The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-06-01

TIE TRANS CONTINENTAL RAILRoAD.-The San Diego
Union has publisheda supplement- filled with an essay
by Gen Sedgwick, c. E. describing the 32d parallel
or ella TransContnental Railroad route comparing it
with the 35th parallel, Moave route, and concIud
ing that the former is preferable and should have its
western terminus at San Diego.
According to Sedgwick the ella route is preferable
in distance grades cost time timber and prospects Of
local traffic. The ella route is described as commence
ing at Shreveport, on Red River, running 8l3 miles
over undulating plain, well tmbered, with average
grades of sixty.eight feet For 400 miles westward
OF Shreveport, the soil is so fertile that engineer
who examined it said it the best district for wheat
on the continent The total rise and fall in the 8l3
miles is - 600 feet There are three ridges to cross
the highest being the Guadalupe, 500 feet. The Rio
Grande at the crossing is 1880 feet above the
From the Rio Grande to the Colorado the distance is
$40 miles, with ridge to cross, and total ascent
and descent of 5000 feet. The distance Of $50 is
made in the valley OF the Gila with average grade
of ten feet to the mile The maximum grade would
be eighty feet above the The valley of the ella
for hundred miles from the Colorado is desert but
the upper part of the valley is fertile and many white
settlers have established there.
The section between the Colorado and San Diego is
the most barren, and will be the most costly for con
sruction The distance is 1856 miles: thebghest point
$500 feet the of ascents and descens 5000 feet
with maximum grades Of 100 feet to the mile. About
half the distance is over a desert.
The total length of the ella route including thirty
six miles the bank of the Rio Grande from Shreve-
port to San Diego is 1866 miles; the sum of the
cents and descents feet the highest point 500
feet, and all below the elevation at which is
troublesome in that latitude On the Moiave route
the distance to San Diego San Francisco from the
missouri is greater than that of the GiIa route, The
sum Of the asceuts and descens is As 900 feet the
distance il 1851 miles, with two ridges 1000 feet
and over 400 miles above an elevation of 5000 feet
$4,000 feet of ascent and descent and less timber
water, population, and Iabe soil than on the Gila
route 0nvSedgwicks showing the latter is far pre-
ferable.
When the Tran Continental road is built on the 32d
parallel, twill of course, to San Diego or have
branch to that place. It will be terminus. but
whether it will be the chief terminus for trans CONT
mental traffic cannot be determined till alter the road
is built We do not believe it will but would be
glad to let San Diego have chance to prove what she
can do.
1t should be the policy OF San Francisco TO assist
the development OF the of tbecOast. What
have to fear in regard to the Gila Railroad is not
in its construction, but the osponement Of its con
structon. great city should have central position,
with other cities both sides that when they want
to trade with each other they pass her doors and
the growth of San Diego large city would be
decided benefit to San Francisco SanFrancsco Alta