New-York tribune., 1869-03-19
THE CONTINENTAL AIRLINE.

THE CONIINENIdL hIh'Ll4'H'
Pacific Railway that asks no money from
Congress, that encounters no great mountains
in its route, and is liable to no Interruptions
from SHOWS, is n thing so different from our
previous experiences in that line as 70
deserve tho most respectful consldera-
ton. That any practicable Pacific Rall-
way deserves whatever encouragement we
can afford is generally believed. That the
success Of this one would be OF special
volne in opening up vast tracts of fertile land
not less than in knitting together remote re-
gions of the Republic, seems to us PLAIN ana
when it comes before Congress, asking htlle
beyond the continuation of its old privileges
and the right of way, the advantages to be
gained so far outweigh what is asked in return,
rs to prompt ut least very careful attention
The proposed road is no new thing. 1t was
incornorated by the State Of Texas prior to
1861. and endowed with eight and onc-third
million acres of land A hundred and fifty
miles of it were under contract before
the war; sixty-fvo miles were ready for
the rails for fifty miles the iron had
been purchased; n million and half in all
had been expended, when the war stopped
everything at the South but raising food aud
fighting. Now it is proposed to save that mil
lion and half, resume operations, rs soon rs
Congress will assure the right of way, and
press forward the road. It's comparatively short
route lies along the southern border Of the
western half of our MISUNDERSTANDING from
the northeast corner Of Texas, through the
whole breadth of that empire in itself, resting,
midway between its opposite tcrmin, at II Paso,
near the north western corner OF Texas, Oh the
Rio Grande del Norte, and thence finding its easy
passage through Southern Arizona and Cali.
fornia to the bay of San Diego. IL thus
strikes the Pacific Coast at about the same
latitude as Charleston or Savannah on the
Atlantic, and connects it with the Red River
and the Mississippi by route that opens the
richest Of our cotton growing regions, and that
mover leaves climate where flowers can be
found growing in every month in the year.
A little over one half the entire length Of
the road lies within the State Of Texas. At
jefferson, the head Of navigation on the Red
River, it connects through Shreveport and
Vicksburg, aud through Little Rock and Men,
phis, with our whole railroad system. From
Jefferson TO FL PasO, on the west side of Texas,
the length Of its route is eight hundred miles; 4;
from FL Paso through Arizona to the Pacific is
only six hundred and fifty more. The first half
of this route is through country Of surprising
fertility. Those rich plains of Northern Texas
arc capable of putting 60,0O0,0O0 bushels OF
wheat into market q month ahead Of tho
supply from any other State in tho Union, or
of producing four times the amount Of cotton
hitherto furnished by the whole cottOn-grow
90 tI,o ii
beds of coal, iron, and copper are found along
this part of the line. and load and silver of
great richness are coming TO light in the
Western counties. FL Paso, which is to
be the midway station on the line, is the
objective point for the Mexican railroads
already chartered, and is destined 10 be
an important interior city. From FL PasO,
through strip Of Hew-Mexico and Arizona
TO Fort Yuma, at the mouth Of the ella, tho
road keeps for tho whole distance within the
ordinary working grade Of eighty feet, and
within only hundred feet when il passes the
summit elevations for n short distance, be-
tween Fort Yuma and San Diego. OF this
part OF tho line the Commissioner OF the
Gene.al Land Office, in his Report
for 1868 says that Throughout this whole OK
" tent of country the remains Of former cult
" yation aud evidences of civilization are to be
found, ruins of ancient cities and cathedrals
existing in many places, while traces of
former irrigating canals occur in every direc-
tion, extending even into the densest part Of
" the forest" The valleys produce wheat corn,
cotton, and grapes, and along tho southern line
are now highly cultivated fields of grain and
sugar cane, with apples peaches, apricots pome-
granates, figs, grapes, lemons. and orangesn the
same garden. Westward from FL PasO to the
112th meridian the soil of the levels and the
hills is everywhere good, and everywhere cov
cred with luxuriant growth of nutritious
grass. Wherever there is water the whole re-
gion has unsurpassed advantages for stock
raising in the character and quantity of the
grasses, the mild winters and the freedom
from flies and musketoes. The abandoned
towns and remains Of large grazing establish
ments, some of which are said to have had a
hundred thousand head of cattle and horses,
show what the capacities Of the country are to
support prosperous settlements, If they can be
protected from the Indians and this has been
abundantly illustrated since the American occu-
patton by tho rapid prosperity of those parts Of
the territory which have enjoyed protection.
From the Rio del NOrte westward to the
Lower Gila tho traveller may so run his course
as t0 pass entirely over plains-the pr0iries Of