Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-06-20
THE 35th PARALLEL ROUTE.
[From the Missouri Republican,

ztH5s FROM the missouri republican,
Mention was made a few days since of the
return from California of J. Blickensder-
fer, Chief Engineer of the Atlantic and Pa
ciic Railroad. The object of his visit to the
Pacific Coast was to acquaint himself more
fully with that portion Of the Thirty fifth
Parallel Route crossing the mountains COM
ing East, from the coast Of the Mohaye or
Colorado plains. The Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad Company made the first preliminary
survey anu did the first work i'm that region
ahead OF any competing line; but it was
deemed important in the present condition
Of matters to secure possession beyond con-
troversy, or the possibility of disputed priori-
~ Of claim. Mr. Blickensdorfer has absent
OF his mission about three months, and he
has obligingly given our reporter the follow
ing brief account of his explorations
From San Francisco, instead Of taking the
coast route, he journeyed down the San
Joquin valley to the vicinity of Los Angel s,
striking the line OF the :hirty-tifth parallel
route IN Santa Clara valley, q hundred or so
ofmiles from the Pacific Coast. From there
his examination eastward commenced, cross
ing the Sierra Nevada mountains near their
junction with the coast range which sweeps
down from Oregon. There the survey was
made by him of the celebrated Soledad pass
in the mountains through which the track is
to be laid. The mountains here rise on either
side Of the pass from 800 to 1900 feet. The
weather in March is as mild and soft as it is
this lafifnIa HI,rip 1af q
and it continues at nearly the same tempera-
ture the year round. The engineering party
found it to be most excellent line over the
Sierra Nevada range, the extreme elevation
being only $500 feet above tide. The length
Of the entire pass is twenty-five miles, OK
tending from one base to the other of the
mountains. Snow never lies there longer
than few days. and 1t would require no
snow sheds to guard against the blockade
of trains. The mou ltain pass is in that por-
ton # the line corresponding with that of
the Central Pacific, where there are thirteen
miles OF snow sheds to shelter the track from
the drifting snow storms that blockade and
imperil the movement of trains.
A few bears and deer are the only animals
seen by the surveying party. There's a num-
Der of abandoned gold, silver and copper
mines along the line, which were formerly
worked, but suspended ON account of the
lack of transportation facilities. Along the
Soledad Creek, a limpid mountain stream.
which has its source through the pass of that
name, there are two quartz mills, erected
several years ago and since abandoned for
the reason above stated. From the Soledad
pass there are no mountains of any magni-
ward, or at distance of 800 miles from The
coast, where that noted stream is easily
bridged just below the Big Canyon. This is
as far as the present survey was carried, but
preliminary surveys were made year or
two since over the entire line to Vinita, and
the branch to Fort Smith. However. the
great object of the present survey, the prac-
ticabil:ty of the pass was found considerably
easier than was at first supposed, and it has
been determined that no part of the grade
will exceed ninety-five feet to the mile in
getting over. This new exploration is the
indication of purpose to put through the
railroad, and that its completion is only
matter of time. The line through the pass
described has not only been located. but men
have been placed at work and possession
taken of the ground. With regard to the
feeling in San Francisco regarding the Thir-
ty-fitth Parallel Route, Mr.. B. found the peo-
pie with whom he conferred quite as anxious
for the construction of that road as they ever
were, and no less deslrous eff some road to
compete with the Central Pacific.