New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-01
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
XrcEssJTY FOR A NEW RoUTE-sURVEY OF DIE
FRRENT PLANS.

"a the Pacific win DO subjected to serious lnteri
and troubles from heavy SHOWS. during 'n0 49," sa1,
months to such an extent as 10 prevent INC
operation Of the road during the Winter sea9on
s,I, NTH commercial intercourse ana enter
e Inv that line aud clearly indicates the necessary VI
an in.eroceanc ne laid so far south as "
belt OF eouable temperature, without sno" "a ~ y ~,
ooplv medium range Of disturbance Uy rilS Vi no'
oorlv as December TO- the line west OF cheyenne was
80 q, and the President Of the Central Pacific tee-
Sd from salt Lake City, that he thought they should
ssek route to Join tho Kansas road 70 secure Piac
abIe Winter line And from the 18th OF February 10 the
m of March the mountain section west OF cheyenne was
bocked with snow 200 miles and passengers tramped
bouoh the snow 90 miles reach Fort Laramie leaving
others TO suffer the and await their deverance
Mails are snow bound by the tun.
There are several such routes belts between the Mis-
sisppi River and the Pacific Ocean. But this country
is 80 eectuay divided by the Rios Grande and Colo
RADIO that it may be considered three distinct sections
from the Mississippi River 20 the Rio Grande; from the
Rio Grande TO the Rio Colorado and from the Pho Colo
RADIO to the Pacific First and tho oldest Of these is the
old Santa F6 route from st. Louis to Santa 70 or AlDur
gu eruue NewMexco, by which to reach the valley OF
the Rio Grande from Memphis by the valleys OF the
Arkansas and Canadian rivers to AlburQuerdue or from
Vioksburg and Shreveport directly across Texas to III
Paso all well known and long used by emgrants.
AS bet ween the Rio Grande and the Pacific there are
but two routes the one by the s5h parallel from Albur
querque Via Lun and Fort MOave, to Los Angeles Calf
MA and the other from near FL Paso, via Tucson and
the valley Of the ella River and Fort Yuma TO San Diego
The former has not been much Travelled, while the
latter one has always been the route OF overland travel
for explorers and mgrant Either Of these routes pos
superior advantages the Salt Lake line III
and future agricultural advantages and scarcely less
future promise Of mineral wealth.
strucon Of the Kansas Pachc Road from Kansas City
up the Kansas River and smoky Hi Fork now rests az
Sheridan Kansas and seeks TO cross TO the Arkansas
River Fort Lyon and thence by the PurgdtOry River
and thence to san Francisco by the s5th parallel route
This line leaves the Rio Grande at or near Albuquerque
and passing along the San Jose Fl Rto crosses the
Sierra Madre CampbePs Pass. into the Valley OF the
Puerco OF the West, to the valley of Flax River ana
de Chino Meadow Creek Wash to the Colorado at or
near the needles at the nSTh ssd @ ReSce by the val
ley OF the MQaye River across the CALIFORNIA Deef 20
San Jose and San Francisco turning to the south after
passing the western line OF the COLORADO Das ls
line be taken to San Diego, through Morongo anu
The distance on this route follows: From sher
dan TO the Arkansas River 100 miles to Albuquerque 900
miles, Albuquerque 70 the Colorado $50 niles ana
cisco SIC miles The Arkansas and Canadian River line
from Memphis would join this route near Anton ShSo'
ci1c From Fort Smith, on the western boundary OF
Kansas, to Albuquerque the distance would DC ABOUT
The relative conditions Of these routes do not differ
very materially From sheridan IN Kansas to me AT
promise OF agricultural value In the future and thence
Arkansas will develop fine grazing region, being
now fayorte pastures Of the buffalo The slopes Of
vigorous growth Of settlements and agricultural com
The valleys Of the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers are
suited for grazing and agriculture II the land were irr
mems are not likely TO obtain In these valleys AND
pioneers not attracted thither The Kansas route
ment arising from the mineral deposits on the Rstou
The Kansas line having these natural advantages and
being nearly miles shorter has the weight of probable
success in 10 favor as between these two lines Even
should the Kansas enterprise of from the Kansas
Pacific Ellsworth, their line to be built would DO stl
100 miles shorcrtban tho Canadian River line, and have
st greater advantages in rayesiDg the fine Valley OF
the Arkansas from tort lara to Fort Dodge as compared
with the line from Sheridan 10 Fort Lyon.
