The Weekly Arizonian., 1869-05-01
History Of t',e Pacific Railroad.

ished in June ot this year, and the grand opening will be on the 4th of July. It is twenty three years since this road was broach. ed by Asa Whitney, and it has had the SUD- port of statesmen of all parties. Thomas H, Benton was it's earliest friend the explora> tions of his sonin-law, Captain J C. Fremont, threw light upon the physical geography of the unexplored region, and prepared the way for surveys under Franklin Pierce. Jefferson Davis was the Secretary of War under that administration and under his auspices the best talent of the army was enlisted in the survey of the Rocky Mountains Except the northern route, the explorations were all in charge of officers of the U S. Typographical engineers.
 The first was led 5y Governor Isaac l. Steph- eus, formerly of the regulars, killed at the second battle of Bull Run in 1862. His lines were the filth and 18th north latitude His corps consisted of four parties, one under him. self, another under George B. Mcclellan i; another under Lieut. Donaldson, U S. A., and another under Lieut.. sexton.
 The second expedition, under Captain Gun. nison, U. s. A., started from Wostport Mo-, and followed the valleys of the Kansas and Arkansas rivers to the Rocky Mountains, be- tween the sangre del Christo (now a part of Colorado) and the Sevie lake. A portion of the party, including the brilliant Gunnison himself, were massacred by Indians.
 The command devolved upon Lieut.. Beck. with, who proceeded to Salt Lake City whence he extended his work along the 4Ist parallel. crossing the Sierra Nevada near Fort Read. ing, and thonce following the valley of the Sacramento to San Francisco. This is the route substantially, by the great trunk road to be opened.
 The third expedition by Captain Whipple, U. S. A, was on the line of the 35th parallel.
 The fourth, under Lieut. Williamson, U, s. A fitted out at San Francisco, passed up the San Joaquin and Tulare valleys, explored several passes and portions of the Mojave and Cobra. do rivers
 The fifth, over the western half of the 32l parallel and commanded by Lieut. Parke, de- tached for the purpose from Lieut. William son party.
 The sixth party started from Fl Paso, Cape jain John Pope, and is in the proposed South ern road in which John C. Fremont is one of the projectors
 In 1854 Congress made appropriations, and Jefferson Davis sent forward three additional oarties-oLe under Lieut. Parke, who surveyed he whole country between San Francisco and Los Angeles, on the 34th parallel part of the present Southern route; another under Lieuts. Williamson and Abbott, who explored the Si- 'rra and the Case ade mountains, between San Francisco and the Columbia river. This urveyis ofgreat use to the Northern project y way of Superior City Wisconsin and still mother under John Pope, who made valuable experiments in artesian we'll boring, to deter. nine whether a sufficient supply of water ould be obtained.
 These investigations showed rare sagacity, nd the results are embodied in four large VOL ! mes with handsome illustrations, Maps pro. les etc, showing the climate, productions, T nimas and soil of tho vast region of the t socky Mountains, of standard value in the rosecutiOn of this wonderful enterprise. Jefferson Davis looked to the completion f the Southern line, say from New Orleans to l an Diego, on the Pacific. first; subsequent xperience has shown that the line could have ( ecu built mere rapidly and cheaply shan the ther The Union Pacific Railroad was not def- itely located, nor the company incorporated, t Il July first 1862 and acts amsndatory 10 were passed July 2d, 1864, March 3I, 1865, nd July 3d. 1866. By the act, the right of i 'ay to the extent of POI feet in width on each