known to carry 1000 pounds fifty
miles in one day.
These facts, added to the endurance and
patience of the camel, its ability to sup
port fatigue and change OF climate readily,
and the further fact that it can De used for
burden from the age OF four to forty years,
travelling with ease tairty successive days,
with full packs, with an average of eight
hours per day for rest and food, slI aided
10 It's known habits of sbstemiousness-
going twelve days at time without water
and living upon the most scsnty herbsge
constitute q certain, reliable and econo-
micsl means CT carrying freights and pas
sengeFs, as well as the great overland or
local mails for the interesting country they
are to traverse
We will speak Of this enterprise further,
and watch It's progress with much interest,
wishing 1t the abundant success which it
seems, IN our judgment, SO we'll to deserve.