The Kansas Company have made extensive ana com
Francisco Their first heavy work and steep grades are
Tcaras Canon, which has summit elevation OF 2i6 feet
nit from the east five miles of maximum grades ul6 feeu
Will be necessary aud TO descend TO the Rio Grande. IL
The Rio Grando can be descended by the valley OF
Gaoo Creek with grades not exceeding so feet per mile
crossing the Rio Grande nc San Felipe instead Of Ysleta
aud passing by the JenuE TO Laguna rather than by tho
considering hese lines as the same from the valley
thu Rio Grando to the Pacific the general description is
about follows: Leaving the valley OF the Rio Grdnde
either san Felipe Yslota, the lines Join at LaEuns,
aud thence reaches the summit Of the Sierra Madre &c
miles elevation Of 2S75 feet above the Rio qrande
alsetta thence by tho valley OF the Pnerco OF the West
60 the Rio de Limo FLAX River, and the foot OF the san
Francisco Mountains descending 2lo feet IN distance OF
miles. The Flax River, whcro departed from, being
about 20 feet lower than the Rio Grande There
heavy grades Indicated this route except in the Canon
Of the III to ana the work Is remarkably light,
y equivalent 10 six feet embankment the whole dis
lance. But few cuttings. and three or four bridges
Tho difficult section OF the route Ia In passing the
San Francisco Mountains where maximum grades aid
heavy work will be encountered This mountain section
may be said to extend from the crossing OF the Flax
River the head OF Val de Chino at the western slope
Of the la lja range beyond Partridge Creek distance
OF 80 miles, so miles OF which VIII be heavy mountain
work with grades OF 80 CO. and 100 feet per mile and
probably greater and possibly tunnel 5000 or 400 feet
From tIe head Of Val de Chino into Yampa Creek
Valley, across Walapi Valley, and adown the wash OF
Meadow Creek To the Colorado River, Is continuous
cabons grades OF l6 feet mile obtain Tor two
three four miles each For the greater part OF this
distance the character Of the work IS remarkably light
the canons being tho only exceptions, Inc M9Ikng OF
this grade eastward would be very expensive ana trouble
some The character OF this route, between the Rio
Grandc aud the Colorado Is most remarkable for cheap
ness and summit passes
The Colorado River at the place Of crossing 1000 feet
wide, with rock faces and clear hght OF ieet 70 R@ue
line. The bed OF the river Is presumed 70 De rock
vada at tho foot Of the TehachDa Pass the line ayerses
barren sandy desert country, passing between granite
peaks OF the Lost Mountains rising ana Iahg ~
even, sandy slopes, fret from the colorado valley 2loo
feet 40 miles and descending 1900 feet IN 80 niles
rising again 600 feet IN 60 miles thence falling again 49
OF 200 tho valley Of tho MojaYe River IN 30
miles rising again 100 600 feet to the foot OF the Sierra
Nevada ia Gj miles, whole distance OF 2jo miles rue
grades generally quite easy at the loot OF each Slope
gradually Increase to 80 30 feet per mile at the
SUBMITS, which can be passed without cutting
The eastern slope of the Sierra nevada rises evenly
and gently rising SO feet In 10 miles, and descends Into
the valley OF the Inare 325 feet Ia 80 miles IDS pass
the ruling obstacle the entire line and will have
maximum grade Q6 fee TO 80 miles Of the most
expensive character Of work encountered rail-
ways. Bold, sharp spurs succeed each other ike
teeth leaving yawDIng ehasms from rs 70 80 deep
and hundreds OF feet long 70 DO panDed Whlo the
orc 10 be cut deem and long
From the head Of the Tulare Valley TO a convenient
crossing OF the coast range into the Santa Clara Valley
the valley falls owy at the rate OF two feet por mile for
ITO miles, crossing the Sau BenO Pass islng 4OO feep
into the valley OF the San JOSE TO JOIN the San Jose rail-
no roach esn Djepo Tho 1ne rnr1d breob fy t-o, 4tt