Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-11-20
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
Why Now Orleans Was Selected as the Eastern Terminus Advantages Possessed by tho Route Selected.

Route Selected.
 Mir. c. P. Huntington has just issued a circular letter that very concisely and clearly sets forth his aims and work done in regard to the Southern Pacific exten- sion to the Gulf of Mexico at New Or leans. We quote as follows;
 Among the considerations which have induced the promoters of the Southern Pacific Railroad of California to build an extension of that route eastward, across Arizona and New Mexico, have been the following:
 First-The creation of a short hne be- tween the navigation of the Gulf Of Mex ico and that of the Pacific ocean, within United States territory.
 Second-The accommodation or a very important local transportation connect ed with the mining of the vast deposits of precious metals in those terrtones and the adjoining States of Sonora ant Chihuahua.
 Third 1.-The desirability of establish ing Gn alternative line between the northern Atlantic States and the Pacific coast along a parallel of latitude and a5 such attitudes as would avoid severe winter Instructions.
 FoUrth-The requirements of grow ing system of railroad lines, extending from the Mississippi river across Lculs- jana and Texas, and conyerglng Mexican lines, for a more direct union with the system of the Pacific coast
 The extension of tine AtchisOa, IopeSa and Santa Fe railroad from the Missouri River across Kansas to Colorado, and thence southerly to an intersection with the Southern Pacific at Deming, 1,20O miles east of San FracciscO, afforded a route sufficiently direct and serviceable to Denver, Chicago, St. Louis and points to the eastward, though not wholly ex- empt from snowy attitudes, and not, of course, available for the expanse of country between the csi;c River and Gulf.
 Having completed the Southern Pacific to the frontier of Texas and Mexico at Fl Easo early in 1881, a distance Of l ,2s5 miles from the initial Pacific terminus, as the trains run, it became important to determine the most suitable port for the Gulf terminus, and the route by which to reach 1t. The waters of the Gulf at the nearest point are not more than 6JO miles, by an air line from Fl Paso; it appears, however, that the cur rents of the Caribbean Sea have thrown up a ridge or bar of. sand, underlaid bv tough clay, along nearly its entire shore circuit. so that though the inlets and rivers are numerous, none of them are without a troublesome bar, limiting the draft of vessels. New Orleans-already a considerable railroad centre and depot of vast inland river navigation, the seat of a vast commerce, population and travel-siHce the success of the Eads jetties, is the only really accessible port for the purpose.
 From New Orleans to Fl Paso in all airline i5 about 1000 miles. Three courses were open to the Southern Pa cific to reach this desirable port: To secure a connection through the Texas Pacific Railway, building across north era Texas toward Fl PasO, and a branch line from Shreveport 10 New Orleans, g. distance of I,1J0 miles; or to seek the use of the more southerly route by way of San Antonio and Houston, distance of l,2A0 mlles; or to build an independ- cut line direct and intermediate between the two.
 Inc southerly route even If it should prove to be somewhat longer, FasSess through a more settled and fertile c0un- try, and possesses the great advantage of lower and more efuaOle grades; and, be- sides, was in tEe direction nearest sea- port, whenever the harbor Improvements shall he carried out. The successive ridges To be overcome by the more n0rtherly line, and the sterile character of much of the route left no doubt as to the proper choice.
 In connection with the lines east of Houston, forming part of great ! through east and west liue from New Orleans, and worked in harmony with them. the Sunset route, as it is for con yenience called, forms not merely the great avenue between the Gulf and the Pacific, but also the route which a good part of the business passing to and from Mexico will naturally take.
 From New Orleans to San Antonio, j7S miles, the roads have been in success iUl operation for some time, and in view of their becoming the eastern portion of tLe Southern Pacific system have passed, for the most part, into ti.e same owner ship, and, together with the extension between San Antonio and Fl Paso, now in progress, will be worked in the same general interest as part of the through line, nearly 2J0O miles in length, between San Francisco and New Orleans.
 The distance between San Antonio and Fl Paso is nearly 6G0 miles by oIe of the surveyed lines, and by the other, follow ing the canyon up the Rio Grande at one portion, and thus avoiding a rugged country, steep grades and expensive work, is something over GOO. About 100 miles of the grade has been prepared at each end from Fl Paso eastward and from San Antonio westward, and the rails are being put down as fast as they can be taken forward and the bridges erected.
 It is expected the junction of the tyso construction portions will be made some where near the mouth of the Pecos in the summer of 1882 The nature of the intervening country admits of very rapid work, and the force moving east is the same which built over 300 miles across Arizona within twelve months of 1880 under greater difliculties.-M Missouri Re publican.