The weekly Arizona miner., 1869-04-24
California Branch of the Southern Pacific
 Railroad.


 There Is prospect that work will shortly be commenced on this road in earnest Indeed, for all practicable purposes, about so miles of the road. from San Francisco 10 Gilroy. are now completed and in operation. lt Is understood that final segregation of the lands granted for depot purposes in this city. will be made In be- half of the company in few days The final location Of tho roule from Giroy to the Colorado river, has been delayed longer than was antici- paied. But the best engineering talent tO be obtained has been called into the field; and the topography of inc country has been examined with much greater care than would have been possible if the final surveys had heen made upon the first organization of the company. The dis iance from San Francisco to ibe Colorado river near Fort Mohave, the proposed crossing. is 5I5 miles. Deductng ihe road already finished to Gilroy. and there is fraction less than 500 miles to be constructed.
 The site proposed for the crossing Of the Colo rado is at the "Needles,n point % miles below Mohagc City; 250 miles by the river above Fort Yuma. and 100 miles below Calvi,le. This may Ss called the initial point Of the California branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This point is 426 feet above tide water. Starting westward. the line traverses the .'Mohayc Desert. which extends nearly across the county of San Beruar- dino. This section Of country is well known to Arizona pioneers. it Is nearly worthless cOun- try: but presents no such formidable obstacles to railroad building as were at fist supposed. There will be no dihculty in obtaining water and other supplies This arid country does not seem io differ greatly in character from the Utah Des- ert crossed by the Central Pacific Railroad. Proceeding westerly from the Colorado, the foot hills or the Sierras are reached at the distance of 235 miles. Here commences tbe famous Tehach- apa Pass, distant aboa. 40 miles from old Fort Tejon.
 1t is by this pass that the only practicable sr;ss j. fanad through lhe >ierras into the great valleys of Talare and San Joaquin. The summit of this pass Is 400s feet above tide water. The Donn-r Lake Pass. m the Central Pacific. has an altitude of over ! 010 feet The Tehachapa Pass is the only formidable mountain elevation on the entire line from Kansas City to San Francisco The summit of this pass Is a smooth table land with trees. having ,se aspect of park. and fur, nisbng good grazing for cattle considerable part of the year. This pass and the valley lying east, Of the same name. have been famous grazing grounds for long time. In dry and famine seasons cattle are driven tO this pass and beyond where they are saved from destruction. There is never snow enoagh in this pass to cause any obstruction to railroad travel. few inches ont falling. ge-erally in the month of March. When Ihs Tehachapa table land Is crossed. the greai valleys open on the north. with the Coast Range ! Mountains on the west BH: at some point tht toast itange must De crossed, To get knto tht | Santa Clara valley.
 ! There arc five passes in this range between ! Tebachapa and point opposite Gilroy Ani | the question, we believe. has been an open ons | until recently. whether the line should iravers' | the Salinas and PajarO valleys on the west O. extend along the Tulare and San Joaquin valley on lhe the east coming through the Coast Rang | at Psehseo Pass. and a.eEseeIing the road alrea dy completed at Gilroy. It would be a grca thing for the farmers pf the Pajaro and Sallna valleys to have the road extend through this ricl agricultural region. The Pacheco Pass is nov traversed by stages from Visaiia. which connec with the cars at Giiroy. The elevation is some thing over 2 900 feet Without having any pos live knowledge Of the final determination of tn company, there is strong impression ihat ia eastern. or San Joaquin and Tulare Valley route will be adopted.
 If branch road Is constructed and there nov no prospect Of anything else for San Diego this branch will inteFsect the main road nea
 Fort MOhave. and will be about 2S7 miles loul
 or the entire routes from Kansas City to Sa : Francisco, one-fOnrih or more is already con pieted. The California section, we are assured [ Is tn the hands Of meu who wit show their fat by their works From Kansas City to San Frar
 cisco. on The 18th parallel route the distance
 s97 miles. and to san Diego, 1909 miles, S1 ] Francisco Bulletin.